Fall into the Thames these days and you are more likely to choke than drown.
Because the River Thames has some of the highest levels of microplastics of any river in the world, a new study reveals.
Scientists have recorded 94,000 microplastics a second flowing down the river beating the biggest European rivers, the Danube and Rhine, as well as the Chicago River in the US.
There is some doubt on whether Chinas Yangzte river is worse.
Tiny bits of plastic have been found inside the bodies of crabs which live in the Thames.
And flushed away wet wipes are clogging up the shoreline, forming wet wipe reefs, including on the South Bank near Hammersmith Bridge.
Researchers at Royal Holloway, University of London, are calling for stricter regulations on single-use plastics after finding the native shore crab and the Chinese mitten crab are ingesting microplastics.
And careless disposal of plastic gloves and masks during the coronavirus pandemic might make the problem worse, they warn.
Professor Dave Morritt, from Royal Holloway, said: The increased use of single-use plastic items, and the inappropriate disposal of such items, including masks and gloves, along with plastic-containing cleaning products, during the current Covid-19 pandemic, may well exacerbate this problem.
The Thames is cleaner than it used to be for some pollutants, such as trace metals, they say.
But glitter and microbeads from cosmetics, fibres from washing machine outflows and potentially from sewage outfalls were among the pollutants.
Most of the microplastics were from large bottles and food packaging.
Crabs contained tangled plastic in their stomachs, including fibres and microplastics from sanitary pads, balloons, elastic bands and carrier bags.
About 95 per cent of mitten crabs were found to have tangled plastic in their stomachs.
Clams near the wet wipe reefs contained synthetic polymers, possibly from the wet wipes and sanitary items.
Researcher Alex McGoran said: Tangles of plastic were particularly prevalent in the invasive Chinese mitten crab, and we still dont fully understand the reason for this.
The research was carried out by the Royal Holloway with Natural History Museum (NHM) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
In total, 135 crabs were examined and 874 pieces and tangles of plastic, mainly in the form of fibres, were removed from their bodies.
Frequently these fibres form tangles of up to 100 pieces of plastic, filling the stomach of many crabs.
Anna Cucknell, ZSLs Thames Project Manager, said: Plastic pollution is devastating for aquatic ecosystems, and I was shocked by the densities we found.
Thanks to decades of conservation two species of seal and more than 100 species of fish including sharks, seahorses and the Critically Endangered European eel, call the Thames Estuary home.
We must not let plastic pollution threaten their survival.
Please make cheques payable to MSI Media Limited and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing recently: A free country needs a free press, and the newspapers of our country are under significant financial pressure.
So if you have enjoyed reading this story, and if you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can buy our newspaper or make a donation, which will allow us to continue to bring stories like this one to you both in print and online.
See the rest here:
- The Principality of Sealand - Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- SeaLand Toilets - Motorhome, RV & Marine - PPL Motor Homes - December 23rd, 2016 [December 23rd, 2016]
- Schedules - SeaLand - December 28th, 2016 [December 28th, 2016]
- Sealand man jailed for high speed police chase near Chester - LeaderLive - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- sealand | eBay - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Floatplane fuselage donated for entrance feature - Campbell River Mirror - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Burglar in 'lunatic' Flintshire police chase jailed - Daily Post North Wales - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- Did you get married in this Sealand church? - Daily Post North Wales - March 1st, 2017 [March 1st, 2017]
- Global Camping Toilet Market 2017 By Manufacturers Zodi, Camco, SeaLand, Thetford Marine - NetDugout - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Sealand Natural Resources, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SLNR) Files An 8-K Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities - Market Exclusive - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Sealand - The Principality of Sealand - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Sealand of the Pacific - Wikipedia - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Gardening club launch at Sealand and Queensferry Dementia Caf - Deeside.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Sealand - The Principality of Sealand - thoughtco.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Malawi govt over paid farm input suppliers by K61billion - Nyasa Times - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- About Sealand - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- How Are Analysts Interpreting Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR)'s Relative Strength? - Nelson Research - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Inquiry date for Chester flood plain homes plan - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- sealand toilet | eBay - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Unusual Activity Spotted in Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) - BVN - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) Moving -40.00% in Session - BVN - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Pivot Points in Focus: Sealand Natural Resources Inc (SLNR) - Nelson Research - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Independence Day 2017 SeaLand & Port Schedule - American Journal of Transportation - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Flooding on Chester's Sealand Road after downpour - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - July 14th, 2017 [July 14th, 2017]
- Chester floodplain housing scheme unanimously rejected - ChesterChronicle.co.uk - August 6th, 2017 [August 6th, 2017]
- 150 years of the Shipping Forecast: The magic and poetry of Dogger, Fisher and German Bight - Country Life - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- Sealand - Wikitravel - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- About Us - Principality of Sealand - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- About - Principality of Sealand - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Principality of Sealand - Wikipedia - June 5th, 2018 [June 5th, 2018]
