The JPI-Oceans funded project FACTS (2020-2023) analyses sources, transport, occurrence, and fate of small microplastics (MPs) in northern marine waters. It addresses the transport of MPs from the temperate waters of the southern North Sea to the arctic waters of the Barents Sea, including its distribution on different scales and vertical transport. FACTS is structured around sampling campaigns where MP is quantified by harmonized methods. A month-long expedition was undertaken from the German Bight to the waters south of Svalbard where MPs were sampled in atmosphere, water, marine snow, and sediment. Other large field campaigns were done in the Byfjord, Norway, and in Gullmarn fjord and two adjacent fjord systems in Western Sweden. Several other field campaigns were conducted, some in collaboration with other JPI-Oceans projects. Furthermore, two fish species, tusk and cod, were sampled at corresponding stations. FACTS addressed nanoplastics (NPs) in marine environments. While quantification of NPs in clean matrixes is doable, it is less so in complex ones, and FACTS decided to address some of these issues. FACTS studied tyre and road wear particles, which are theorized to account for most of the plastics directly discharged as MPs. FACTS did this by combining analytical method development, modelling, and measurement in marine waters and sediments. FACTS has created new knowledge and improved our understanding on the sources, transport, occurrence, and fate of small microplastics in the northern marine waters. Results from FACTS are presented at the conference.

Primary Presenter: Jes Vollertsen, Aalborg University (jv@civil.aau.dk)

Authors:

Jes Vollertsen, Aalborg University, Department of the Built Environment  (jv@civil.aau.dk)

Gunnar Gerdts, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforshung  (gunnar.gerdts@awi.de)

Dorte Herzke, Norwegian Institute of Air research, Environmental Chemistry  (dorte.herzke@nilu.no)

Barbara Scholz-Böttcher, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg  (barbara.scholz.boettcher@uni-oldenburg.de)

Stefano Aliani, ISMAR Istituto di Scienze Marine, Institute Marine Science  (stefano.aliani@ismar.cnr.it)

Tanja Kögel, Institute of Marine Research Contaminants and Biohazards  (tko@hi.no)

Alessio Gomiero, Norwegian Research Center, Environment Department  (algo@norceresearch.no)

Anja Engel, GEOMAR Helmholtz Zentrum für Ozeanforschung, Marine Biogeochemistry  (aengel@geomar.de)

Martin Hassellöv, University of Gothenburg, Marine Sciences  (martin.hassellov@gu.se)

Andreas Held, Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Environmental Science & Technology  (held@tu-berlin.de)

Guttorm Alendal, Universitet i Bergen, Department of Mathematics  (guttorm.alendal@uib.no)

Sylvia Lewis, Sigray  (slewis@sigray.com)

Carla Recker, Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH, Quality Management & Environment Tires  (carla.recker@conti.de)

Iain White, Ocean Scientific International Limited  (iain.white@osil.com)

Tony Gutierrez, Heriot-Watt University Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering  (Tony.Gutierrez@hw.ac.uk)