Dangerous sewage pathogens have been found “hitch-hiking” on plastic litter washed up on some of Scotland’s finest bathing beaches, raising concerns from scientists the phenomenon could have far-reaching implications for human health worldwide. “The danger is that pathogens could be transported over large distances and survive for much longer than normal,” Quilliam said. “We need to think about exposure rates to humans of pathogens on plastic. Bathing water is regulated by EU directives, which check for E coli in the water. It calls for improvements to be made to EU bathing water profiles by identifying beach-stranded plastics as a possible source of microbes harmful to human health.

Source: The Guardian March 11, 2019 12:00 UTC