Monitoring of plastic pollution in the Arctic

Is current research answering the needs of stakeholders?

By GRID-Arendal

June 28^th, 2024

In May-June 2024, the Arctic Congress took place in Bodø. NIVA, SALT and GRID-Arendal collaborated on leading a scientific discussion session on monitoring of plastic pollution in the Arctic. Monitoring is crucial to understanding its environmental and human health impacts. But does current monitoring meet the needs of stakeholders in the Arctic?

Following presentations, all participants took part in a post-it session where they shared their expert knowledge on knowledge needs and whether current data collection meets these needs. This discussion showed that there is still a large gap between the two.

On the positive side, there is a lot of good education material employed to increase people’s knowledge on plastic pollution. This is particularly important because prevention is the most cost-effective measure. But the majority of the post-its were placed in the area indicating that we don’t have sufficient knowledge. This included knowledge of sources, changes over time in litter density and composition, geographical distribution and hot-spots, what impacts plastic have on human health and the larger ecosystem, how to improve waste management in remote areas, and knowledge that can support solutions to plastic pollution. Furthermore, the data currently collected is underutilized, and sometimes not easily accessible, and it hasn’t been tested for policy relevance. Thus, we don't have sufficient data to support decision makers in the Arctic.

Monitoring of plastic pollution in the Arctic

Development of a Norwegian monitoring program for Macro plastic and Litter

We gave advice to the Norwegian Environment Agency on a monitoring program based on international obligations and national needs for data on macro plastics and litter in Norway. We assessed existing monitoring methods and examined current data on litter across environmental compartments.

Our findings show that while monitoring methods are generally advanced, survey design requires improvement to secure representativeness and harmonization is needed for comparisons across environmental compartments. Existing methods are well-established for marine environments, but for freshwater, land and biota there is need for further development. Current monitoring efforts are insufficient in terms of meeting identified obligations and needs for data, necessitating expanded monitoring and expert involvement for method development. Local adaptation of data collection is needed to identify pollution sources. Citizen science data is highly valuable and cooperation with scientists would strengthen the quality and relevance of the data.

Harmonizing data collection is also crucial for comparisons and understanding transportation mechanisms across the Arctic and beyond. Both local adaptation and international efforts to harmonize data collection are needed to ensure that data collected can inform effective policies and protective measures.

What kind of data do governmental agencies need to implement change?

Norway's plastic strategy relies on three key principles: science-based decisions, the precautionary principle, and the polluter pays principle.

Collecting data is expensive, so we prioritize data that define the scope and development of plastic pollution, inform effective measures and regulations, and help fulfil international obligations such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and OSPAR. Although a comprehensive monitoring program is still under development, we are introducing three new surveys: sea floor monitoring, satellite-based monitoring, and floating litter monitoring. Additionally, we are expanding Northern Fulmar monitoring and increasing the number of OSPAR-monitored beaches from seven to fifteen.

Our data has been used to implement various measures. For instance, the single-use plastic ban targets problematic items identified through our data. Extended producer responsibilities for fisheries and agriculture are based on data showing their significant contributions to plastic waste. Initiatives like rope codes for fishing address specific waste issues, and awareness campaigns like "Feeding the Plastic Monster" have successfully raised public awareness. Additionally, funding is available to cover litter disposal costs, enabling individuals and organizations to participate in cleanup efforts.

One Health Approach to Microplastics Research and Education in Alaska

At Alaska Pacific University, we are addressing the growing concerns about microplastics in the environment, particularly in drinking water sources. As we transition towards becoming a tribal university, we focus on serving Alaska Native and other indigenous communities with a strong emphasis on community service. We are establishing the Alaska and Arctic Waterways Analytical Lab (AAYWAL) to monitor drinking water, which is essential for many Alaskans who rely on surface water sources like rainwater and freshwater streams.

Our research adopts a One Health approach, integrating various disciplines to understand the impact of environmental factors on human health. This approach, rooted in traditional lifeways, not only emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment, but also values and incorporates Indigenous communities' traditional knowledge into our research. By crossing disciplinary boundaries, we combine chemical analysis with biological microscopy to identify microplastic content and morphology.

We are committed to encouraging Alaska Native high school students to pursue higher education by hosting summer intensives that prepare them for university life and integrate their cultural knowledge. By applying the established protocols of the California Water Board, we aim to provide thorough and scientifically validated research for Alaska Native communities, using techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. This approach not only enhances scientific understanding but also respects and integrates the valuable perspectives of indigenous communities.

Professional clean-up data:  Change what we can, accept what we cannot, and have the wisdom to know the difference

Our previous project," Rydd Norge” (Clean-Up Norway) ," focused on data collected during professional beach cleaning efforts between 2021 and 2023.

The primary goal with Rydd Norge was to clean the coast and report the data collected. However, due to inconsistent monitoring methods and inconsistent quality assurance and control, statistical analysis was challenging. This limited the conclusions we could draw from the monitoring program.

We were able to take this failure forward and developed a more robust monitoring program in a new project - Rydde i tide” (Clean up Norway – in time) which will run from 2024-2028. It is intended to motivate volunteers by demonstrating that their efforts and data collection contribute to meaningful environmental insights. The harmonized protocol also means data can be used in other platforms such as OSPAR.

We categorize cleanup efforts into three levels:

Level 1: Report on litter density - amount and location. All professional cleanups paid for by the project are required to send in these numbers to our database and follow certain data standards, to make data comparable and reduce variance.

Level 2: Cleaning the same location 2-3 times per year, which provides data on seasonal and interannual variation.

Level 3: Detailed analyses of the litter from certain, pre-determined sites. This allows identification of potential sources and regional variances.

Our goal is to create a more robust dataset that informs other monitoring programs and environmental policies. By using a traffic light system to scale cleanup efforts and predict costs and necessary inputs, we can optimize resource allocation and assess the effectiveness of global initiatives to reduce plastic waste.

Despite the valuable insights provided by current data, inconsistencies in data collection methods and varied accessibility across countries hinder comprehensive monitoring. The current data has been instrumental in informing measures such as bans on single-use plastics and extended producer responsibilities, but there is a pressing need for harmonized data collection methods. This would ensure comprehensive monitoring and more effective policy-making.

Footnotes

This story was written by Helene Svendsen (Senior Expert) and photographed by Anna Sinisalo (Principal Expert) of the Polar and Climate Programme at GRID-Arendal. Reviewed by: Jannike Falk-Andersson (NIVA) France Collard (NIVA)Editorial review, photo edits and publication: Guendalina De Luigi & Paige Hellbaum Eikeland. Reviewed by Jannike Falk-Andersson (NIVA), France Collard (NIVA) Marte Haave (SALT) and Dee Barker (Alaska Pacific University)