Descripción del proyecto
Fuentes y soluciones para los microplásticos en aguas dulces
Los microplásticos suponen una importante amenaza mundial que no suele comprenderse. En su mayoría, los plásticos entran en las fuentes de agua dulce en las zonas de interior, pero apenas se sabe nada sobre cómo y dónde ocurre esto. Esto impide que las autoridades gestionen o mitiguen el problema desde la raíz. El proyecto LimnoPlast, financiado con fondos europeos, aborda esta cuestión con un enfoque cuátruple: evaluación de datos, formación, soluciones tecnológicas y cambios de comportamiento. El proyecto analizará las fuentes y los efectos de los microplásticos en aguas dulces y formará a científicos al frente de la cuestión de los microplásticos. El objetivo es desarrollar soluciones innovadoras para eliminar los microplásticos del medio ambiente y encontrar polímeros ecológicos. Por último, el proyecto promoverá intervenciones políticas y de comunicación para abordar el problema de los microplásticos a nivel del sistema.
Objetivo
Microscopic plastic debris, so-called microplastics (MP), pose a global challenge. As most plastic is produced and used inland, the considerable lack of knowledge on their sources and impacts in freshwater ecosystems inhibits effective mitigation measures. To meet this challenge, LimnoPlast will for the first time bring together environmental, technical, and social sciences with the vision to transform a new understanding of freshwater MP to innovative solutions. LimnoPlast will:
- Train a new type of scientists able to tackle the complex plastics issue holistically and contribute to Europe’s innovation and Circular Economy capacity. Working at the interface of three usually very distant disciplines, they will promote a step change in how we deal with this and future environmental challenges.
- Provide the first comprehensive assessment of the sources and impacts of freshwater MP based on the analysis of three major urban areas as hotspots of plastic pollution.
- Innovate technological solutions to the plastics issue, including novel processes to remove MP from municipal and industrial wastewater as well as bio-degradable, environmentally sound polymers.
- Promote societal change by understanding the economic, legislative and social context of freshwater MP.
- Transform science into a set of specific solutions, including (I) the prioritization of actions based on the sources and impacts of MP, development of (II) better processes and polymers, (III) risk communication strategies and societal interventions, (IV) effective policy and legislative interventions.
- Transfer the LimnoPlast outcomes to European decision makers, stakeholders and the public to enable and promote action on freshwater MP using an innovative communication and dissemination strategy.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsfreshwater ecosystems
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinador
95447 Bayreuth
Alemania