Scientific Reports (Jun 2024)
Creation of an international laboratory network towards global microplastics monitoring harmonisation
- Adil Bakir,
- Alexandra R. McGoran,
- Briony Silburn,
- Josie Russell,
- Holly Nel,
- Amy L. Lusher,
- Ruth Amos,
- Ronick S. Shadrack,
- Shareen J. Arnold,
- Cecy Castillo,
- Joaquin F. Urbina,
- Eduardo Barrientos,
- Henry Sanchez,
- Keshnee Pillay,
- Lucienne Human,
- Tarryn Swartbooi,
- Muhammad Reza Cordova,
- Sofia Yuniar Sani,
- T. W. A. Wasantha Wijesinghe,
- A. A. Deeptha Amarathunga,
- Jagath Gunasekara,
- Sudarshana Somasiri,
- Kushani Mahatantila,
- Sureka Liyanage,
- Moritz Müller,
- Yet Yin Hee,
- Deo Florence Onda,
- Khairiatul Mardiana Jansar,
- Zana Shiraz,
- Hana Amir,
- Andrew G. Mayes
Affiliations
- Adil Bakir
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
- Alexandra R. McGoran
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
- Briony Silburn
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
- Josie Russell
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
- Holly Nel
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
- Amy L. Lusher
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)
- Ruth Amos
- Vanuatu Bureau of Standards
- Ronick S. Shadrack
- Vanuatu Bureau of Standards
- Shareen J. Arnold
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize
- Cecy Castillo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize
- Joaquin F. Urbina
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize
- Eduardo Barrientos
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize
- Henry Sanchez
- Department of Environment
- Keshnee Pillay
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DEFF)
- Lucienne Human
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Nelson Mandela University Ocean Sciences Campus
- Tarryn Swartbooi
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), Nelson Mandela University Ocean Sciences Campus
- Muhammad Reza Cordova
- Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
- Sofia Yuniar Sani
- Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
- T. W. A. Wasantha Wijesinghe
- Central Environmental Authority
- A. A. Deeptha Amarathunga
- Environmental Studies Division, National Aquatic Resource Research & Development Agency
- Jagath Gunasekara
- Marine Environment Protection Authority
- Sudarshana Somasiri
- Industrial Technology Institute
- Kushani Mahatantila
- Industrial Technology Institute
- Sureka Liyanage
- Industrial Technology Institute
- Moritz Müller
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
- Yet Yin Hee
- Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
- Deo Florence Onda
- Microbial Oceanography Laboratory, The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines
- Khairiatul Mardiana Jansar
- Department of Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Zana Shiraz
- Maldives Marine Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
- Hana Amir
- Maldives Marine Research Institute, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
- Andrew G. Mayes
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62176-y
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 14,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 17
Abstract
Abstract Infrastructure is often a limiting factor in microplastics research impacting the production of scientific outputs and monitoring data. International projects are therefore required to promote collaboration and development of national and regional scientific hubs. The Commonwealth Litter Programme and the Ocean Country Partnership Programme were developed to support Global South countries to take actions on plastics entering the oceans. An international laboratory network was developed to provide the infrastructure and in country capacity to conduct the collection and processing of microplastics in environmental samples. The laboratory network was also extended to include a network developed by the University of East Anglia, UK. All the laboratories were provided with similar equipment for the collection, processing and analysis of microplastics in environmental samples. Harmonised protocols and training were also provided in country during laboratory setup to ensure comparability of quality-controlled outputs between laboratories. Such large networks are needed to produce comparable baseline and monitoring assessments.
Keywords
