We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
IAEA-NUTEC plastics initiative: Contributing to the global understanding of microplastic pollution in the ocean
Summary
This review examines the IAEA NUTEC Plastics initiative, a global network spanning 86 countries launched in 2019 to harmonize microplastic monitoring methods in marine and coastal environments, build national research capacity, and support achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14.1 on reducing marine pollution.
Launched in 2019, the IAEA's NUTEC Plastics initiative is focused on enhancing global capabilities for monitoring and researching microplastics, particularly in marine and coastal environments. This initiative serves as a crucial platform for understanding the sources, prevalence, transport, behavior, impacts, and final disposition of microplastics in the ocean. During MICRO2024, we will present significant scientific advancements and collaborative efforts facilitated by this initiative. A central component of NUTEC Plastics is the development of a global network of laboratories, currently including 86 countries, which utilizes advanced techniques to accurately analyze microplastics. This network is dedicated to harmonizing and standardizing the collection of samples, analyses, and data across various geographical locations, thus ensuring the comparability of reported results. Our presentation will highlight the main findings from these research efforts, including the development of methods for identifying and quantifying microplastics in various marine environments. We will also discuss the role of the initiative in capacity building among member states, supporting them in achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 14, specifically Target 14.1, which focuses on reducing marine pollution. We will also illustrate how the NUTEC Plastics initiative has fostered international collaborations that strengthen global responses to marine pollution. By providing technical support and sharing best practices, the initiative ensures that member states are equipped to effectively report on SDG indicators and implement strategies to mitigate the environmental threats posed by microplastics. Finally, the global NUTEC network is positioned as a key tool for assessing the effectiveness of global management actions, such as the Plastics Treaty. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/552302/document
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
IAEA-NUTEC plastics initiative: Contributing to the global understanding of microplastic pollution in the ocean
This review examines the IAEA NUTEC Plastics initiative, a global network spanning 86 countries launched in 2019 to harmonize microplastic monitoring methods in marine and coastal environments, build national research capacity, and support achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14.1 on reducing marine pollution.
IAEA-NUTEC Plastics Initiative: Advancing Global Understanding of Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean
This study describes the IAEA-NUTEC Plastics initiative, which is establishing a coordinated network of laboratories in over 100 countries to implement standardized microplastic sampling and analysis protocols, using radiometric and advanced technologies to improve the accuracy and cross-regional comparability of ocean microplastic data.
African implementation of harmonized operational protocols for microplastics in beach sand and surface seawater under the IAEA NUTEC plastic initiative
This paper describes implementation of harmonized microplastic monitoring protocols in African countries through the IAEA NUTEC Plastics initiative, covering beach sand and seawater sampling aligned with the UN SDG 14 monitoring framework. The four-year regional project built analytical capacity across African institutions and generated baseline data for marine plastic pollution levels.
The Caribbean Microplastics problem; harmonization of protocols through the IAEA.
This paper describes efforts by the IAEA NUTEC Plastics project to harmonize microplastic monitoring protocols across Caribbean countries, building regional capacity for standardized data collection and analysis. Participating countries established baseline contamination data using shared methods, enabling cross-country comparisons in a region where previous monitoring was highly fragmented.
Development of harmonized operational protocols for the collection, identification and counting of microplastics within the IAEA NUTEC Plastics initiative
This paper describes the development of harmonized protocols for collecting, identifying, and counting microplastics under the IAEA NUTEC Plastics initiative, designed to enable comparable data across countries. The protocols cover seawater surface, beach sand, and biota sampling using nuclear and complementary analytical techniques.