Periodic Reporting for period 2 - LABPLAS (Land-Based Solutions for Plastics in the Sea)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-12-01 bis 2024-05-31
The LABPLAS project aims to comprehensively understand the sources, transport mechanisms, distribution, and impacts of plastic pollution across all abiotic and biotic environmental compartments (i.e. freshwater, marine, terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic biota) to provide European authorities with robust scientific evidence to support decision-making regarding plastic governance. Special emphasis is placed on small-, micro- and nano- plastics (SMNPs) (≤100 µm), based on two key assumptions: 1) Most plastic pollution originates from land-based sources, and 2) The environmental impact of plastic particles is influenced by their size, shape, and composition.
During the first 36 months, the LABPLAS project has conducted sampling campaigns for SMNPs detection across all abiotic and biotic environmental compartments in two contrasting case studies , 1) the urban-industrial Thames and Elbe river basins, which feed into the North Sea, and 2) the Atlantic Mero-Barcés river basin in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, primarily rural but impacted by highway traffic. Results indicate that most microplastics are prevalent near urban and industrial areas, with significant variability depending on location and season.
Additionally, two sediment cores from the Baltic Sea are being analysed to investigate the hypothesis of increased plastic accumulation over time, contributing to discussions about the onset of the Anthropocene epoch.
For a more accurate identification and quantification of MPs and their associated chemicals (e.g. tyre wear particles, tyre markers, synthetic and natural rubbers, plastic additives), novel IR-based spectrometric and thermoanalytical techniques have been developed and validated.
Guidelines for extracting, purifying, pre-concentrating, and detecting the smallest small microplastics (SSM) with size ranges between ≤20 µm – 1 µm and nanoparticles (NP) with size ranges between ≤1000 nm – 30 nm were also established and optimized for water, suspended sediments and biota.
At the macro level, the POS2IDON framework is being optimized to detect the locations of floating marine plastic debris and other ocean features using high-resolution Sentinel-2 satellite imagery enhanced with machine learning algorithms like Random Forest, XGBoost, and U-Net.
The impact of environmental plastics sampled in aquatic and terrestrial environments was assessed using the LABPLAS Project Toxicity Testing Scheme (LPTTS) covering standard reproducible toxicity tests using representative species from different trophic levels of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats. Two routes of exposure were considered, 1) dissolved chemicals in water, and 2) plastic particles in contact with or ingested by organisms. Slight to no toxicity was observed in aquatic bioassays. Findings also indicate that aquatic organisms tend to be more sensitive towards leachates than particle exposure, while effects predominantly occurred at concentrations exceeding levels detected in the environment.
In parallel, a suite of environmental models was further developed to identify or predict sources, transport mechanisms across various environmental compartments, and potential transfer of chemicals to biota, aiding in mapping plastic-impacted hotspots. Field and laboratory experiments on biofilm growth on plastics have provided valuable data for particle transport models, whilst sedimentation rates and theoretical drag models considering particle shape are also being analyzed.
Moreover, two case studies on car tyres and single-use plastic bags were identified to evaluate the effectiveness of SMNP emission reduction measures.
All findings and results on plastic pollution and human/ocean interactions have been compiled in policy briefs and presented at High-Level Dialogue events.
Additionally, two sediment cores from the Baltic Sea are being analysed to investigate the hypothesis of increased plastic accumulation over time, contributing to discussions about the onset of the Anthropocene epoch.
For a more accurate identification and quantification of MPs and their associated chemicals (e.g. tyre wear particles, tyre markers, synthetic and natural rubbers, plastic additives), novel IR-based spectrometric and thermoanalytical techniques have been developed and validated.
Guidelines for extracting, purifying, pre-concentrating, and detecting the smallest small microplastics (SSM) with size ranges between ≤20 µm – 1 µm and nanoparticles (NP) with size ranges between ≤1000 nm – 30 nm were also established and optimized for water, suspended sediments and biota.
