Prof Beata Messyasz, Dean of the Faculty of Biology is co-author of a paper published in the prestigious journal Nature.
Water pollution by plastic particles, so-called microplastics, is a significant problem known from marine environments, but it also affects freshwater ecosystems. An international group of scientists led by Professor Barbara Leoni and Dr Veronica Navy from the University of Milano-Bicocca (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences) in Italy, collaborating within the GLEON (Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network) research network, conducted scientific research on the processes and phenomena of microplastic pollution in freshwater. A total of 79 scientists were involved in the project.
Water from 38 lakes in 23 different countries and six continents was analysed. It turned out that, in some cases, the concentration of plastic in the lakes is higher than on plastic islands in the ocean, so-called 'rubbish patches'.
The results of the research are significant because the lakes where the highest microplastic pollution was found are also those that are sources of drinking water or are crucial for recreation activities, such as Maggiore, Lugano, Tahoe and Neagh!'
The article is available to read in free access here.
Photo credit: A. Wykrota