It’s raining multicoloured plastic in the Rocky Mountains, according to the latest research that suggests microplastics are found in even the most remote parts of our planet.

Plastic shards, beads and fibres were identified in more than 90 per cent of rainwater samples taken from across Colorado, including at more than 3,000 metres high in Rocky Mountain National Park, according to researchers from the US Geological Survey.

According to the study, scientists say the find suggests “the wet deposition of plastic is ubiquitous and not just an urban condition”.

Lead US Geologic Survey researcher Gregory Weatherbee told The Guardian: “I think the most important result that we can share with the American public is that there’s more plastic out there than meets the eye. It’s in the rain, it’s in the snow. It’s a part of our environment now.”

Scientists – who were studying nitrogen pollution at the time – collected rainwater samples across Colorado and analysed them using microscopes.

Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic Show all 8 1 /8 Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic This turtle was caught in a plastic six-pack ring when young and became deformed as it grew while still trapped in the ring Missouri Department of Conservation Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic Sharks and turtles caught in a discarded plastic net PA Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic A shortfin mako shark tangled in fishing rope. The rope has caused scoliosis of the back in the shark PA Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic A hermit crab uses a plastic toy as a shell Alamy Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic Found in September 2017, a grey seal dubbed Mrs Frisbee was the first in a series of seals to be found off the Norfolk coast with frisbees around their necks Friends of Horsey Seals Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic The third in a series of three grey seals found on a Norfolk beach with frisbees embedded in their necks PA Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic The injury to the seal was so severe that it had to remain in the care of the RSPCA for three months PA Sea creatures seen tangled in plastic A turtle found wrapped in plastic netting in Tenerife, Canary Islands Eduardo Acevedo/UPY 2019

They believe rubbish dumped in the environment is the main source of microplastics and plastic fibres released from synthetic clothes is also a significant source.

In April, another group of researchers discovered substantial amounts of plastic waste on a remote catchment in the French Pyrenees mountains. They found 365 particles of microplastics in each square metre, according to the study published in Nature Geoscience.

Using atmospheric simulations, they found plastic waste was transported through the atmosphere from at least 100 kilometres away.

Microplastics have been described as a significant threat to marine life and have been found in rivers, oceans and Arctic regions.

In June, another study found British rivers are so polluted with waste almost all samples contain microplastics. The study of 13 UK rivers by Greenpeace revealed they all had microplastics in them.

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

Schoolgirls petition McDonald's and Burger King to remove plastic toys from meals targeted at children

The growth in single-use consumer plastics has fuelled a surge in plastic pollution around the world. It is estimated there are now 5.25 trillion pieces of ocean plastic debris, and a recent report estimated the quantity of plastic in the sea will treble by 2025.