IMPACT: Implications of Nano/Microplastic Pollution on Aquatic Environment Health

Tiny plastic particles—known as nano- and microplastics (N/MPls)—pose a growing threat to our oceans, aquatic ecosystems, and even the food we eat. These fragments are now found everywhere, from seawater to seafood, and may disrupt marine life and affect human health in ways we are only beginning to uncover.

The IMPACT project addresses this urgent issue by investigating how N/MPls behave in aquatic environments and how they move through the food chain. Our goal is to better detect, track, and understand their effects—particularly in aquaculture, where seafood is farmed for human consumption. We are using cutting-edge spectroscopy techniques, we can identify even the tiniest plastic fragments and fibers by analyzing their chemical and pigment signatures. We explore how naturally aged plastics interact with key organisms—from microscopic algae and zooplankton to shellfish such as mussels and oysters. By combining expertise in physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, and aquaculture, our project builds a clearer picture of how plastic pollution impacts marine life and the seafood on our plates.

Our findings will provide critical insights into the risks of plastic pollution in seafood, inform public policy and food safety standards, support sustainable aquaculture and better plastic management practices, as well as raise awareness of the long-term consequences of plastic pollution on both marine ecosystems and human nutrition.

This is Multilateral Academic Projects grant funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Croatian Science Foundation, Romanian Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding.

Our team

Prof. Dr. Vera Slaveykova PI
Mrs Petra Tomurad
Mrs Mateja Marelja

 

Prof. Dr. Simona Pinzaru, PI
Prof. Lucian Barbu, Dr. Maria Siciu, Dr.Tudor-Liviu Tamas, Mr. Fran Nekvapil, Mr. Molnar Csilla, Mr. I. Nesterovschi, Mr. K. Maškarić, Mr. Geza-Lehel Lazar, Mrs. I. Marica,I.-C. Poplacean, Mrs . I. Bajama, Mrs. A. Couti

 

Prof. Branko Glamuzina, PI
Prof. A. Bratoš Cetinić, Assoc. Prof. J. Mikuš, Prof. S. Tomšić, Prof. V. Bartulović, Assoc. Prof. T. Dobroslavić, Assoc. Prof. M. Brailo Šćepanović, Assoc. Prof. K. Bonačić, Assist. Prof. E. Dobroslavić, Prof. M. Pećarević, Dr. S. Grđan, Mrs Luka Glamuzina