Analytics

Tackling microplastics in the environment - evidence-based policy recommendations on pellet loss, tire abrasion, fibres, and paints

KALEH — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 13:21:39 +0000

Tackling microplastics in the environment - evidence-based policy recommendations on textile fibres, tire abrasion, and pellet loss KALEH Tue, 12/20/2022 - 14:21

Untertitel

09 March 2023, 09:00-15:00 CET | Brussels

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Beschreibung

The event brought together around 70 scientists, representatives from the EU institutions, as well as stakeholders from civil society and businesses to discuss the non-intentional release of microplastics into the environment.

RD Dr. Martin Dubiel (Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union) opened the event and gave the introductory words of welcome. The welcome address was given by Dr. Frieder Kettemann from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. R. Andreas Kraemer, who moderated the event, gave a short overview on the current political framework regarding plastics and recent developments at different political levels.

In the introductory talk, Werner Bosmans (DG Environment) outlined the political mandate for (micro)plastics regulation at EU level, the relevant sources of the non-intentional release of microplastics into the environment and the existing regulatory framework for microplastics at the EU level. During the Q&A subsequently to the presentation, Mr. Bosmans emphasized that there is a lot more research needed with regards to sampling methodologies to gather information on the presence of microplastics in soils across the EU as well as how this could be monitored at member state level.

The first session addressed the issue of tire abrasion with presentations from Mag. Dr. Romana Hornek-Gausterer (Environment Agency Austria) and Prof. Dr. Ing. Matthias Barjenbruch (Technical University Berlin). Ms. Hornek-Gausterer focused on additives used in tires, more specifically on para-substituted phenylenediamines (PPDs). She concluded that environmental monitoring is needed to understand which substances/products are of concern and to learn about the occurrence, transport/fate and behavior in the environment for such particles and substances. Prof. Barjenbruch presented results from the RAU project on tire abrasion and suggested measures to reduce the entry of tire particles into the aquatic environment.

In the second session on textiles fibres, Dr. Korinna Altmann (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, RUSEKU project) explained the results of washing machine tests with regard to the release of textile fibres from clothes such as shirts during typical washing processes with a household washing machine. The second presentation, held by Nicklas Gustavsson (Ramboll), dealt with geotextiles which are, for instance, used in road construction or for erosion control. Mr. Gustavsson highlighted the major research gaps that exist regarding the use of geotextiles and the potential discharge of microplastics during the use phase or while removing geotextiles from the environment.

The third session started with a presentation of Felix Weber (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences) and Luisa Barkmann-Metaj (Technical University of Darmstadt) who presented results from the EmiStop project on industrial microplastic and pellet loss. The two researchers presented their findings on industrial microplastic emissions at industrial sites and possible reduction measures. Afterwards, the presentation by Dr. Ulrike Braun (German Environment Agency [UBA]) and Dr. Nizar Benismail (Nestlé Quality Assurance Center Vittel) introduced the work of the joint ISO working group on microplastics of which both are active members. A challenge in the standardization work is the harmonization of standards that are currently developed in several different working groups.

In the last session, Dr. Saskia Ziemann (Project Management Agency Karlsruhe) presented the key messages from the German research focus “Plastics in the Environment”, while Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch (University of Bayreuth) indicated future research needs that will – at least partially – be tackled by the Collaborative Research Centre 1357 Microplastics.

The event “Tackling microplastics in the environment” did take place on 9th March 2023 in the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union in Brussels and was organized jointly by Ecologic Institute for the research focus “Plastics in the Environment – Sources • Sinks • Solutions” of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Collaborative Research Centre 1357 Microplastics at the University of Bayreuth and the Interest Group Plastics of the EPA network.

Presentations (videos and presentation slides)

Werner Bosmans (European Commission, DG Environment)
Current EU initiatives to prevent microplastics in the environment, Presentation slides

Mag. Dr. Romana Hornek-Gausterer, (Environment Agency Austria)
Tire wear and substances of concern, Presentation slides

Prof. Dr. Ing. Matthias Barjenbruch (Technical University Berlin, Germany)
Measures to reduce the input of tire material into the environment, Presentation slides

Dr. Korinna Altmann (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, Germany)
Release of synthetic fibres during washing of typical household textiles: Findings from washing machine tests and resulting policy recommendations, Presentation slides

Nicklas Gustavsson (Ramboll, Sweden)
Geotextiles as a source of microplastics, Presentation slides

Luisa Barkmann-Metaj (Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany)
Felix Weber (RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Germany)
Industrial microplastic and pellet loss: status quo and possible reduction measures, Presentation slides

Dr. Ulrike Braun (German Environment Agency [UBA])
Nizar Benismail (Nestlé Quality Assurance Center Vittel, France)
Legal regulation and standardisation of methods to investigate microplastics in the environment, Presentation slides

