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Impact of Nanoplastics Pollution on aquatic and atmospheric Environments

Descrizione del progetto

Scoprire il costo dell’inquinamento da plastica

Quando si parla di tutela ambientale, l’inquinamento dovuto alla plastica è una delle problematiche più preoccupanti. La plastica ha raggiunto anche le regioni più remote del nostro pianeta, inquinando persino l’aria che respiriamo. Quando la plastica si degrada può produrre minuscole particelle chiamate nanoplastiche. Il progetto NaPuE, finanziato dall’UE, indagherà sulla presenza delle nanoplastiche e su come queste influenzano ambienti diversi. Spiegherà inoltre come le nanoplastiche interrompono una serie di processi naturali e in che modo i loro effetti si differenziano da quelli delle plastiche più grandi. L’obiettivo finale è giungere a una valutazione più accurata dell’impatto ambientale delle nanoplastiche, contribuendo a sviluppare strategie di salvaguardia contro l’inquinamento.

Obiettivo

Plastics pollution is ubiquitous and plastic debris have been found almost everywhere from the Alps to Antarctica, and even in the atmosphere. The size of individual plastic particles spans several orders of magnitude, and many of them are in the micro- and nanometre range. Nanoplastics (NPs) can be produced through degradation of larger plastic pieces, or they can directly enter the environment by incorrect disposal. Little is known about NPs in the environment, and their occurrence in the oceans has only recently been demonstrated. Due to their small size and large surface-to-volume ratio, the interactions of NPs with naturally occurring chemical species can be significantly different compared to larger debris.
NaPuE will assess the environmental impact of NPs by determining how NPs can interact with abiotic components (e.g. oxidants, light, etc.) in seawater and in the atmosphere, and how these interactions can disrupt natural processes including seawater photochemistry and air-sea exchanges.
The first part of the project will use laboratory experiments to determine kinetic constants and degradation products for NPs reactions with both sunlight, and chemicals species in seawater and in the atmosphere. The second part will focus on developing a procedure to collect and analyse NPs in the environment, which is crucial to assess their occurrence. Several approaches will be tested to this purpose, from mass spectrometry to aerosol measurement techniques. Finally, the reactivity of NPs in the environment will be modelled to evaluate their potential impact on natural photochemical processes, sea-atmosphere exchanges and the carbon cycle.
We will provide exceptional insights into the reactivity and transformation mechanisms of NPs in the environment. Combined with the data about NPs occurrence, these results will be crucial to assess the environmental impact of NP pollution and will be decisive in developing strategies to solve the problems related to plastic pollution.

Meccanismo di finanziamento

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

Istituzione ospitante

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 849 026,00
Indirizzo
VIA GIUSEPPE VERDI 8
10124 Torino
Italia

Mostra sulla mappa

Regione
Nord-Ovest Piemonte Torino
Tipo di attività
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Collegamenti
Costo totale
€ 849 026,00

Beneficiari (2)