研究表明 多國自來水被塑料污染大綱

Microplastic contamination has been found in tap water in countries around the world, leading to calls from scientists for urgent research on the implications for health.

全球多個國家的自來水被發現受到塑料微粒污染，科學家呼籲就其對健康的影響開展緊急研究。

Scores of tap water samples from more than a dozen nations were analyzed by scientists for an investigation by nonprofit organization Orb Media.

參與非營利組織Orb Media的一項調查的科學家們對來自10餘個國家的自來水樣本的成分進行了分析。

Overall, 83% of the samples were contaminated with plastic fibers. The US had the highest contamination rate, at 94%.

總體來說，83%的樣本受到了塑料纖維的污染。美國自來水的污染率最高，達94%。

Lebanon and India had the next highest rates. European nations including the UK, Germany and France had the lowest contamination rate, but this was still 72%.

污染率第二高的國家是黎巴嫩和印度。英國、德國、法國等歐洲國家的污染率最低，但其數值仍達高72%。

"We don't know what the health impact of microplastic is," said Anne Marie Mahon at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

高威梅雅理工學院的安妮·瑪麗·馬洪表示：“我們不清楚塑料微粒對健康會有什麼影響。”

Microplastics can attract bacteria in sewage. Mahon said: "Some studies have shown there are more harmful pathogens on microplastics downstream of wastewater treatment plants."

塑料微粒會吸引污水中的細菌。馬洪稱：“部分研究已顯示，污水處理廠下游的塑料微粒中的有害病原體更多。”