- Sealand | MicroWiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia - July 29th, 2018 [July 29th, 2018]
- Sealand The Mystery Solved - Part One - YouTube - August 30th, 2018 [August 30th, 2018]
- Sealand Marine Toilet Parts | West Marine - September 16th, 2018 [September 16th, 2018]
- Search for a route - sealand.com - September 16th, 2018 [September 16th, 2018]
- About Sealand - Become a Lord, Lady, Baron or Baroness - October 16th, 2018 [October 16th, 2018]
- SeaLand is now Dometic | Dometic - Mobile living made easy. - November 24th, 2018 [November 24th, 2018]
- Sealand | Dynamic Ship Simulator III Wiki - dss-iii.wikia.com - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Sealand | Fifth World Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia - December 5th, 2018 [December 5th, 2018]
- Vacuflush Parts and Systems for marine and RV toilets. - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand | West Marine - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand | Hetalia Archives | FANDOM powered by Wikia - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- About Sealand | The Principality Of Sealand - January 11th, 2019 [January 11th, 2019]
- Sealand Marine - 4 Locations Across Nebraska and South ... - May 14th, 2019 [May 14th, 2019]
- Surfer cleans his playground by turning pollution into functional fashion - East Coast Radio - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Hefty bill for Sealand farmer who ignored warnings to clear waste off his land - LeaderLive - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- IN PICTURES: Terry is first person to complete nine-mile swim from Sealand to Dovercourt - Harwich and Manningtree Standard - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Great Escapes: The Pristine Shores and Year-Round Charm of Denmarks North Sealand - Barron's - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Terra Firma Imagines a Tiny Country Surviving the Rising Waters - TheaterMania.com - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Appeal launched over refusal of plans to store cars and caravans on green barrier land in Sealand - LeaderLive - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Queues on Sealand Road in Chester due to water works - Cheshire Live - October 14th, 2019 [October 14th, 2019]
- Coleg Cambria volunteers clean-up streets and rivers of Deeside for community event - Deeside.com - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Review: In Terra Firma, a Wee Wet Country on the Brink - The New York Times - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Appeal launched over refusal of plans to store cars and caravans on green barrier land in Sealand - Deeside.com - October 16th, 2019 [October 16th, 2019]
- Global Smart Container Market Set to Reach $5.74 Billion by 2024 - Asia-Pacific Expected to Grow at the Highest CAGR - PRNewswire - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Panerai Celebrates the Year of the Rat With Sparsello-Decorated Luminor Sealand - HYPEBEAST - December 18th, 2019 [December 18th, 2019]
- Former football star and Telegraph photographer Gary Talbot dies at 82 - Lancashire Telegraph - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- SeaWorld Prisoner Kyuquot the Orca Needs Our Help! - The Union Journal - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- Somaliland in the Guide to the 'almost countries' of The World - MENAFN.COM - December 27th, 2019 [December 27th, 2019]
- All the shops and businesses Chester said goodbye to in 2019 - Cheshire Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Easter eggs are already on sale in Plymouth - Plymouth Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- This is what was happening in Chester as the 1990s dawned - Cheshire Live - January 2nd, 2020 [January 2nd, 2020]
- Chinese New Year Gifting 2020: From Gucci to Faberg, Rats & Mice Galore | Jewellery | Watches & Jewellery - Luxury London - January 14th, 2020 [January 14th, 2020]
- Sealand Community Council to decide three new positions by co-option | The Leader - LeaderLive - January 30th, 2020 [January 30th, 2020]
- Roadworks in and around Flintshire over the next few days - Deeside.com - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- Photographer from Deeside on 'cloud nine' with accolade - LeaderLive - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- China firms in $10 billion share sale rush as funding rules eased amid virus worries - Reuters - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- Sealand reduces transit time between Chile and the US for table grapes - FreshPlaza.com - February 24th, 2020 [February 24th, 2020]
- The 72 businesses with a five star food hygiene rating in Flintshire - Daily Post - March 16th, 2020 [March 16th, 2020]
- More than three weeks of overnight closures on Cheshire roads to start - Cheshire Live - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Flintshire man who went to see son play in band in Chester caught drink-driving on way home - The Chester Standard - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Heres Why Sealand Capital Galaxy (LON:SCGL) Must Use Its Cash Wisely - Simply Wall St - March 22nd, 2020 [March 22nd, 2020]
- Man charged with alleged offence under new Covid 19 legislation following incident in Deeside on Thursday - Deeside.com - April 9th, 2020 [April 9th, 2020]
- SeaWorld trainer torn limb from limb by killer whale turned 'psychotic' by captivity - Mirror Online - April 26th, 2020 [April 26th, 2020]
- Revamped Aldi Chester store to open its doors next week - The Chester Standard - May 11th, 2020 [May 11th, 2020]
- Weekly Update: Global Coronavirus Impact and Implications on Fresh and Naturally Fermented Birch Juice Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast, 2019-2025 -... - June 1st, 2020 [June 1st, 2020]
- Residents urged to take care after house fire in Sealand - LeaderLive - June 1st, 2020 [June 1st, 2020]
- Someone has used a chainsaw to cut down a tree in Garden City which blocked Welsh Road - Deeside.com - June 9th, 2020 [June 9th, 2020]
- Covid-19 Impact on Global Coriolis Mass Flowmeters Market (2020-2026) | Potential growth, attractive valuation make it is a long-term investment | Top... - June 25th, 2020 [June 25th, 2020]
- Sales in the Birch Water Market Expected to Grow as Demand from End-Use Industries Gathers Pace 2017 2025 - Jewish Life News - July 10th, 2020 [July 10th, 2020]
- Breaking down the top 10 LB recruits in Vanderbilt history - 247Sports - July 12th, 2020 [July 12th, 2020]