‘Industrial levels’ of microplastic found on island

Levels of microplastic pollution has been found on beaches on orkney comparable to industrialised areas like the Fort hand Clyde.

More than 100 sediment samples were taken from 13 beaches on Hoy and the Orkney mainland by scientists from Edinburgh’s Heriot-watt University.

The micro-particles are thought to have blown up Scotland’s east coast.

Researchers have said plastic can be carried on complex tidal flows through the Pentland Firth. Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands acts like a giant sieve capturing the particles.