At the macro level, the POS2IDON framework is being optimized to detect the locations of floating marine plastic debris and other ocean features using high-resolution Sentinel-2 satellite imagery enhanced with machine learning algorithms like Random Forest, XGBoost, and U-Net.
The impact of environmental plastics sampled in aquatic and terrestrial environments was assessed using the LABPLAS Project Toxicity Testing Scheme (LPTTS) covering standard reproducible toxicity tests using representative species from different trophic levels of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats. Two routes of exposure were considered, 1) dissolved chemicals in water, and 2) plastic particles in contact with or ingested by organisms. Slight to no toxicity was observed in aquatic bioassays. Findings also indicate that aquatic organisms tend to be more sensitive towards leachates than particle exposure, while effects predominantly occurred at concentrations exceeding levels detected in the environment.
In parallel, a suite of environmental models was further developed to identify or predict sources, transport mechanisms across various environmental compartments, and potential transfer of chemicals to biota, aiding in mapping plastic-impacted hotspots. Field and laboratory experiments on biofilm growth on plastics have provided valuable data for particle transport models, whilst sedimentation rates and theoretical drag models considering particle shape are also being analyzed.
Moreover, two case studies on car tyres and single-use plastic bags were identified to evaluate the effectiveness of SMNP emission reduction measures.
All findings and results on plastic pollution and human/ocean interactions have been compiled in policy briefs and presented at High-Level Dialogue events.
Other significant project results are:
- Two new biodegradation test methods were developed to assess the biodegradability of plastics using freshwater samples. These methods close an important methodological gap and can be proposed for standardization in the future.
- A portable, modular, and cost-effective device has been developed for sorting by size and identifying the smallest small microplastics (SSM), with size ranges between ≤20 µm – 1 µm, and nanoparticles (NP), with size ranges between ≤1000 nm – 30 nm, from water intended for human consumption. This has allowed the identification of PS, PET, PE and PP.
- A new methodology for analysing MPs in mussels using a gold-coated filter for LDIR direct analysis has been developed to streamline the process, bypassing the need for evaporation, and improving accuracy and speed.
- The plastic-to-zooplankton ratio (PZR) was calculated to provide new insights into the environmental risk of microplastic pollution on marine food webs, serving as a Good Environmental Status (GES) indicator. Findings highlight that plastic exposure stresses marine ecosystems and that further research is needed.
- Passive samplers based on atmospheric bulk deposition (dry + wet) have been tested with three digestion methods, and optimized parameters for LDIR analysis, which enables high specificity and accuracy, emphasizing the differentiation between MP particles and fibres. Moreover, leaves have been explored as a novel, passive way to collect airborne MPs, offering a potentially simpler method for environmental monitoring.
- Two new biodegradation test methods were developed to assess the biodegradability of plastics using freshwater samples. These methods close an important methodological gap and can be proposed for standardization in the future.
- A portable, modular, and cost-effective device has been developed for sorting by size and identifying the smallest small microplastics (SSM), with size ranges between ≤20 µm – 1 µm, and nanoparticles (NP), with size ranges between ≤1000 nm – 30 nm, from water intended for human consumption. This has allowed the identification of PS, PET, PE and PP.
- A new methodology for analysing MPs in mussels using a gold-coated filter for LDIR direct analysis has been developed to streamline the process, bypassing the need for evaporation, and improving accuracy and speed.
- The plastic-to-zooplankton ratio (PZR) was calculated to provide new insights into the environmental risk of microplastic pollution on marine food webs, serving as a Good Environmental Status (GES) indicator. Findings highlight that plastic exposure stresses marine ecosystems and that further research is needed.
- Passive samplers based on atmospheric bulk deposition (dry + wet) have been tested with three digestion methods, and optimized parameters for LDIR analysis, which enables high specificity and accuracy, emphasizing the differentiation between MP particles and fibres. Moreover, leaves have been explored as a novel, passive way to collect airborne MPs, offering a potentially simpler method for environmental monitoring.