Potentially dangerous plastics and microplastic particles are contaminating subalpine lakes at a rate similar to levels found in marine beach sediment samples.
Researchers from the University of Bayreuth in Germany found the microplastic particles, which can be carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting, or acutely toxic, are entering the food chain via freshwater invertebrates.
The study initially focused on Lake Garda in Italy to investigate freshwater contamination and highlighted the problem of plastic contamination isn’t limited to ocean environments.
Read more at Current Biology