WP5 – PlasticTrace

Creating impact

The results and outcomes from PlasticTrace will be disseminated through several channels to reach the different stakeholders and different sectors through a number of activities. This will include all from stakeholder meetings and workshops, social media communication to more traditional scientific publications and attending key conferences. Establishing networks both to facilitate internal and external communication. In addition, the methods and technologies resulting from PlasticTrace will be established in the metrological and analytical sector by internal and external training networks. Here we work closely together with existing EU projects (EUROqCHAM, POLYRISK and PlasticFate) and COST actions (PRIORITY). Long term impact is expected through national and international accreditation bodies in which several partners actively participate. The exploitation of the reference materials will also have a long term effect on the quality of the analysis and data of SMPs/NPs for mitigation actions and decision making.

Uptake of project outputs by private & public sector

End users: Analytical laboratories and service providers for calibrations & consultancy based on new capabilities.
Industry: Instrument makers, Analytical tool suppliers, Food packaging industry and producers ➜ for Industrial R&D, commercialisation of new tools / techniques;
EU projects: Several recently started and ongoing EU projects are in large need of methodologies and technologies to measure SMPs/NPs (EUROqCHARM, CUSP cluster, COST action PRIORITY) ➜ New and deepened networks and collaborations;
Scientific community: Support for researchers at universities and research institutes, including PhD students ➜ Training and collaborations with research community;
EU Research Infrastructure / Metrological Networks: METROFOOD-RI, FoodMetNet, POLMO ➜ New accreditations in traceability chain;

Tangible influence standards & regulation

Draft standards & technical specifications: Partners take part in more than 25 standardisation activities, in particular on ISO/TC 147/SC 2/JWG 1 Plastics (including microplastics) in waters and related matrices, CEN/TC 352/WG 1 Nanotechnologies/Measurement and Characterisation and performance evaluation, ISO/TC334 Committee on reference materials, EURAMET TC-MC Metrology in Chemistry, CCQM Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG), VAMAS “TWA 45 Micro and Nano Plastics in the Environment“;
New studies/ ILCs: CCQM Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG), VAMAS “TWA 45 Micro and Nano Plastics in the Environment“;
EU directives on Microplastics: the Drinking Water Directive (DWD), the Sewage Sludge Directive (SSD), the Environmental Quality Standards Directive (EQSD);

Leader

Bert Van Bavel

bert.vanbavel@niva.no

NIVA

Norway

Role: Partner

WGs: WG2, WG3, WG5, WG6

Professor Bert van Bavel is a chief scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and internationally leading researcher in the field of chemical analysis of environmental pollutants and quality control. He is the co-author of more than 300 publications in environmental chemistry including several key articles on brominated flame retardants, organic fluorine compounds, microplastics in the environment and QA/QC. He has led numerous national and international projects and EU projects, most recently he is coordinator of the EU project EUROqCHARM (European Quality Controlled Harmonization Assuring Reproducible Monitoring and Assessment of Plastic Pollution), interlaboratory comparison studies on microplastics for the QASIMEME program and Norway’s national monitoring of microplastic in the Norwegian environment.

Bio

Meet the other Work Packages

WP1

Development of Micro- and Nanoplastics Reference Materials under metrological criteria

The aim of this work package is to develop Micro- and Nanoplastics Reference Materials that mimic real Microplastics particles, with relevant polymer type, shapes, sizes and degradation status, as found in food and in the environment.

WP2

Development of routine Analytical Methods for Microplastics in food and environmental samples

The aim of this work package is the development and harmonisation of procedures (including sample preparation) for the characterisation of small Microplastics (100 – 10 µm) (particle number, polymer type, particle mass fraction and surface morphology) in complex food and environmental matrices.

WP3

Development and Validation of innovative characterisation methods for Small Micro- and Nanoplastics

The aim of this work package is to develop sample preparation strategies and measurement methods for small Microplastics (< 10 µm) and Nanoplastics (< 0.1 µm) in food related samples (drinking water and milk).

WP4

Interlaboratory comparison: validation of reference materials and analytical methods

The general aim of this work package is to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the reference materials and the methods developed in WP1-3 via interlaboratory comparisons.

WP6

Management and coordination

The aim of this work package is to provide a description of the management and coordination specified to ensure a successfully run project and details of the plans for reporting and meetings.