Publications

Abstract

Abstract

Anthropogenic microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are ubiquitous pollutants found in aquatic, food, soil and air environments. Recently, drinking water for human consumption has been considered a significant pathway for ingestion of such plastic pollutants. Most of the analytical methods developed for detection and identification of MPs have been established for particles with sizes > 10 µm, but new analytical approaches are required to identify NPs below 1 µm. This review aims to evaluate the most recent information on the release of MPs and NPs in water sources intended for human consumption, specifically tap water and commercial bottled water. The potential effects on human health of dermal exposure, inhalation, and ingestion of these particles were examined. Emerging technologies used to remove MPs and/or NPs from drinking water sources and their advantages and limitations were also assessed. The main findings showed that the MPs with sizes > 10 µm were completely removed from drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). The smallest NP identified using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS) had a diameter of 58 nm. Contamination with MPs/NPs can occur during the distribution of tap water to consumers, as well as when opening and closing screw caps of bottled water or when using recycled plastic or glass bottles for drinking water. In conclusion, this comprehensive study emphasizes the importance of a unified approach to detect MPs and NPs in drinking water, as well as raising the awareness of regulators, policymakers and the public about the impact of these pollutants, which pose a human health risk.

This Policy Brief derives from the joint work of two main EU H2020-funded projects under the pilot action for the removal of marine plastics and litter, namely INNOPLASTIC (Innovative Approaches towards Prevention, Removal and Reuse of Marine Plastic Litter) and MAELSTROM (Smart technology for MArinE Litter SusTainable RemOval and Management).

Our experience in projects aimed at tackling marine litter, supporting a circular economy and producing renewable energy has provided some valuable insights for policy and decision-makers. We are willing to reverse the damage being done and promote a regime shift in the management of plastic pollution. We are keen to change our relationship with the ocean, and with its natural and cultural assets and heritage, for good.

In our stances, we are committed to supporting the work of the United Nations Conference on the Ocean, as well as the follow-up work of the UN Resolution to “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an internationally legally binding instrument” with the ambition of completing a draft legally binding global agreement by the end of 2024.

We represent tech-based companies, research institutes, industries and NGOs committed to scientifically sound solutions in protecting the oceans from the growing inflow of plastic waste, and to establish it as an ally for energy generation.

We are a growing and coordinated movement willing to provide support to the current discussions on the global arena around the ocean.

Abstract

In the EU, 150,000 to 500,000 tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year with 75,000 and 300,000 tons of microplastics released into the environment. The negative impact this has on the environment is widely recognized as being unacceptable at the biological, ecological and the socio-economic levels [1]. Consequently, aquatic ecosystems have been threatened by an exponential increase of plastics debris whose impact is not entirely understood within an overall systemic crisis of our oceans driven by habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity, climatic transformation and major sea streams alteration and disruption [2]. This study investigates the occurrence and characterization of micro-plastic contamination in the Adriatic Sea, where different plastic waste generating activities from neighboring countries are considered as a pollution source. According to the applied protocol, water samples of 5L have been collected and filtrated from three locations around the Venice Lagoon in Italy and five locations around the island of Krk in Croatia. Microplastics, perceptually categorized as fibers, films, and fragments, were quantified; their morphological features (dimensions, color) were studied using the optical microscopy. The size mean, undersize (D10, D50 and D90) and concentration of nano-plastics were also estimated using Dynamic Light Scattering. Furthermore, heavy metals have been quantified in the water bodies by Flame Atomization Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after the digestion step. The results of this scouting scientific investigation show significant presence of microplastic particles in all samples independent of sampling location. The highest concentrations were observed in the Canal Grande at the city center nearby the Rialto bridge, which is one of the most iconic and massively visited location of Venice.

Abstract

By definition, a “city museum” is a museum that stands in the city, talks about the city, and thinks through the city.1 But what if the spatial and physical boundaries of the museum were to expand to the point that city and museum coincide? Part of this conceptual metamorphosis was explained by the urban planner Larry Beasley about ten years ago, at his keynote presentation “The City as Museum and the Museum as City” held at the Museum of Vancouver. The question was how city museums may engage in city life to the extent that, by careful and conscientious interplay between museums, urban planners, city government and citizens, “the city as museum and the museum as city” could become a leading cultural agenda to pursue.

