Using water samples from Lake Geneva and its surrounding rivers, the researchers found that concentrations of microplastics measuring between 1 and 100 micrometers may have been underestimated by more than 650-fold. Evaluations carried out by EMPA show that, of the 38 samples analyzed, about six exceeded the ecotoxicological thresholds used to assess environmental risks. Hassler sees these findings as an important warning sign: ”We are not in an alarming situation, but we might be at the threshold where we should worry.”
The immediate question is whether such high concentrations pose a risk to the population and ecosystems. Although the effects of small microplastics have been extensively studied in laboratory settings, understanding their impact on natural ecosystems remains challenging and requires accurate measurements of environmental concentrations.
Previous studies estimate that more than 15,000 chemicals are used in plastic manufacturing. In Switzerland, some of these substances are banned, including additives used to give texture to plastics. The picture becomes even more complex because microplastics interact with many other pollutants already present in aquatic environments.
Source: Phys.org
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