Overview

• The Tara Ocean Foundation's six-year study, published on April 7, 2025, confirms all nine major European rivers are polluted with microplastics, including the Seine, Rhine, and Thames.
• Researchers found smaller microplastic particles are up to 1,000 times more prevalent than larger ones, spreading throughout the water column and posing greater risks to ecosystems.
• A new method of weighing microplastics, developed during the study, enabled scientists to better measure the smallest particles, marking a key technological advancement.
• Microplastics carry pathogens and absorb harmful pollutants like pesticides and heavy metals, creating toxic combinations that threaten biodiversity and human health.
• The findings emphasize the need to address the root cause of plastic pollution—rising global plastic production—as international negotiations on a treaty remain unresolved.