Europeans' Stories Hunting microplastics: French scientists sound the alarm on plastic pollution We eat, breathe and drink them, but there is still much we don’t know. We’re talking about microplastics. They’re dangerous for the environment and for our health. They can absorb toxic substances and easily make their way into the food chain. What is the European Union doing about it? 13/08/2025
Green News Seawater contamination in Nazaré: Over 100 people treated for nausea The beach was closed on Friday but reopened on Saturday night. The water was contaminated by sewage that was discharged due to a "technical fault." 03/08/2025
Health news Summer swimming: Most of Europe's waters safe to bathe in, report says Some 95 per cent of coastal waters in Greece and Cyprus are safe for swimming, a new report has found. 20/06/2025
Europe News Forever chemicals: Brussels' mission to clean up Europe's water The European Commission plans to support water treatment to eliminate forever chemicals (PFAS), according to the European Water Resilience Strategy, adopted in Brussels on Wednesday. 05/06/2025
Health news Could this simple action help remove harmful microplastics from water? Boiling water before drinking it could be "a viable long-term strategy" for reducing global exposure to microplastics, researchers said. 02/04/2025
Green News Swedish hedgehogs found to contain pesticides, plastics and lead Researchers have found hedgehog bodies are full of environmental pollutants, including some of the most hazardous to human health. 02/04/2025
Europe News Who should pay for urban wastewater treatment? The pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries have gone to the EU's court to challenge a directive that requires them to finance at least 80% of urban wastewater treatment. 27/03/2025
Green News Hungarian residents afraid to use wells after oil spill After nearly 500 cubic metres of oil spilled from an old pipe, locals are demanding compensation and accountability from the Hungarian oil company. 16/03/2025
Health news Microplastics may make bacteria more resistant to antibiotics Microplastics made it more difficult for drugs to be efficient, researchers say. 11/03/2025
Ocean Plastic pollution: The robot cleaning Venice’s iconic canals In partnership with the European Commission Venice’s famous canals are facing a growing pollution problem. Once plastic litter ends up in the water, it becomes incredibly difficult to remove. Why is this plastic so dangerous, and what can be done about it? 25/02/2025
Ocean Plastic pollution: What’s in Venice’s canals? In partnership with the European Commission Why is plastic pollution so dangerous for our seas? And what’s the most unexpected find in Venice’s canals? We asked Italian researcher Fantina Madricardo, who led a project using high-tech solutions to tackle the plastic crisis. Watch the video above. 25/02/2025
No Comment Bright red river outside Buenos Aires sparks fears of pollution Sarandi River, which is located in a suburb of Buenos Aires, has turned bright red, sparking concerns amongst residents over possible contamination. 07/02/2025
Europe News Commission seeks dialogue on Europe’s deepening water crisis The EU executive wants to hear from governments, civil society and industry as yet another report highlights the scale of the EU’s failure to clean up its rivers, lakes and seas. 04/02/2025
Health news Microplastics are shielding pathogens in wastewater - study Microplastics are harbouring bacteria in wastewater and that could be dangerous for human health. 07/11/2024
Europe News German town fears water contamination in army base sabotage case Initial tests have shown no proof of water contamination, but residents of Mechernich have been told to boil any water before consuming it and stock up on bottled water. 16/08/2024
Tech News Researchers develop 3D printed filter for ‘forever chemicals’ in water Using 3D printing, researchers developed lattices which removed up to 75 per cent of PFOA, one of the most common forever chemicals. 10/08/2024