Northwestern University: Why Plastic Lingers - Water Chemistry Slows Nature's Cleanup
June 11, 2026
June 11, 2026
EVANSTON, Illinois, June 11 (TNSjou) -- Northwestern University posted the following news release:
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Why plastic lingers: Water chemistry slows nature's cleanup
Natural water chemistry shields plastics from sunlight and microbes
* In lab settings, ultraviolet light deteriorates plastic so microbes can break it down further
* But, in nature, plastic often persists in waterways for decades despite direct sunlight
* * *
Why plastic lingers: Water chemistry slows nature's cleanup
Natural water chemistry shields plastics from sunlight and microbes
* In lab settings, ultraviolet light deteriorates plastic so microbes can break it down further
* But, in nature, plastic often persists in waterways for decades despite direct sunlight