Subproject 2: Capacity building in environmental contamination research — plastic as a main contaminant of the 21st Century
In the BMBF project application (Bridge2ERA-EaP, submitted in March 2024), this project aims to identify hotspots of macroplastic pollution along the lower courses of the Rioni River via drone surveys. Additionally, samples for microplastic analysis will be collected using µ-FTIR and ATR-FTIR on fluvial meadows upstream and downstream of two open-day dumpsites near the Rioni. This subproject will supplement the BMBF project by addressing additional aspects.
The project intends to develop laboratory and fieldwork capacities in microplastic analysis in Georgia to support future collaborative project applications. Samples will be pretreated in the ISU laboratory and analyzed using µ-FTIR and ATR-FTIR in the UoC laboratory, with Georgian scientists involved at all stages to enhance capacity building in microplastic analysis at ISU.
Aligned with the BMBF application, this IRC project will focus on microplastic contamination in the waters surrounding the Samtredia dumpsite. Open-day dumpsites are recognized as potential emitters of microplastics, which may leach through sediments or be transported via surface runoff, flooding, or aeolian redeposition into the river. To gain a precise understanding of this situation, the project intends to:
- Drill two transects of four vibracoring sediment cores each to reach groundwater-bearing layers in the fluvial meadows upstream and downstream of the dumping site and analyze their microplastic content, with a focus on very small particles (<50 µm).
- Take water samples from the boreholes to determine the extent of groundwater contamination by microplastics.
- Collect water samples from the Rioni River (four upstream and four downstream of the Samtredia dumping site) to assess the extent to which microplastics leach into the river from the dumping site.
By combining these three approaches, the project will provide a comprehensive overview of the distribution and transport of microplastics in the vicinity of the Samtredia dumpsite.
Researchers Involved:
Cologne International Forum Overview