Project Page Views: [ 830 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Scope, fate, risks and impacts of microplastic pollution in Irish freshwater systems |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Rick Officer |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.27867, -9.01046 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 16/02/2015 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 15/02/2016 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Desk study; Policy; Microplastics; Freshwater ecosystem; Risk assessment |
| Project Abstract | This one year desk study will inform the development and implementation of policy through improved understanding of the environmental fate and risk posed by micro-plastics in Irish freshwater systems. Micro-plastic pollution of freshwater systems may arise from: (a) Discharge from wastewater treatment facilities; (b) Overflow of untreated wastewater during high rainfall events; and, (c) The use of sewage based fertiliser on agricultural or other land. Whilst the relative importance of these and other pathways remains unknown in Ireland, our extensive reliance on freshwater water courses to receive and transport waste waters suggests that prevalence of micro-plastics will be substantial in Irish freshwater ecosystems. Identification of potential sources and characteristics of micro-plastics in freshwater systems; together with an assessment of exposure, evaluation of biological effects and interactions with pollutants is needed to inform societal, regulatory and political discussions at national and European levels. Through characterisation of the scope, fate, and impact of micro-plastics in Irish lakes and rivers this project will allow Ireland to develop environmental policies and strategies that appropriately address the risks posed by this emerging pollutant. Project outputs will achieve two over-arching and complementary communication outcomes: 1. Contribution to policy development through analytical products and reports; and, 2. Publication in open access primary literature to ensure state of the art standards. This approach ensures the quality of outputs and will highlight the excellent work conducted in Ireland to a diverse audience, whilst also serving national needs. Specifically, the project reports will: - Evaluate the potential scale and scope of micro-plastic pollution in Ireland freshwater systems, - Providing a framework for assessing exposure, - Appraise the risks posed by identified potential impacts, and, - Provide policy recommendations. |