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On the northern beach of Lake Garda, particularly many plastic parts accumulate (Photo: picture-alliance / dpa). Monday 07 October 2013
There is no danger that is restricted to remote regions in the oceans: the popular Lake Garda researchers found unusually many toxic plastic particles. Fish mistake them for food – and are then eaten freshly caught himself
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plastic waste not only endangered ecosystems in oceans, but also in lakes. German researchers discovered in the Italian Lake Garda more plastic particles than expected. The particles of less than five millimeters in size were scattered according to the study as close to the shore of the lake as part of sea beaches. The scientists from the University of Bayreuth Laforsch Christian and Reinhard Niessner of the Technical University of Munich warn of health risks to freshwater lakes and also require more stringent controls. Their study they published in the journal “Current Biology”.
Larger pieces of plastic are water and beach torn and crushed into tiny particles (photo: picture alliance / dpa). tiny plastic parts were mainly of consumer goods and packaging. They advised according to the report directly or through landfills into the lake and close to the shore territories.
food chain ends with the people
Because the particles are so small fish, worms and other invertebrates can be confused with food. According to the study this increases the risk that toxic plastic residues entering the human food chain. In worms, snails, mussels, water fleas and ostracods, the researchers were able to demonstrate tiny fluorescent plastic debris. These animals are native to the Lake, and serve as food for other animals – such as water fleas, which are a major food source for fish. And the catch is fresh in many restaurants on the table.
The expertsa comparatively low water pollution expected by plastic in Lake Garda. Because the lake extends just below the Alps; streams and rivers have no long distance to the lake. The more the researchers surprised the high number of particles. They suggest that freshwater ecosystems are much more affected close to urban centers and industries.
“General warning”
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“We want to be understood, the results of the analyzes as a general warning,” Laforsch said. “Plastic waste is a danger not only to distant regions in the oceans – such as the famous North Pacific eddy -. Limited environmental science and environmental policy should be interested reinforced for this problem.”
substances such as polystyrene and polyethylene would not occur in nature or only slowly degraded. The north beach of Lake Garda, the researcher was considerably denser with plastic waste contaminated than the southern shore. Cause was the common southwesterly wind direction, which is referred to by the locals as “Ora” and the lake – along with the opposing “Vento.” – A paradise for surfers, kiters and sailors makes
The finding is consistent with findings that a Canadian research team at Lake Huron – has published two years ago – one of the Great Lakes of North America. Even there 94 percent of the plastic particles concentrated on a single shore region.
Source: n-tv.de
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