By Sarah Griffiths PUBLISHED: 11:30 EST, 7 October 2013 | UPDATED: 02:32 EST, 8 October 2013 Plastic pollution is not just confined to the world’s oceans, it is threatening life some of the world’s most beautiful lakes too, scientists warn. Although many lakes in the Alps might look pristine, beneath the surface there are billions of tiny particles which have broken down from plastic bottles, wrappings and other rubbish that are slowly entering the food chain. Researchers have found Italy’s Lake Garda - a popular holiday destination for families and those keen on water sports such as windsurfing - is contaminated with potentially hazardous tiny microplastics.
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Scientists from the University of Bayreuth in Germany believe the microplastics could be getting into food chain via freshwater invertebrates
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The microplastics have been linked with numerous health conditions such as low sperm count, weakened immune systems and genetic defects
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The researchers were surprised to see similar numbers of microplastic particles in sediment samples from Lake Garda as marine beach sediment
And the findings in @placeholder come as bad news for lakes generally, with uncertain ecological and economic consequences.