NOMAD: Nano-/Microplastic Mobility and Contaminant Co-Transport in Groundwater – A Multiscale Study with Finnish Perspective

Introduction

Nano- (plastic debris below 0.1 μm size) and microplastics (plastic debris with 0.1 μm to 5 mm size) pollution has emerged as a global concern and a critical environmental challenge of our time, because of their adverse environmental and health effects. They can enter groundwater from a variety of sources and pose a serious threat to drinking water quality. While the severity of water pollution by nano-/microplastics are recognized, their transport and how they carry pollutants in the groundwater are not fully known.

To solve this, the NOMAD project, a cooperation between GTK and UEF, will
1) investigate the nano-/microplastic transport and their interactions with different pollutants by performing laboratory and field experiments, and computer simulations and
2) quantify the plastic contents in Finnish groundwaters. The results will help to gain a better understanding of plastics movement in the subsurface and will provide modeling tools to quantify groundwater pollution risks.

The project is a consortium led by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) as a partner. Furthermore, it includes international collaboration with the University of Tübingen (Germany), University of Padua (Italy) and IFPEN (France) as well as national collaboration with Hangon Vesi, City of Savonlinna, and Water Protection Association of the River Vantaa and Helsinki Region (VHVSY). The project is funded by The Research Council of Finland.

Contact person: Muhammad Muniruzzaman

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