Uni research to focus on marine plastics
A Stirling University academic is to lead a microplastics research project to combat marine pollution in Southeast Asia.
Dr Sabine Matallana-surget, of Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Professor Federico Lauro, of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, will head one of four projects which are part of a £6m partnership between UK environment agencies and Singapore.
The projects will investigate how plastic enters and behaves in the environment, its effect on marine life, and suitable approaches to reducing environmental damage.
The Stirling project team includes participants from the UK, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, partners in Belgium and USA, and government bodies in Singapore, including the National Centre for Food Science.
Dr Matallana-surget said:“the Southeast Asian region is facing one of the most important marine plastic pollution crises on our planet, threatening the biodiversity of marine ecosystems, coastal tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, which are vital for the economic growth of the region.
“Plastics debris are persistent in the marine environment and are dominated by the smaller abundant plastic particles, defined as microplastics, that are of increasing concern.
“Our research will assess the sources and impacts of plastic pollution at both
We will provide new insights into biological and photochemical degradability of different microplastics Dr Sabine Matallana-surget
the molecular and organismal level – from microorganisms to bivalves and fish – and we will seek to identify new enzymes involved in the degradation of high molecular weight plastic polymers – such as polystyrene and polypropylene – which represent more than 80 percent of annual plastic production.
“We will provide new insights into the biological and photochemical degradability of different microplastics which will support new policies and innovations, which could include banning the most harmful polymers, in the global effort to tackle plastic pollution.”
The projects, part of the Understanding the Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems in South East Asia - South East Asia Plastics (SEAP) - Programme, will take place over three years, beginning in November.