Photos are commissioned by Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology in the frame of Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “Innitiatives to remove microplastic before it enters the sea – FanpLESStic-sea”.
All around us there are manmade materials that are very durable. Some of them we only use once, but even materials that we use for many years can lose small particles and become a source of microplastic pollution. City dust, which accounts for 24 percent of microplastics in the oceans, comes from a variety of sources.
Microplastic particles and fibres originate from the abrasion of objects such as synthetic soles of footwear, clothes, car tyres, infrastructure and insulation materials, artificial turfs, packaging and other plastic materials that we use in our households.
Microplastics have been found in the most remote areas of the Baltic Sea, as well as in drinking water, but the real extent and consequences of the problem are unknown. Recovering microplastics from the sea is extremely difficult and costly, if not impossible with existing technologies. Therefore, measures should be focused on mitigating sources and removing the microplastics before they enter the sea. There is currently a knowledge gap on actual removal technologies and policies to implement preventive measures or removal technologies.
More info: https://www.mpincityspace.eu/
