Microplastic contamination is an emergent threat that is still only little researched and understood. At the University, we have supervised a number of Bachelor and master students that have examined the distribution of microplastics from different sources, in the aquatic environment.
For example, soccer fields with artificial lawns contain rubber granulates that are readily spread into the adjacent waterways, mainly through careless handling and storage of granulates.
In one study, we examined the distributions of microplastic contamination in two lakes that serve as drinking water reservoirs, Lake Bolmen and Lake Vomb. Our data suggest that microplatic contamination to the water column has its origin in the in-lake use of fishing nets rather in catchment land use.
Read more (in Swedish only) about the project here.
