On December 1 & 2 was organized the symposium on
"Metrology of plastic pollution in the land-sea continuum
Why a symposium on plastic waste found in our atmosphere, from the land and into the sea?
It is estimated that 6 million tons of plastic waste contaminate aquatic environments, 96% of which is in rivers(OECD report, March 2022). These plastic flows in the land-sea continuum are estimated by mathematical models, which lack validation in the field.
Plastic@Sea and its partners have organized this symposium whose objective is to facilitate exchanges between scientific and private experts on the metrology of plastic waste (macro, micro, nano-plastics) in the land-sea continuum. This objective will help to create a standardization of sampling protocols to promote interoperability, processing and banking of data.
A moment dedicated to common reflection.
This time was devoted to sharing the methods used by each to take samples in different matrices (air, soil, sediment, landfill, groundwater, sewage plant discharge water, sampling in estuaries, etc.). The references are common and the first is the OSPAR protocol created during the convention of the same name (for Oslo-Paris) which defines the modalities of international cooperation for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic (entered into force on March 25, 1998).
In the field, the observation is made by all, it is necessary to adapt this protocol to the matrices and to the evolution of the waste related to the evolution of human consumption since 1998. But above all, it is necessary to find adaptable methods and to share research on this problem, which is little known to the general public.
This event brought together 33 organizations, including public institutions such as CNRS, INRAE, CNR,ADEME,OFB and universities from all over France, but also private companies. That is 57 people in the field who are in contact with pollution in each of their sectors of activity and who are determined to share their knowledge of the field.
