Antarctica NZ funding microplastic research
Tiny pieces of plastic are changing the world, and Antarctica New Zealand is funding new research as part of its commitment to protecting a critical part of the planet.
University of Canterbury student Alex Aves has received a $20,000 scholarship from Antarctica NZ to expand her research, after she discovered microplastic particles in freshly-fallen Antarctic snow for the first time.
Microplastics are defined as any piece of plastic smaller than 5 millimetres in length.
Aves will collect data on microplastic concentrations in Antarctic air, sea, and snow, to understand just how serious the problem is.
Using that data, researchers can eventually model the wider impact microplastics may be having on the climate – after another recent study found they could be directly impacting climate change.
‘‘Airborne microplastics have the potential to influence the world at a wider scale than we initially thought, and we are only just beginning to understand the impacts these may have.’’
There was currently limited data from the southern hemisphere and remote places like Antarctica, so the funding would play an important part in expanding that knowledge base, she said.
Aves will also focus on marine microplastics in the surrounding Southern Ocean, ‘‘an area I believe to be incredibly important to develop our understanding of human impact and environmental pollution’’.
‘‘It is also very important to understand the impacts microplastics are having on Antarctica as we know that they can enter the food chains of endemic Antarctic species, such as penguins, seals and unique benthic organisms, yet we still don’t fully understand how big an impact they are having.’’
Microplastics were only discovered in Antarctica recently, and are an emerging issue for countries with a presence in the deep south.
Antarctica NZ’s environment and policy general manager, Ceisha Poirot, said the scholarship was just one part of its commitment to preventing plastics from making their way to the icy continent.
‘‘Minimising our environmental impact in Antarctica is centre to everything that Antarctica NZ does.
‘‘Our environmental management system is set up to ensure that all activities are planned in advance, and procedures put in place to ensure impacts are minimised as far as practical.’’
After an international agreement, Antarctica NZ banned the use of personal care products containing microbeads and glitter. ‘‘We provide a list of environment-friendly personal care products for use in Antarctica to minimise the source of common micropollutants and microplastics in the environment.’’
All waste, apart from treated waste water, was returned to New Zealand for treatment, she said. ‘‘A significant amount of effort is put into our waste management systems to reduce, recycle or re-use where possible, with disposal as a last resort. All of our waste is streamed and correctly disposed of.
‘‘Staff and event personnel who visit Antarctica are trained on our requirements to ensure everyone has a personal responsibility to minimise the release of materials to the environment.’’