Mission Tara Microplastics: a holistic set of protocols and data resources for the field investigation of plastic pollution along the land-sea continuum in Europe

• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26883-9
• Publication Date: 2023-05-04T05:01:46Z
• Authors: Jean-François Ghi...; Valérie Barbe; Stéphane Bruzaud; Gaëtan Burgaud; Jérôme Cachot; Boris Eyheraguibel; Franck Lartaud; Wolfgang Ludwig; Anne-Leila Meiste...; Ika Paul-Pont; Stéphane Pesant; Alexandra ter Halle; Odon Thiebeauld; ; J. F. Ghiglione; L. Philip; C. Odobel; C. Pandin; M. Pujo-Pay; P. Conan; N. Luckas; V. Barbe; P. Wincker; S. Bruzaud; M. Kedzierski; M. Palazot; L. Soccalingame; G. Burgaud; A. Philippe; J. Cachot; B. Morin; E. Dusacre; C. Clérandeau; C. Lefebvre; B. Eyheraguibel; F. Lartaud; W. Ludwig; X. Durrieu de Madron; L. Weiss; A. L. Meistertzheim; I. Calves; K. Lebaron; E. Lavergne; I. Paul-Pont; A. Huvet; C. Dubreuil; S. Pesant; A. ter Halle; M. Albignac; O. Thiebeauld; K. Crenn; T. Gassane; L. Merakeb; C. Bauvois; F. Galgani; O. Gerigny; M. L. Pedrotti; G. Gorsky; F. Lombard; S. Alligant; C. Lacroix; L. Navarro; B. Sperandio; B. Diémé; C. Bowler; R. Troublé; R. Hentinger; A. Abreu; M. Thomas; M. Bourdreux; J. Schramm; C. Moulin; E. Bernollin; M. Hertau; S. Audrain; N. Bin; Y. Tournon; L. Boulon; F. Aurat; L. Blijdorp; C. Pire; S. Bin; C. Gicquel; M. Oriot
• Keywords: Plastic pollution

Abstract The Tara Microplastics mission was conducted for 7 months to investigate plastic pollution along nine major rivers in Europe—Thames, Elbe, Rhine, Seine, Loire, Garonne, Ebro, Rhone, and Tiber. An extensive suite of sampling protocols applied at four five sites on each river a salinity gradient from the sea outer estuary downstream upstream first heavily populated city. Biophysicochemical parameters including salinity, temperature, irradiance, particulate matter, large small microplastics (MPs) concentration composition, prokaryote microeukaryote richness, diversity MPs surrounding waters were routinely measured onboard French research vessel or semi-rigid boat shallow waters. In addition, macroplastic microplastic concentrations composition determined banks beaches. Finally, cages containing either pristine pieces plastics form films granules, others mussels immersed site, 1 month prior order study metabolic activity plastisphere by meta-OMICS run toxicity tests pollutants analyses. Here, we fully described holistic set designed Mission promoted standard procedures achieve its ambitious goals: (1) compare traits among European rivers, (2) provide baseline state Anthropocene, (3) predict their evolution frame current initiatives, (4) shed light toxicological effects aquatic life, (5) model transport land towards sea, (6) potential impact pathogen invasive species rafting drifting through riverine systems.