Microplastics are polluting every major river in Europe — and now, scientists have found a dangerous human pathogen hitching a ride.
Stéphane Mandard reports for Le Monde.
In short:
- A sweeping study of nine European rivers found microplastics in every single water sample collected, with concentrations deemed “alarming,” especially for smaller particles that are more easily ingested by wildlife and potentially humans.
- Scientists discovered that plastic debris acts like a floating petri dish, carrying dangerous pathogens — like Shewanella putrefaciens, a bacterium that can cause serious infections in humans — and absorbing toxic chemicals including heavy metals and pesticides.
- Industrial plastic pellets used in manufacturing made up about a quarter of “large” microplastics found in France’s rivers, showing that pollution stems not just from waste but also from production and transport processes.
Key quote:
“These results demonstrate that the only solution to fight against this catastrophic pollution is not to improve recycling, which does not work, but to reduce plastic production.”
— Jean-François Ghiglione, scientific director, French National Centre for Scientific Research
Why this matters:
Microplastics are a growing public health threat. With bacteria and toxins clinging to these particles, every river could be a conveyor belt for disease, raising red flags for food safety, water quality, and ecosystem resilience. It all adds up to a quiet, systemic invasion that can’t be skimmed off the surface. It’s in our rivers, our bodies, and increasingly, it's affecting our wellbeing.
Read more on microplastic pollution from EHN:
- Citizen scientists are seeing an influx of microplastics in the Ohio River
- Petrochemical plants send millions of pounds of pollutants into waterways each year
- At least 36 facilities in Texas identified as potential microplastic polluters, according to new map
- How do microplastics impact our gut health?
- Are microplastics invading the male reproductive system?
