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WP 2: Validation of methods for plastics analysis in environmental samples, presentation for the webinar "Presenting Euroqcharm project outcomes to foster global database synchronization"

The validation of analytical methods for the identification and quantification of micro and nanoplastics in environmental matrices is hindered by a lack of standard reference materials (RMs). These materials are required for the harmonisation of analytical methods and the generation of comparable and reliable data. As a result, uncertainties associated with the measurements from individual laboratories can occur due to contamination, over-estimation, and under-estimation of nano and microplastics from environmental samples affecting the comparison and interpretation of analytical data from different laboratories. Until now, the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) has focused on making reference materials (RMs) in the microscale, i.e., from 50 μm and up to 1 mm of the following polymer types: PVC, PE, PET, PS, PP and PC as well as polymer mixtures, in the form of effervescent soda tablets. These RMs have been used in inter- laboratory comparison (ILC) studies worldwide as well as in microplastic recovery tests. The RMs have been analysed by different laboratories using different techniques, including light microscopy, μFTIR, Raman and Pyr-GC/MS. The latest ILC study including the soda tablets is the EU project EUROqCHARM, where two sets of soda tablets, one containing PE, PET and PS (50-300 μm) and the other containing PP, PC and PVC (50-300 μm) were produced. A complete characterisation of these batches was carried during production by counting the number of particles in 20 tablets obtaining a RSD of 11 % and 13 %, respectively and by measuring all the particles in 10 of the tablets for each batch to study the size distribution. In this presentation the results for the complete characterisation of the tablets will be shown. The next step in generating relevant RMs is to focus attention on the size fractions below Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/425663/document, In MICRO 2022, Online Atlas Edition: Plastic Pollution from MACRO to nano

Source at https://www.niva.no/. The Screening Programme 2021 was carried out by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research. The spotlight was placed on the occurrence and possible environmental problems of 218 chemicals. The selected substances may be included in numerous products and their usage patterns are not easily defined so an array of different locations and sample-types were investigated. The total number of results exceeds 26 000. Results are can be downloaded from the database Vannmiljø.

Project manager Bert van Bavel I screening 2020 gjennomført av Norsk institutt for vannforskning (NIVA) og NILU-Norsk institutt for luftforskning i fellesskap ble det satt søkelys på forekomst og mulige miljøproblemer av 160 kjemikalier. Forbindelser som er valgt ut til Screening 2020 inkluderer tilsetningsstoffer til plast og nylig registrerte stoffer i REACH registeret.

Comparative investigations of microplastic (MP) occurrence in the global ocean are often hampered by the application of different methods. In this study, the same sampling and analytical approach was applied during five different cruises to investigate MP covering a route from the East-Siberian Sea in the Arctic, through the Atlantic, and into the Antarctic Peninsula. A total of 121 subsurface water samples were collected using underway pump-through system on two different vessels. This approach allowed subsurface MP (100μm–5mm) to be evaluated in five regions of the World Ocean (Antarctic, Central Atlantic, North Atlantic, Barents Sea and Siberian Arctic) and to assess regional differences in MP characteristics. The average abundance of MP for whole studied area was 0.7±0.6 items/m3(ranging from 0 to 2.6 items/m3), with an equal average abundance for both fragments and fibers (0.34 items/m3). Although no statistical difference was found for MP abundance between the studied regions. Differences were found between the size, morphology, polymer types and weight concentrations. The Central Atlantic and Barents Sea appeared to have more MP in terms of weight concentration (7–7.5μg/m3) than the North Atlantic and Siberian Arctic (0.6μg/m3). A comparison of MP characteristics between the two Hemispheres appears to indicate that MP in the Northern Hemisphere mostly originate from terrestrial input, while offshore industries play an important role as a source of MP in the Southern Hempisphere. The waters of the Northern Hemisphere were found to be more polluted by fibers than those of the Southern Hemisphere. The results presented here suggest that fibers can be transported by air and water over long distances from the source, while distribution of fragments is limited mainly to the water mass where the source is located.

This document - Final implementation: Data delivery and report on results of the distributed observing systems for ocean and sea ice - describes autonomous components of the Arctic observing system for ocean and sea ice measurements that were developed, tested, and implemented during the INTAROS field work seasons. Instruments and platforms described in D3.13 drifted freely on the sea ice or in the water column (ice tethered platforms, ice buoys and floats), moved along preprogrammed tracks (gliders) or measured autonomously at fixed locations (deep ocean moorings). An autonomous sensor package (FerryBox) and drone-based sensors were used to collect observations from the ships of opportunity or during large observing campaigns like MOSAiC. This document is intended to: − Review status and performance of autonomous mobile and fixed observing platforms and sensors used for collecting ocean and sea ice observations in the Arctic during the INTAROS field work seasons. − Describe performance and data obtained from the ice-tethered IAOOS-Equipex platform used for combined physical, atmospheric and sea ice measurements in the central Arctic Ocean. − Describe performance and data collected with the deep ocean mooring deployed for the second INTAROS field season in the deep Nansen Basin. − Describe performance and data collected by SIMBA (Snow and Ice Mass Balance Array) platforms for sea ice measurements, deployed with INTAROS contribution in the Arctic Ocean. − Describe performance and data collected with new biogeochemical sensors for the FerryBox (pH/carbonate sensor, spectral absorption sensor and microplastic sampler) developed under INTAROS. − Describe the performance of gliders and results from new endurance glider lines established under INTAROS in the northern Fram Strait. − Describe INTAROS contribution to an array of BGC Argo floats in the Baffin Bay observatory, their performance, and collected data. − Assess performance and fitness-to-purpose of the platforms, sensors and systems implemented under Task 3.4 for a future sustained Arctic observing system.

Project manager E. Therese Harvey The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive require that EU Member States establish appropriate strategies and sampling programmes for microplastic in the marine environment. We report the results of a second study sampling microplastics in the Inner Danish Water using the Ferrybox system onboard the ‘M/S Color Line Fantasy’ ferry between Oslo and Kiel. This study aimed to supplement and extend a pilot project following recommendations to increase sample frequency and sample volume.