References & Publications

Project PlasticTrace

Duration: 2022-2025

Partners:

• Instituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRIM), Italy
• Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Germany
• Dansk Fundamental Metrologi A/S (DFM), Denmark
• Instituto Hidrográfico (HIi), Portugal
• Instituto Português da Qualidade, I.P. (IPQ), Portugal
• LGC Limited, United Kingdom
• Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais (LNE), France
• Norsk Institutt for Vannforskning (NIVA), Norway
• Federale Overheidsdienst Economie, KMO, Middenstand en Energie (SMD), Belgium
• Suomen ymparistokeskus (SYKE), Finland
• Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
• FCiências.ID - Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências (FC.ID), Portugal
• Helmholtz Center Hereon GmbH (Hereon), Germany
• Postnova Analytics GmbH (Postnova), Germany
• SCIENSANO, Belgium
• SINTEF AS, (SINTEF) Norway
• Universidade da Coruña (UDC), Spain
• Università degli Studi di Parma (UNIPR), Italy
• Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO), Italy
• HORIBA FRANCE SAS (HORHF), France
• Nestlé Waters Management and Technology (Nestlé Waters), France
• SmartMembranes GmbH (SmartMembranes), Germany

Objectives:

PlasticTrace aims to address the urgent need for the development and harmonization of methods for the chemical identification, physical characterization and quantification of released small micro/nano plastics (SMPs/NPs) in drinking water, food and environmental matrices, as required by the EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). In this context, combined and complementary analytical approaches will be developed, optimized, compared and harmonized, leading to metrological traceability of measurements through robust validation studies. The project will develop novel and environmentally relevant SMP/NP reference materials. International collaboration with key stakeholders around the world will be considered as the basis for a European metrology network.

Specific Objectives:

• Develop unbiased Si traceable reference materials for SMPs (0.1 μm - 100 μm) and NPs (< 0.1 μm)
• Develop accurate and efficient sample preparation methods for measuring SMPs and NPs in complex food and environmental matrices (drinking and surface water, sewage sludge, and milk)
• Develop accurate and robust methods for (i) characterization of SMP/NP polymer type chemical identity, (ii) physical particle characterization and quantification, size distribution, and particle morphology, and (iii) quantification of mass fraction in complex matrices.

Further Information

Project Polyrisk

Duration: 2021-2024

Partners:

• Universität Utrecht (UU)
• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA)
• Stichting VUmc (VUmc)
• German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)
• Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)
• Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA)
• Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)
• University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU)
• The Research Development National Institute for Textile and Leather (INCDTP)
• Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA)
• Ideaconsult Ltd. (IDEA)
• Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)
• Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP
• European Research Services (ERS) 
  

Objectives:

The project proposes to lay the foundation for a novel approach to human risk assessment of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), taking into account the complex composition of MNPs.

Methods for exposure and hazard assessment in an iterative, tiered approach according to the Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment (IATA) principles will combine, as recommended by OECD, ECHA, EFSA and JRC.

Priorities are chosen within the IATA principles to rapidly provide regulatory relevant new data for MNP risks of priority concern.

Further Information

Project RUSEKU

Duration: 2018-2021

Partners:

• Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)
• Federal Environmental Agency (UBA)
• Chemnitz University of Technology, Institute for Materials Handling and Plastics (TUC)
• Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics (CSP)
• Technical University of Kaiserslautern, FG Urban Water Management (TUKL)
• Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Department of Inorganic Chemistry (FHI)
• Technical University of Munich, Department of Hydrodynamics (TUM)
• Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Technical Environmental Protection, Department of Water Pollution Control (TUB)
• SmartMembranes (SMB)
• Kreuzinger and Manhart Turbulenz GmbH (KMT)
• Umwelt-Geräte-Technik GmbH (UGT)
  

Results:

The goal of this project is to develop adapted and efficient integrative representative investigation methods and strategies (accuracy, repeatability, transferability,) to determine relevant MP contents across the different domains of the water cycle.

Further Information