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Environmental impact of microplastic shedding from offshore wind turbine coatings
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The PREMISE project investigated microplastic shedding from protective coatings used on offshore wind turbine structures, examining how different coating types vary in their microplastic emission potential under real marine conditions. The study aims to develop best practices for coating selection that minimize plastic particle release into the marine environment during wind energy operations.
As the deployment of offshore wind turbines expands, the potential environmental impact of microplastic shedding from their coatings has become a critical area of investigation. Furthermore, it is important to understand the specific hazards associated with different types of coatings. Thus, one of the pillars of the project PREMISE (PREventing MIcroplastics pollution in SEa water from offshore wind turbines) aims to assess the ecological hazards posed by microplastics and their associated chemical leachates shed from windmill wings into marine environments. Through a series of ecotoxicological experiments, we will evaluate the acute and chronic effects of these contaminants on marine organisms. Initially, acute screening tests will be conducted using leachates from various coatings, with the marine copepod Acartia tonsa serving as the test organism. Standard endpoints, such as mortality, will be measured alongside more advanced biomonitoring techniques to track behavioral changes, providing a comprehensive assessment of the immediate toxic impacts. Further, particles derived from both rain erosion tests and different repair techniques of wind turbine blades will also be used for exposure tests. Subsequently, the coating identified as having the highest toxic potential will undergo further examination in chronic exposure studies. These studies will utilize the sediment-dwelling lugworm (Arenicola marina) or a similarly sensitive benthic organism, selected based on species sensitivity distribution (SSD) studies. Both acute and chronic endpoints—including mortality, behavior, and growth—will be assessed to determine the long-term environmental consequences of microplastic and leachate exposure. The findings from these experiments will inform the environmental risk assessment of offshore wind turbine coatings, contributing to the development of more sustainable materials and practices in renewable energy infrastructure facilitating the green transition. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559653/document
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