A TEAM of scientists from Scotland and France have found microplastics in a secluded area of the Pyrenees mountains.
The area, which is around 75 miles from its nearest major city and four miles from the closest village, is thought to have 365 tiny plastic fragments or fibres on every square metre of land.
The researchers stressed the microplastics must have been carried through the air to reach the location between France and Spain.
READ MORE: Climate change protesters scale famous Scottish crane in landmark stunt
Steve Allen, from the University of Strathclyde said: “The fact that it can travel in the air is very worrying.
“It’s likely to be basically everywhere.
"Plastic litter is an increasing global issue and one of the key environmental challenges we face on global scale."
Allen added the likely culprit for the fragments was single-use plastics such as polystyrene or plastic bottles.
READ MORE: All washed up with a nasty coke habit ... the future has to be green
The study, published in the Nature Geoscience journal, looked at fibres up to 750 micrometres long, and fragments up to 300 micrometres in diameter.
Some of the fibres included were 10 micrometres in diameter – a size which can be inhaled by humans.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here