Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic products in the environment, which destroys the habitat of wild animals and even has a negative impact on humans.
Recently, researchers Robert Newbould and Professor Mick Whelan of the School of Geography, Geology and Environment at the University of Leicester conducted a study.
The study found that plastic garbage with a size of more than 5 mm moves much slower than previously thought in the river system, with an average speed of less than 0.01 kilometers per hour, and can stay in the river for a long time.
During the experiment, the researchers tracked 90 sample plastic bottle "tracers", which were released into the Saul River near Leicester West.
The results of the study found that, on average, each tracer traveled a distance of 231 meters in 24 hours, and the longest distance recorded was still less than 1.1 kilometers.
Newbould said: "We are very surprised that plastic bottles move so slowly in the river. The plastic in the river will flow to the ocean one day, and we have now generally recognized the dangers of the ocean being polluted by plastic. However, its main source, plastic pollution in the river system, seems to have received insufficient attention. "
He said that if river pollution cannot be eliminated, it will have a direct adverse effect on human life. The government should take measures to intervene in the production of plastic products in a targeted manner.