Abstract

Innovative composites based on polypropylene waste impurified cu HDPE (PPW) combined with two thermoplastic block-copolymers, namely styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBSBC) and styrene-isoprene-styrene (SISBC) block-copolymers, and up to 10 wt% nano-clay, were obtained by melt blending. SBSBC and SISBC with almost the same content of polystyrene (30 wt%) were synthesized by anionic sequential polymerization and used as compatibilizers for PPW. Optical microscopy evaluation of the PPW composites showed that the n-clay was encapsulated into the elastomer. Addition of n-clay, together with SBSBC or SISBC, increased the interphase surface of the components in the PPW composites and enhanced the superficial area/volume ratio, which led to a recycled material with improved performance. The data resulting from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical evaluation, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that PPW reinforcement with n-clay and styrene-diene block-copolymers allows the obtaining of composites with favorable mechanical and thermal properties, and excellent impact strength for potential engineering applications.

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive literature review surveying the most important polymer materials used for electrospinning processes and applied as membranes for the removal of emerging pollutants. Two types of processes integrate these membrane types: separation processes, where electrospun polymers act as a support for thin film composites (TFC), and adsorption as single or coupled processes (photo-catalysis, advanced oxidation, electrochemical), where a functionalization step is essential for the electrospun polymer to improve its properties. Emerging pollutants (EPs) released in the environment can be efficiently removed from water systems using electrospun membranes. The relevant results regarding removal efficiency, adsorption capacity, and the size and porosity of the membranes and fibers used for different EPs are described in detail.

Often quickly disposed of but lasting in the environment for tens to hundreds of years, plastic litter pollutes our seas worldwide, creating a serious threat to wildlife and contributing to climate change as they break down.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) both represent significant concerns in environmental sciences. This paper aims to develop a convenient and efficient methodology for the detection and measurement of MPs and nanoparticles from surface seawater and to apply it to the water samples collected from the UNESCO site of Venice and its lagoon, more precisely in the Venice-Lido Port Inlet, Grand Canal under Rialto Bridge, and Saint Marc basin. In this study, MPs were analyzed through optical microscopy for their relative abundance and characterized based on their color, shape, and size classes, while the concentration and the mean of nanoparticles were estimated via the Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis technique. Bulk seawater sampling, combined with filtration through a cascade of stainless-steel sieves and subsequent digestion, facilitates the detection of MPs of relatively small sizes (size classes distribution: >1 mm, 1000–250 μm, 250–125 μm, 125–90 μm, and 90–32 μm), similar to the size of MPs ingested by marine invertebrates and fishes. A protocol for minimizing interference from non-plastic nanoparticles through evaporation, digestion, and filtration processes was proposed to enrich the sample for NPs. The findings contribute to the understanding of the extent and characteristics of MPs and nanoparticle pollution in the Venice Lagoon seawater, highlighting the potential environmental risks associated with these pollutants and the need for coordinated approaches to mitigate them. This article is based on scientific research carried out within the framework of the H2020 In-No-Plastic—Innovative approaches towards prevention, removal and reuse of marine plastic litter project (G.A. ID no. 101000612).

This review summarizes recent data related to the management of marine plastic litter to promote sustainable development. It discusses the distribution and identification of marine plastic litter, assesses the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of these pollutants, and explores their recovery strategies, from a circular economy perspective. The main findings indicate that the majority of marine plastic litter originates from land-based sources. Current technologies and approaches for valorizing marine plastic litter include mechanical and chemical recycling, blockchain technologies by providing traceability, verification, efficiency and transparency throughout the recycling process, and public awareness programs and education. The developed policies to prevent marine plastic litter emphasize regulations and initiatives focused toward reducing plastic use and improving plastic waste management. By adopting a holistic and sustainable approach, it is possible to mitigate the environmental impact of marine plastic debris while simultaneously creating economic opportunities.

Abstract

This volume is for practitioners and scientists providing narratives and numerous recommendations on how to transform and improve existing governance and management systems of Marine and Coastal PA, including UNESCO designated sites. Special focus is given to marine litter and plastics pollution. In particular, the contribution of a pool of scientists and practitioners coordinated by Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, under the title “Macro and Microplastics Pollution in the World Heritage Site of Venice at Glance and Prospects for Remediation”, frames the problem and introduces the potentialities of In-No-Plastic and its twin sister project MAELSTROM to cope with the rising tide of plastics in the World Heritage Site of Venice and its Lagoon.