Already more than half way around the world, the Race For Water Odyssey is improving our understanding of the plastic pollution of our Oceans. Here is the half-way result report.
2. Race for Water Odyssey Mid-term report
Scientific assessment
- 22 beaches sampled on
- 7 scientific stopovers
- 84% of debris are plastics
Plastic pollution was found everywhere
- 6 scientific meeting organized (think tank, roundtable,
forums, etc.)
- More than 60 members of the scientific community met
3. R4WO – Scientific results
Preliminary results : environmental aspect
Plastic pollution is omnipresent
We found plastic debris at each sampling
area. No place is immune.
Indicative Figure : Samples of Collected
Microdebris
Samples of microdebris (including a large
proportion of plastic)
Volume of substratum (usually sand)
considered : 25 dm3, 50 cm wide by 50 cm
long by 10 cm depth («quadrant»)
4. R4WO – Scientific results
Component/I
nstitution
Objective Planning
Microplastics /
EPFL
Identify microplastic (MP) quality
and typology in order to
characterize the material used and
the primary function of this plastic.
Final report : April, 2016
Intermediate results will be
provided regularly
Micropolluants /
HEIA-FR
Qualitative determination of
absorbed pollutants on
microplastics.
Laboratory analysis will start in
march 2016
Final results : March 2017
5. R4WO – Scientific results
Component/I
nstitution
Objective Planning
Microplastics
toxicity /
Bordeaux
Assesss the microplastic toxicity on a
cell line of fish, and on the
development of a fish larvae, the
Japanese Medaka, Oryzias latipes.
Cell line starting tests planned :
September, 2015.
Preliminary results : End of
November 2015.
Macroplastics
/ Duke
Automated aerial identification of
macroplastics washed ashore
Online release three months
after data reception.
Plankton/Ros
coff and
CNRS
1. Improve the knowledge about
marine biodiversity by creating a
genomic database of plankton,
2. Create a network of navigating
citizens who participate to a global
worldwide sampling.
Results expected end of
September 2015.
6. R4WO – Scientific results
Preliminary results : social aspect
On every island
(except for Hawaii)
1) Awareness raising is always a pillar
2) High costs related to shoreline clean-
ups
3) Local people face marine debris with
their own means
4) Local initiatives are key when the
municipality does have the
means/political will
5) Systemic problems related to the
waste management
7. Race for Water Odyssey Mid-term report
AWARENESS
PARTNERSHIP
SENSITIZATION
MEDIA &
SOCIAL
NETWORKNEWORK
44 organizations met
1 network of WATER
GUARDIAN EXPERTS
with 170 people contacted
7 partnerships with Swiss
embassies, consulates or
Swisness
500 children met
1 conference at the UN
8 public events touching
more than 3600 people
8 press conferences
372 publications in 35
countries
4090 followers on
Facebook
Notas del editor
Chaque étape scientifique a réservé son lot de surprises pour l’équipe scientifique, et toutes ont été différentes les unes des autres. Les plages de Kamilo (Big Island, Hawaii) et de Kahuku (Oahu, Hawaii) restent à ce jour les deux plages les plus polluées par les macro déchets de l’expédition. Les quantités de micro plastiques, quant à elles, étaient particulièrement impressionnantes à l’île de Pâques. De manière générale, et avant analyses plus poussées, le gyre de déchets du Pacifique Nord (Hawaii, Guam et dans une certaine mesure Koror) semble être le plus impressionnant jusqu’à présent.
LEARN: Because there is a clear need to assess the real impact of plastic pollution as the subject is new and still not well measured. INVENTED IN THE 60’s
SHARE: Because there is a lack of awareness, of understanding and of acknowledgement about the issue of plastic pollution among key decision makers, general public and future leaders
ACT: Because there is no real efficient large scale solution to date and the only way forward is to act concretely to remove plastic waste
LEARN: Because there is a clear need to assess the real impact of plastic pollution as the subject is new and still not well measured. INVENTED IN THE 60’s
SHARE: Because there is a lack of awareness, of understanding and of acknowledgement about the issue of plastic pollution among key decision makers, general public and future leaders
ACT: Because there is no real efficient large scale solution to date and the only way forward is to act concretely to remove plastic waste
Outcome of Race for Water Odyssey
- International understanding
- RACE FOR WATER GUARDIANS
we cannot clean the sea
People are in need for solutions
- Still a necessity raise awareness
- And carry on research
- A solution is identified