About
WEATHER-MIC is one of four approved projects following the 2014 JPI-Oceans Pilot Call on ecological effects of microplastics. Five partners from four European countries form the consortium.
Project coordinator
Annika Jahnke
E-mail: annika.jahnke@ufz.de
Objectives
- Use artificial weathering in lab experiments combined with non-target chemical analysis and particle imaging to “fingerprint” weathered plastic particles
- Investigate how weathering processes of MPs influence their vertical distribution, trophic transfer and toxicity (by affecting size distribution, surface morphology, density, aggregation-flocculation behaviour and microbial biofilm communities)
- Investigate if the 3D spatial distribution from lab-scale column tests can be extrapolated to field data from the Stockholm Archipelago and Oslo Harbour (using sediment transport models parameterized for MPs)
- Assess toxic effects of weathered MPs by
- toxicity tests using OECD guidelines adapted for ecotoxicological testing of MP particles
- changes in biofilm communities
- cell-based bioassays with MP leachates to identify modes-of-action and to quantify toxicity
- Develop new tools to incorporate MP weathering into risk assessment of marine MP pollution