Scientists found 875 pieces of microplastic in the River Mersey (Picture: PA)

A survey of 13 rivers across the UK has found microplastics in every single one.

Greenpeace scientists and campaigners, including Harry Potter actress Bonnie Wright, sampled points along rivers from the Exe in south-west England to the Lagan in Northern Ireland.

They found each body of water contained pieces of plastic measuring less than 5mm, including fragments of straws and bottle tops and tiny micro-beads.

One river was even discovered to be more polluted than the ‘great Pacific garbage patch’, a wildlife expert said.


In the River Mersey, in North West England, 875 pieces of microplastic were captured in just half an hour – out of 1,271 captured in the 13 rivers altogether.

Plastic was found in every river tested (Picture: PA)

Across the UK 13 rivers were sampled by experts (Picture: PA)

Micro-beads were partially banned in the 2017 (Picture: PA)

The other rivers tested included the Exe, Thames, Severn, Great Ouse, Trent, Aire, Derwent, Wear, Conwy, Wye, Clyde and Lagan.



Micro-beads, often used in cosmetic and household products, were found in five of the rivers, despite being partially banned in 2017.

Seven locations turned up plastic pellets known as ‘nurdles’, which are used in the production of plastic products.

River Mersey had the most numerous instances of micro-beads and nurdles.

More than four fifths of the polymers found were polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene, which are used to make products such as food packaging, milk and water bottles and carrier bags.

Scientists and campaigners visited locations across the country (Picture: PA)

Greenpeace UK are urging the government to do more (Picture: PA)

An Environment Department spokesperson said the UK is making ‘great strides’ in the right direction (Picture: PA)

Steve Backshall, wildlife expert and TV presenter, said: ‘Greenpeace’s study has discovered that the River Mersey is even more polluted than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – surely this will galvanise us all into doing something about this.

‘Plastic pollution isn’t just a domestic issue, its impacts are seen on wildlife and humans all over the world.

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‘For the sake of nature and for the sake of future generations we need to stop producing so much of it – it’s the only way forward.’

A spokesman for the Environment Department described the UK as a global leader in tackling plastic pollution, adding that they are making ‘great strides’.

He continued: ‘[Examples are] banning micro-beads in rinse-off personal care products, taking fifteen billion plastic bags out of circulation with our 5p carrier bag charge, and announcing plans to introduce a deposit return scheme for single use drinks containers.

‘We know there is more to do, which is why we are funding ground-breaking research into how microplastics enter waterways and working with the water industry to find new methods to detect, measure and remove microplastics from wastewater.’

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