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Wastewater is 'polluting rivers with microplastic'

Untreated wastewater "routinely released into UK rivers" is creating microplastic hotspots on riverbeds. That is the conclusion of a study in Greater Manchester, which revealed high concentrations of plastic immediately downstream of treatment works.

The team behind the research concluded: untreated wastewater was the "key source" of plastic pollution. The water company that operates along the river the scientists studied said it didn't "fully accept" the findings.