Skip to main content
European Commission logo
polski polski
CORDIS - Wyniki badań wspieranych przez UE
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary

The training of early stage researchers for the development of technologies to monitor concentrations of micro and nanoplastics in water for their presence, uptake and threat to animal and human life.

Opis projektu

Szkolenia z zakresu oceny ryzyka zdrowotnego, jakie niosą za sobą mikrodrobiny plastiku

Plastik to ważny materiał, który jest powszechnie wykorzystywany w naszej gospodarce i życiu codziennym. Problemy z nim związane, takie jak uwalnianie tworzyw sztucznych do środowiska, stanowią poważne zagrożenie dla naszego dobrostanu. Ograniczenie ilości odpadów tworzyw sztucznych wytwarzanych każdego roku to nadal duże wyzwanie. Co roku do środowiska uwalnianych jest do 300 000 ton mikrodrobin plastiku. W ramach finansowanego ze środków UE projektu MONPLAS przeprowadzone zostaną szkolenia z zakresu monitorowania stężenia mikro- i nanodrobin plastiku w wodzie, ich ilości wchłanianych przez organizm, a także stopnia zagrożenia dla życia ludzi i zwierząt. Szkolenia te będą skierowane do naukowców na wczesnym etapie kariery. Projekt uwidocznił potrzebę organizowania szkoleń dla inżynierów oraz stworzenia odpowiednich technologii wykorzystywanych do przeprowadzania standardowych pomiarów, które będą niedrogie, solidne i łatwe w obsłudze.

Cel

Micro and nanoplastics have recently been found in our soil, tap water, bottled water, beer and even in the air we breathe, with a growing concern about the potential health risks they pose to us. Whether that is through ingesting the harmful bacteria they pick up when coming from wastewater plants, or just through injury and death of cells through contact, possibly through absorption of nanoplastics by cells, we really don’t know. Which is why there is an urgent need for more research on their toxicity and also why a new EC drinking water directive is to be published in 2019 stating that water companies will need to measure concentrations of microplastics from within two years for positive release and inspection. However, even though a standard measurement method will be published in 2019 for water, its necessary use of existing and expensive scientific laboratory equipment, such as microscopy and FTIR or Raman spectroscopy, will make it prohibitively expensive for in line use for many companies across Europe especially considering its need for highly trained personnel. There is therefore a need to develop suitable technologies for a robust, easy to use and low cost industrial instrument, whose measurements will correspond directly to the aforementioned standard, as well as train engineers for method development and operation. Given these multiple technical and analytical challenges, and that global production of plastic, that can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, is expected to triple by 2050; we propose a timely four year Initial Training Network to train multiple Early State Researchers throughout various scientific areas. Consisting of some of Europe's greatest experts in their fields it will provide tomorrows talent with the skills and knowledge to tackle possibly one of mankind's greatest threats to its existence whilst they jointly develop the technologies for the industrial instrument in collaboration with end-users and equipment manufacturers.

Koordynator

ASTON UNIVERSITY
Wkład UE netto
€ 606 345,12
Adres
ASTON TRIANGLE
B4 7ET Birmingham
Zjednoczone Królestwo

Zobacz na mapie

Region
West Midlands (England) West Midlands Birmingham
Rodzaj działalności
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Linki
Koszt całkowity
€ 606 345,12

Uczestnicy (8)