Assessment of the Ecological Aspects of Microplastic Pollution in Dar Es Salaam, Zanzibar and Mombasa Coastal Marine Environments (MICROMARE)

Department of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries, University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) (Lead Institution); The Environmental Archaeology and Materials Science (M&M) group of the National Museum of Denmark (NMD) (Denmark); Kenya Fisheries Marine Research Institute (KMFRI); Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University (Denmark) & University of Dodoma (Tanzania)

The overarching goal of the project is to quantify difference in microplastics occurrence and distribution in various aquatic environmental matrices and examine the adsorption of chemicals on microplastics, their ingestion, trophic transfer and chemical release, and a wide array of ecotoxicological effects on invertebrates and vertebrates and to communicate the findings of the project to the public, relevant national and international authorities and decision makers.

The specific objectives are:

• to quantify the abundance, distribution and fate of microplastics in coastal marine environments of the participating member states
• to identify the major polymers, organic polymer additives and organic pollutants present in microplastics in coastal marine environments of the participating member
• to investigate the potential role of microplastics as vectors of marine pollutants and their trophic transfer in marine food webs
• to equip public and private stakeholders with the scientific basis for the development and compliance with general environmental regulations concerning chemicals used in plastic production
• to foster the development of a diverse scientifically trained workforce through coastal and ocean education programs
• to raise public awareness of the risks that microplastics pose to marine ecosystems and, eventually, human health

• A number of technical studies operational instruments will be delivered to be used by public and private stakeholders
• Potential toxicity of chemical additives and associated pollutants vis-a viz toxicity of polymer itself, including the composition of additives plastic materials
• Uptake, tissue distribution and final fate of microplastics in organisms representative of pelagic and benthic ecosystems determined
• Potential role of microplastics as vectors of marine pollutants and their trophic transfer in marine food webs determined
• Scientific basis for the development and compliance with general environmental regulations concerning chemicals used in plastic production provided for public and private stakeholders
• Diverse scientifically trained workforce fostered the developed through coastal and ocean education programs
• Innovative academic programmes based on current research methodology, for practical use by and training of undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Awareness on the risks posed by microplastics to marine ecosystems and human health is raised to public
• Potential toxicity of chemical additives and associated pollutants vis-a viz toxicity of polymer itself, including the composition of additives plastic materials

• Quantification of microplastics abundance from sampled matrices
• Quantification of microplastics distribution from sampled matrices
• Determination of fate of microplastics in the sampled matrices
• Laboratory analysis
• Identification of major and organic polymers
• Identification of polymer additives present in microplastics
• Identification of organic pollutants present in microplastics
• Conducting toxicity experiments on model species
• Conducting trophic transfer experiments
• Experiments on chemical additives of plastic materials
• Writing policy briefs on chemicals used in plastics
• Training of undergraduate and graduate students on microplastics
• Supporting the development of workforce on microplastic pollution
• Provide engagement opportunities for coastal communities
• Conducting workshops
• Conducting meetings with local communities
• Writing of manuscripts for publication in international journals