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Environmentalist Finds Montana Water Samples Contain Plastic

Officials say the results are meant to start a conversation on how to reduce plastic consumption and raise awareness

By Justin Franz

BILLINGS — A Montana environmentalist has found plastic pollution in half of the water samples collected statewide this summer.

The Billings Gazette reported Thursday that Environment Montana Research & Policy Center director Skye Borden traveled across the state collecting 50 samples at fishing access sites.

Borden says the results are meant to start a conversation on how to reduce plastic consumption and raise awareness.

Borden says plastic reduction options include phasing out single-use plastics, reusing plastics and encouraging businesses to eliminate unnecessary plastics.

Borden says communities could also initiate cleanup programs.

A 2016 federal report found that millions of metric tons of plastic made their way into the food chain and contaminated drinking water.

Scientists say long-term effects of plastic ingestion are unclear, but plastic chemicals could build up over time.