Dr. Saskia Ziemann (Project Management Agency Karlsruhe, Germany)
Key Messages of the BMBF Research Focus “Plastics in the Environment”, Presentation slides

Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch (University Bayreuth, Germany)
Key Messages of the Collaborative Research Centre 1357 “Microplastics", Presentation slides

Location

Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union, Rue Wiertz 77, 1000 Brussels

Date

09 March 2023

Event type

Research Focus Event

Attachments

Agenda

Information about the Speakers

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Tags

Microplastics

Analytics

Tire particles

Tire wear

Date sort

Thu, 03/09/2023 - 12:00

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Ergebnis

Ergebnistyp

Further products

Statuspapier Mikroplastik-Analytik

hannes.schritt@ecologic.eu — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 13:22:16 +0000

Analysis of Microplastics - Sampling, preparation and detection methods hannes.schritt… Mon, 06/28/2021 - 15:22

Untertitel

Status Report

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Beschreibung

This status report was prepared within the framework of the cross-cutting topic 1 "Analytics and reference materials" of the research focus. It summarizes the contents of the project discussions and coordination within the cross-cutting issue. The organization of this ongoing process of development or elaboration has been supported by several events.

The status report presents a summary of the physicochemical methods for the analysis of MP used in the research focus "Plastics in the Environment". The present recommendations are based on the current state of knowledge of the analysis of MP and are directed at actors in science as well as potential users in practice.

Scientists from the following collaborative projects of the research focus participated in the preparation of the status report via workshops, contributions and feedback loops: EmiStop, ENSURE, MicBin, MicroCatch_Balt, MikroPlaTaS, PLASTRAT, PLAWES, RAU, REPLAWA, RUSEKU, SubμTrack and TextileMission as well as the two predecessor projects MiWa and BASEMAN.

Further Links

Link to Status Report

Year

2020

Type of Result

discussion papers & status papers

Citation

Braun, Ulrike & Stein, Ulf & Schritt, Hannes & Altmann, Korinna & Bannick, Claus & Becker, Roland & Bitter, Hajo & Bochow, Mathias & Dierkes, Georg & Enders, Kristina & Eslahian, Kyriakos & Fischer, Dieter & Földi, Corinna & Fuchs, Monika & Gerdts, Gunnar & Hagendorf, Christian & Heller, Claudia & Ivleva, Natalia & Jekel, Martin & Kerpen, Jutta & Klaeger, Fraziska & Knoop, Oliver & Labrenz, Matthias & Laforsch, Christian & Obermaier, Nathan & Primpke, Sebastian & Reiber, Jens & Richter, Susanne & Ricking, Mathias & Scholz-Böttcher, Barbara & Stock, Friederike & Wagner, Stephan & Wendt-Potthoff, Katrin & Zumbülte, Nicole (2021): Analysis of Microplastics - Sampling, preparation and detection methods. Status Report within the framework program Plastics in the Environment.

Tags

Raman microspectroscopy

Publikationstyp

Special Issue "Nano and Micro Plastic Detection and Identification in Water"

hannes.schritt@ecologic.eu — Thu, 27 May 2021 07:41:18 +0000

Special Issue "Nano and Micro Plastic Detection and Identification in Water" hannes.schritt… Thu, 05/27/2021 - 09:41

Untertitel

Call for Paper

Further Links

For more information on this Special Issue and the submission guidelines

Beschreibung

Open access journal Water (ISSN 2703-4441, IF 2.544)

New Special Issue entitled "Nano and Micro Plastic Detection and Identification in Water". Shaping EU Plastic Policies: The Role of Public Health vs. Environmental Arguments. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3928.

The submission deadline is 31 January 2022 and papers may be submitted immediately or at any point until 31 January 2022 , as papers will be published on an ongoing basis.

Water is fully open access. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision provided to authors approximately 17.86 days after submission. An Article Processing Charge (APC) of CHF 2000 currently applies to all accepted papers.

Tags

Microplastics

Nano plastics

Analytics

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Bildergalerie

QST1: Vergleichsversuch

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 09:52:50 +0000

Cross-Cutting Topic 1: Analytics and Reference Materials: Comparative test janna.vakili@e… Fri, 02/12/2021 - 10:52

Untertitel

Results

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Beschreibung

This comparative test from cross-cutting topic 1 "Analytics and reference materials" classifies different analytical methods for the identification and quantification of microplastics regarding their informative value and to work out the strengths and limitations of the respective methods. The comparative test was intended to provide the pre-requisites for comparing the analytical results of the individual projects within a given framework. No evaluation of the different analytical methods is intended.

Both thermoanalytical and spectroscopic methods were used. It was shown that the different analytical methods for the identification and quantification of microplastics provide comparable results within the respective procedures.

The results of the comparative test are available here as a PDF download.

