European Rivers Found to Contain Alarming Levels of Microplastic Pollution

A six-year study by the Tara Ocean Foundation reveals pervasive microplastic contamination in nine major rivers, with smaller particles posing significant health and environmental risks.

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.