From coast to community: assessing marine plastic pollution impacts on ecosystems and human health in Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard through a One Health and technology-enhanced community monitoring approaches

• DOI: 10.5194/oos2025-1381
• Publication Date: 2025-03-26T02:42:35Z
• Authors: Thora Herrmann; Élise Lépy; Apostolos Papakon...; Natascha Oppelt; Victor Lion; Christine Liang; Barbara Jóźwiak; Adam Nawrot; Mélanie Mobley; Muriel Mercier-Bonin

Marine plastic pollution poses significant risks to ecosystems and human health, particularly in vulnerable Arctic regions. Therefore, assessing the extent and impacts of plastic contamination in these regions through a One Health framework is essential for developing strategies to build resilience in Arctic populations and ecosystems. The Horizon Europe ICEBERG Project addresses these challenges at the ocean-coast-land continuum, working in partnership with Indigenous peoples and local communities in south Greenland, northwest Iceland, and in Svalbard. ICEBERG integrates technology-enhanced community monitoring, such as drones and time-lapse cameras, with manual beach clean-ups for marine litter, citizen science and interactive data-sharing platforms. Researchers, local communities and civil society map pollution hotspots, trace sources, and assess ecological and health impacts of macro, micro-, nanoplastics. This community-driven data collection, supported by both low-tech and advanced technologies, offers a replicable model for tracking marine plastic pollution, studying its impacts and informing local policies to mitigate its effects. ICEBERG's multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder approach offers valuable insights into the impacts of plastic pollution in Arctic socio-ecological systems and emphasizes the need for sustainable, inclusive, and data-driven environmental management in polar regions.