Scientists Discover It's Raining Plastic In Denver, Boulder

BOULDER, CO — It's raining plastic in Denver's metro area and Boulder, according to new research by federal agencies. Scientists confirmed that microscopic, multi-colored plastic was found in more than 90 percent of their samples.

The research, which was conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey, shows the dramatic impact of pollution.

The bits of plastic can only be seen with a microscope. Most of the plastic was in fiber form, and blue was the most common color, scientists said. Bits of red, purple, silver, yellow, green and other colors were also found.

Microplastic has been found in rain, waterways and the ocean around the world. Trillions of pieces of plastic float in the ocean, killing fish and other wildlife.

A recent study by the University of Newcastle found that the average person could be swallowing the equivalent of a credit card worth of plastic every week.

It's unclear where Colorado's microplastic rain is coming from, and the extent of its impact on the environment and people.

In his visit to a Pennsylvania plastic manufacturing plant Tuesday, President Donald Trump said China and other countries are to blame for plastic contamination.

"We have tremendous plastics coming over from Asia, from China and various other [countries]," Trump told reporters. "It's not our plastic. It's plastic that's floating over in the ocean and the various oceans from other places."

Trump said U.S. plastic manufacturers don't need to take action.
"... plastics are fine, but you have to know what to do with them," Trump said. "Other countries are not taking care of their plastic use and they haven't for a long time. And the plastic that we're getting is floating across the ocean from other places, including China."

Many U.S. cities have banned plastic bags and straws in an attempt to cut back on pollution. Boulder, one of the cities surveyed, has banned plastic bags.