A project conducted in Slovenia by laboratories and environmental NGOs and which involved the participation of primary and secondary schools, shows that the majority of rivers in Slovenia are polluted with microplastics.

An analysis of water samples at 75 various locations along rivers showed that 44 contained microplastics – plastic cells of less than 5 millimetres.

The biggest concentration of microplastics was identified in an overflow reservoir from the Sava River, between Krško and Brezice, the Ecologists without Borders said in a press release on Thursday presenting the findings of the research.

Based on the number of microplastics identified in the samples, the Sava River again ranked highly, followed by the Krka River near Otocec and Novo Mesto together with its tributaries, followed by the Drava River at Maribor.

Of the 32 rivers covered by the research, only the following rivers did not show any signs of microplastics: Pesnica, Rizana, Zacurek, Rupovscica, Trziska Bistrica and Ledava.

The most common microplastic material detected during the research belong to disintegrated plastic shopping bags or plastic packaging.

Polystyrene used in packaging for construction material was discovered in rivers near cities, for instance in the the Ljubljanica River that flows through Ljubljana and the Drava River near Maribor.

About 1,400 students participated in the project conducted on the occasion of Science Month in an effort to raise awareness of environmental issues, the Slovenian news agency (STA) reported.