TURN THE TIDE ON PLASTIC

plastic loses some of its structural strength, it will break down physically. This leads to smaller plastic particles which would ultimately lead to the formation of microplastics.’

Northumbrian Water warns that contact lenses, like cotton buds, are very hard to remove from sewage because they can squeeze through screens and pass through the whole treatment process.

Contacts tend to be denser than water so sink, posing a threat to bottom-feeding marine animals that mistake microplastics for food.

The indigestible fragments fill their stomachs so they may die of starvation.

The researchers want labels on contact lens packets to tell users how to dispose of them properly.