What are microplastics and how do they interact with the marine environment and its inhabitants? An answer to these questions and many more can be found in a new publication highlighting the important role of four recent microplastics research projects funded under the framework of JPI Oceans.
The first call of the JPI Ocean’s joint action ‘Ecological aspects of microplastics in the marine environment’ resulted in the funding of four microplastics research projects: BASEMAN, EPHEMARE, PLASTOX and WEATHER-MIC. The projects focused on defining baselines and standards for microplastics analysis, understanding the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics and their associated pollutants, and investigating the weathering of plastics in marine waters. After three years of dedicated microplastics research, the projects have presented their final results.
With the new publication, all final reports, scientific papers and presentations of the projects are now summarized, providing their key results into a more accessible format for the interested layperson. The paper can be found here:
JPI Oceans (2020), Key Results JPI Oceans Microplastics Projects 2016-2019. Brussels, Belgium. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.11658.00960
New microplastics research projects
Since knowledge gaps remain and new research questions have arisen, JPI Oceans launched a second joint call for transnational research projects which led to the selection of six cutting-edge research projects on microplastics in the ocean. The six selected projects (ANDROMEDA, HOTMIC, FACTS, microplastiX, i-plastic, RESPONSE) will perform research on sources of microplastics, methods for identifying smaller micro- and (nano-) plastics, monitoring their circulation in marine systems and their effects on marine organisms.