Attachments

Cross-Cutting Topic 1: Analytics and Reference Materials: Comparative test

Year

2021

Author

Authors

PD Dr. Natalia Ivleva

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Heinz Sturm

Cordula Witzig

Dr. Nicole Zumbülte

Type of Result

discussion papers & status papers

Tags

Methodology of analyses

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Polymer

Polymer analysis

Raman microspectroscopy

Publikationstyp

When Good Intentions Go Bad

hannes.schritt@ecologic.eu — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:38:49 +0000

When Good Intentions Go Bad hannes.schritt… Tue, 09/22/2020 - 14:38

Untertitel

False Positive Microplastic Detection Caused by Disposable Gloves

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Beschreibung

The paper shows that well meant is not always well done. It deals with the question of blank value entries and how "one" should handle them. It shows that disposable gloves can be a source of false positive PE findings, as they can be coated with sterates, for example, which can be confused with PE by all analytical methods (pyr-GC/MS and spectroscopy). In addition, this study shows that it is important to examine blank values and that a process blank value carried along with all steps is useful to avoid false positive results.

Further Links

Article

Joint project

MicBin

DOI

10.1021/acs.est.0c03742

Magazine

Environmental Science & Technology

Year

2020

Author

Authors

Cordula S. Witzig

Corinna Földi

Katharina Wörle

Peter Habermehl

Marco Pittroff

Yanina K. Müller

Tim Lauschke

Peter Fiener

Georg Dierkes

Korbinian P. Freier

Nicole Zumbülte

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Cordula S. Witzig, Corinna Földi, Katharina Wörle, Peter Habermehl, Marco Pittroff, Yanina K. Müller, Tim Lauschke, Peter Fiener, Georg Dierkes, Korbinian P. Freier, and Nicole Zumbülte (2020): When Good Intentions Go Bad—False Positive Microplastic Detection Caused by Disposable Gloves. Environmental Science & Technology, 3 September.

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Publikationstyp

Validierung von Probenvorbereitungsmethoden für die mikroplastische Analyse in Abwassermatrices

hannes.schritt@ecologic.eu — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:25:08 +0000

Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices hannes.schritt… Tue, 09/22/2020 - 14:25

Untertitel

Reproducibility and Standardization

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Beschreibung

There is a growing interest in monitoring microplastics in the environment, corresponding to increased public concerns regarding their potential adverse effects on ecosystems. Monitoring microplastics in the environment is difficult due to the complex matrices that can prevent reliable analysis if samples are not properly prepared first. Unfortunately, sample preparation methods are not yet standardized, and the various efforts to validate them overlook key aspects. The goal of this study was to develop a sample preparation method for wastewater samples, which removes natural organic matter without altering the properties of microplastics. Three protocols, based on KOH, H2O2, and Fenton reactions, were chosen out of ten protocols after a literature review and pre-experiments. In order to investigate the effects of these reagents on seven polymers (PS, PE, PET, PP, PA, PVC, and PLA), this study employed µFTIR, laser diffraction-based particle size analysis, as well as TD-Pyr-GC/MS. Furthermore, the study discussed issues and inconsistencies with the Fenton reactions reported in the literature in previous validation efforts. The findings of this study suggest that both H2O2 and Fenton reactions are most effective in terms of organic matter removal from microplastic samples while not affecting the tested polymers, whereas KOH dissolved most PLA and PET particles

Further Links

Link zum Artikel

Homepage SubμTrack

Homepage des Kooperationspartner der Publikation: MiPAq

Joint project

SubμTrack

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092445

Magazine

Water 12(9)

Year

2020

Author

Authors

Mohammed S. M. Al-Azzawi

Simone Kefer

Jana Weißer

Julia Reichel

Christoph Schwaller

Karl Glas

Oliver Knoop

Jörg E. Drewes

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Citation

Al-Azzawi et al. 2020 - Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices—Reproducibility and Standardization; Water 2020, 12(9), 2445; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092445 (OpenAccess)

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Publikationstyp

Simple Generation of Suspensible Secondary Microplastic Reference Particles via Ultrasound Treatment

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 15:44:34 +0000

Simple Generation of Suspensible Secondary Microplastic Reference Particles via Ultrasound Treatment janna.vakili@e… Tue, 03/31/2020 - 17:44

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Beschreibung

Microplastics found in nature originate from different sources can be classified accordingly. Primary microplastics are produced as such, whereas secondary microplastics are only created through the weathering of larger plastic parts in the environment.

This paper deals with the production of suitable reference materials for the determination of secondary microplastics, which presents a highly heterogeneous analyte, as it can vary in size, shape, suspensibility in water and particle surface (through aging).

Von der Esch et al. succeeded in developing materials that can provide a correspondingly complex profile. The procedure yields fragments in the range of 100 nm−1mm, which are sufficiently similar in their properties to secondary microplastics that they can be considered suitable reference materials.

