Two popular Brisbane creeks have more than 4000 tiny pieces of plastic per kilogram of sediment, posing a serious possible health threat, a new study has found. Queensland University of Technology researchers dredged sludge from Kedron Brook, Enoggera and Bulimba creeks four times over a year in 2024, with roughly 4400 plastic particles found in one kilogram of Kedron Brook’s sediment. Approximately 4100 particles were found in the same amount of Bulimba Creek’s mud, while Enoggera was the cleanest of the three, with 2800 pieces
of plastic per kilogram. Microplastics are ubiquitous and can be found in water, earth and in the air. As a result, the broken down plastics have been discovered in every human tissue type, and while the health threats are not fully understood, it has been linked to colon and lung cancer.
Brisbane creeks, microplastics, Kedron Brook, Enoggera, Bulimba Creek, sediment, Queensland University of Technology, health risks, colon cancer, lung cancer
So basically our creeks are just plastic soup now??
I don’t get how they tested it, like did they just grab mud once and call it science. If it’s 4000 particles per kilo, that sounds insane but also like… how is that gonna affect people tomorrow?
Wait, colon and lung cancer?? My cousin lives by Kedron Brook and she’s probably fine. Also I thought cancer links were more about smoking and stuff, not tiny pieces in dirt like that. Seems like they’re connecting dots a little too hard.
They dredged sludge four times over a year and found microplastics, okay sure, but what about rain runoff and boats and all that? Enoggera was “cleanest” with 2800 so that’s still gross. I’m not saying it’s not bad, but I don’t think they can really prove health risk from creek mud to humans. Also microplastics are everywhere so yeah it’s like why are we shocked it’s in creeks.