Copyright : Laboratoire LEMAR- 2018
Fabienne Lagarde (PI), Philippe Soudant (co-PI), Arnaud Huvet (co-PI)
National
ANR
Start Date
23/04/2024
End Date
23/04/2024
Plastic waste has been accumulating in the oceans for several decades. It undergoes various degradation processes leading to its fragmentation into small particles. Microplastics (MP) are defined as fragments smaller than 5 mm that are persistent and ubiquitous in all ocean compartments (water, sediment, organisms). It has recently been shown that plastic fragmentation does not stop at PM and also generates sub-micron sized particles: nanoplastics (NP). However, while their abundance could be higher than that of PM, no studies have been carried out on the presence of NP in the environment. Indeed, to date, sampling of plastic fragments smaller than a few dozen µm has never been carried out. However, NPs have their own characteristics (high specific surface, nanometric size) that make them particularly reactive and potentially more toxic because of their capacity to pass through the biological membranes more easily than PM. It is therefore essential, while continuing research on PM, to study NPs from a physical, biological and chemical point of view.
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This project has five main objectives:
(i) to understand the processes leading to the fragmentation of plastic debris in the marine environment;
(ii) develop a methodology for sampling and characterising the smallest PM and NP;
(iii) obtain data on their distribution in environmental samples (seawater, sediments, marine organisms);
(iv) gain knowledge on the fate of PM/NP in the marine environment and assess their toxicity to marine life;
(v) to assess the transfer of PM/NP in the marine food chain and the potentially associated health risks to consumers.
This project will also involve an awareness programme to inform the general public about the issue of PM/NP.
Laboratory Members
Contributors
- IMMM (Institut des Matériaux et des Molécules du Mans) Université du Maine : Lagarde Fabienne, Daniel Philippe, Bulou Alain, Bardeau J. François, Delorme Nicolas, Brotons Guillaume, Pasetto Pamela, Amiard Frédéric, Edely Mathieu, Gourbil Agnès.
- Ifremer : François Galgani, Emmanuel Rinnert, Maria El Rakwe
- GEPEA UMR 6144, Université de Nantes, IUT La Roche-sur-Yon : Durand Marie-José, Jouanneau Sulivan, Thouand Gérald, Cregut Mickael, Faury Emilie.
- LM2E, UMR 6197 Ifremer/UBO/CNRS : Lois Maignien, Stéphane L’Haridon
- ASTRE, INRA : Julie Reveillaud
- ANSES : Duflos Guillaume, Himber Charlotte, Danion Morgane, Cabon Joelle, Baud Marine, Rivière Gilles, Alexandre Dehaut, Bemrah Nawel
- Cedre : Ronan Jezequel, Stéphane Le Floch
