The MATRIZ project is dedicated to addressing key challenges in assessing microplastics (MPs) in the environment. Its goals include developing consistent, cost-effective autonomous sampling devices and establishing standardized methodologies for evaluating MPs in both regenerated water and the atmosphere.
Additionally, the project seeks to provide crucial insights into the impacts of MPs on the sustainability of agricultural environments and on the natural ecosystems of arid regions, including a deeper understanding of MPs' degradation processes.
This study, the first of its kind globally, will be conducted in the province of Almería, renowned for having the world's largest expanse of crops grown in plastic greenhouses—over 35,000 hectares. Almería, an arid region vulnerable to desertification, boasts a large-scale agricultural system predominantly focused on fruit and vegetable production. This system is not only a technological marvel but also a vital component of Europe's food supply chain, underscoring the importance of understanding environmental impacts in such key agricultural areas.Finally, the proposal aims to provide valuable insights into exposure levels in terrestrial animals, which will serve as indicator organisms for assessing human exposure to microplastics. This will be accomplished through comprehensive long-term atmospheric monitoring studies, to be conducted at the EEZA-CSIC Saharan Fauna Rescue Park, focusing on the accumulation and effects of MPs in these animals.