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UK help for research on river microplastics

12 May 2021

By Pamodi Waravita   The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has partnered with the Government of the UK to carry out research into the level of microplastics in rivers and other sources of water in the country, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, CEA Solid Waste Management Unit Director Sarojini Jayasekara said that this partnership with the foreign Government was sought with a view to obtaining and receiving the equipment necessary to analyse the level of microplastics in rivers and other sources of water in Sri Lanka. “Through our current analyses, we have understood that there is a certain level of microplastics in our water sources. However, these analyses are based on research conducted without the use of proper scientific equipment. Therefore, we hope to confirm this through new research,” Jayasekara further said. Microplastics are defined as plastics that get weaker in the environment over time, degrading to a size less than that of five millimetres in length. University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) Faculty of Medical Sciences Department of Anatomy Lecturer Dr. Sajith Edirisinghe has previously informed The Morning regarding the harmful effects microplastics have on humans. He has claimed that the west coast of Sri Lanka is estimated to be the most affected due to microplastics-based pollution.


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