Using nuclear-derived imaging techniques, scientists can identify even the tiniest plastic particles in seawater, beach sand, sediment and in marine organisms.
NUTEC Plastics equips laboratories worldwide with the technology and technical knowledge required to sample, analyse and monitor microplastic pollution in the ocean.
As part of IAEA’s work on monitoring marine microplastic pollution, IAEA experts from the Environment Laboratories in Monaco have undertaken sampling missions to Antarctica and to Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands to gather data and build sampling capacity in the region. The answer is, yes, microplastics are already in these most remote areas of the world.
Over 100 laboratories worldwide are now connected through NUTEC Plastics Global Marine Monitoring Network, sharing data and expertise. More than 400 scientists have been trained to monitor and analyse microplastic pollution through the IAEA technical cooperation programme.
