AUSTIN (Nexstar) — According to a report from Environment Texas Research & Policy Center, microplastics are in 99% of Texas waterways.
The tests spanned statewide, from El Paso to the Gulf Coast. All 77 sites were tested for overall microplastic presence, while 54 were specifically tested for:
- Microplastic fibers
- Microplastic fragments
- Microplastic films
- Microplastic pellets
“Texans want to be able to swim in beautiful, clean water like Barton Springs,” Environment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger said while standing in front of Austin’s iconic spring-fed pool. Barton Springs tested positive for fibers and fragments, while testing negative for films and pellets.
What are microplastics?
For the purposes of this test, microplastics are defined as “plastic bits less than 5mm in length.”
A 2024 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine examined 257 patients undergoing a carotid endarterectomy — a procedure to remove plaque buildup from the carotid arteries. Researchers found that patients whose plaque contained microplastics and nanoplastics were more likely to experience a heart attack, stroke, or death during the study’s follow-up period than patients whose plaque did not contain those particles…