Descripción del proyecto
Una mayor profundización en la contaminación por plásticos en suelos
¿Qué sucede cuando los micro- y nanoplásticos (MNP) penetran en los suelos? ¿Son transportados por la escorrentía o empujados a más profundidad? ¿Qué efecto tienen las sustancias químicas que se filtran de los MNP al microbioma del suelo, el aire y los ecosistemas fluviales receptores? Muchas de estas sustancias químicas (como los retardantes de llama) no se descomponen nunca, sino que siguen su camino hasta la cadena trófica. ¿Qué umbral hay antes de que se produzcan daños irreversibles? ¿Lo hemos superado ya? En el proyecto PlastiSol, financiado con fondos europeos, se responderá a estas preguntas. Para ello, se estudiarán los MNP y los lixiviados asociados en secciones transversales de suelos dedicados a distintos usos, y los procesos que contienen o transportan estos contaminantes. El trabajo del proyecto hará avanzar la ciencia de la contaminación por MNP más allá de considerar el suelo un sumidero.
Objetivo
There is little doubt that micro and nanoplastics (MnP) are in our soils across the globe. Numerous studies including my own have found that atmospheric deposition alone is enough to pollute even our most pristine remote areas. What is unknown is what happens to it once it is there. Is it transported by runoff or pushed deeper into the soil? What is the effect of the chemicals leached from MnP on soil microbiome, air and receiving river ecosystems? Many of these (e.g. flame retardants) are ‘forever chemicals’, never break down but continue to cycle in the food chain. What is the threshold before irreversible damage occurs, and have we pass it? These knowledge gaps have far reaching implications for food and water security and survival of the fragile ecosystems that make our planet habitable. PlastiSol seeks to address these urgent questions in an attempt to push the boundaries of our knowledge on this emerging threat. Through studying a cross section of land use soils MnP and associated leachates and the processes that contain or transport these pollutants, this project will advance MnP pollution science beyond considering soil as a sink, evidencing atmospheric and receiving waterway impacts of soil pollution. Furthermore, examining the internal mechanisms of soil MnP movement and leachate release will define the potential groundwater influence, land management activities and storage capacities of different land use soils’ MnP. With this evidenced process knowledge, the impact of soil MnP on the global MnP cycle will be established, enabling soil to be included as a source, transport pathway and sink of plastic pollution, advancing the accuracy of global MnP quantification and the impact of soil MnP on ecosystems and all environmental compartments. Only in understanding the extent and impact of soil plastic pollution can it be effectively managed through change in land use practices and policy advancements.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringnatural resources managementland management
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
B15 2TT Birmingham
Reino Unido