The publication is available for download on this website.

Joint project

SubμTrack

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.00169

Magazine

Frontiers in Chemistry

Year

2020

Author

Elisabeth von der Esch

Maria Lanzinger

Alexander J. Kohles

Christian Schwaferts

Jana Weisser

Thomas Hofmann

Karl Glas

Martin Elsner

Natalia P. Ivleva

Authors

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

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Publikationstyp

Nanoplastic Analysis by Online Coupling of Raman Microscopy and Field-Flow Fractionation Enabled by Optical Tweezers

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 14:25:20 +0000

Nanoplastic Analysis by Online Coupling of Raman Microscopy and Field-Flow Fractionation Enabled by Optical Tweezers janna.vakili@e… Tue, 03/31/2020 - 16:25

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Beschreibung

Plastic particles are almost omnipresent in our environment. Even though nanoplastic pollution also falls into this area of concern, current analytical approaches reach their limits in this size range.

To address the problem, Schwaferts et al. couple two analytical methods and combine nanoparticle separation with chemical characterization. The methodological setup presented in the paper enables researchers to identify particles of different materials (polymers and inorganic) in the size range from 200 nm to 5 μm, with concentrations in the order of 1 mg/L. The presented technique thus shows potential for application in nanoplastic analysis as well as in many other areas of nanomaterial characterization.

The publication is available for download on this website.

Joint project

SubμTrack

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05336

Magazine

Analytical Chemistry

Year

2020

Author

Christian Schwaferts

Vanessa Sogne

Roland Welz

Florian Meier

Thorsten Klein

Reinhard Niessner

Martin Elsner

Natalia P. Ivleva

Authors

Type of Result

(scientific) publications (peer-review, essays, book chapters, poster etc.)

Tags

Publikationstyp

PhD-WinterSchool „Plastik in der Umwelt“

linda.mederake@ecologic.eu — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 09:57:21 +0000

PhD-WinterSchool „Plastics in the Environment“ linda.mederake… Mon, 02/24/2020 - 10:57

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The participants of the WinterSchool during their visit of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing.

Beschreibung

From February 10 to 14, 2020, the five-day PhD-WinterSchool "Plastics in the Environment" of the BMBF research focus "Plastics in the Environment – Sources ● Sinks ● Solutions" took place in Döllnsee, Brandenburg.

The aim of the WinterSchool was to enable the 30 participating PhD candidates to exchange ideas and experiences by presenting and discussing their PhD projects. In addition, the students learned about the latest scientific results and methodological findings of several joint research projects and cross-cutting issues such as microplastics analysis and ecotoxicology. A further focus was placed on strengthening interdisciplinary exchange with the aim of enhancing inter- and transdisciplinary research. To this end, a workshop on science communication was organised, which included modules on inter- and transdisciplinary work.

The WinterSchool included – in addition to the presentations of the participants – workshops, discussion formats, inputs from external experts and an excursion on topics such as consumption and consumer behaviour, circular economy and recycling, as well as inputs and fate of plastics in the environment. In the end, the participants jointly developed policy recommendations that will be published subsequently to the conference.

Location

Hotel Döllnsee-Schorfheide

Organiser

Ecologic Institute

Date

10 - 14 February 2020

10. - 14. Februar 2020

Event type

Research Focus Event

Image Gallery

Presentation by Christian Kobsda, Leibniz Association and Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society

PhD students discuss their work at the Winterschool

Exchange in small groups

Presentation by Ulrike Braun and Venio Quinque, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing

Presentation by Urs Dippon at the experimental field of the Federal Environment Agency in Berlin-Marienfelde

Guided tour by Ralf Schmidt on the experimental field of the Federal Environment Agency in Berlin-Marienfelde

Discussions in subject-related small groups

Visit and discussion at Restlos Glücklich

Quiz at Restlos Glücklich

Work in small groups

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Date sort

Mon, 02/10/2020 - 12:00

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Wasser 2021 - Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft

janna.vakili@ecologic.eu — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 12:55:42 +0000

"Wasser 2021" - Annual Meeting of the Water Chemical Society janna.vakili@e… Wed, 11/13/2019 - 13:55

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Beschreibung

"Wasser 2021" is the central conference of the Water Chemical Society on all topics of water quality with the latest results on pollution of waste water, treatment, drinking water/analytics, marine chemistry, water bodies/trace substances, sediments, colloids, water chemistry and industry.

Experts from the field of water chemistry as well as experts from other disciplines who have made water their profession meet to exchange experiences and ideas. Personal encounter and discussion of current technical problems are paramount during this conference.

Please find further information on the event's website [in German].

Location

Online

Organiser

Water Chemistry Society

Date

10 - 12 May 2021

10. - 12. Mai 2021

Further Links

Website of the event (in German)

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