It had been assumed that much of the plastic waste in our oceans arrives there via the river systems. A new study suggests, however, that some 200,000 tonnes of these tiny particles are blown annually into the seas from our roads (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/14/car-tyres-are-major-source-of-ocean-microplastics-study). The microplastics are generated by wear on the tyres on the road surface and the operation of brake pads. This, naturally, means that moving to using electric vehicles would do nothing for this form of pollution. It is becoming evident that microparticles of plastic are finding their ways into the ecosystems of all marine habitats (they are engulfed by plankton that are the starting point for many food chains).
No comments:
Post a Comment