Consolidation of SEPIA, a national scientific network to study and propose mitigation measures for the impacts of plastics on Argentina’s ecosystems
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Keywords

Argentine ecosystems
microplastic pollution
environmental consequences
study strategies

How to Cite

Marcovecchio, J. E., Ronda, A. C., & Arias, A. H. (2024). Consolidation of SEPIA, a national scientific network to study and propose mitigation measures for the impacts of plastics on Argentina’s ecosystems. Spanish Journal of Environmental Health, 24(1), 117–124. Retrieved from https://ojs.diffundit.com/index.php/rsa/article/view/1649

Abstract

The adoption of plastics by human society as a substitute for traditional materials has expanded almost exponentially worldwide since the 1950s. Its durability is one of its distinctive characteristics, and it is this property—combined with the unwillingness or inability to manage plastics effectively at the end of their life cycle—that has transformed them into a global environmental problem. Only in recent decades has due attention been paid to the scale and importance of the problem, and it has begun to be understood that plastic waste in all environments can be considered a serious concern for humanity. Argentina, with its rich diversity of ecosystems, is not immune to this issue. In the last ten years, numerous research groups have emerged in Argentina that are dedicated to assessing the presence, distribution, and impact of plastic waste (particularly microplastics -MPs-) in various ecosystems, with an emphasis on aquatic environments. Over time, this process led to the creation of a national scientific network called SEPIA (SciEnce for Plastic Impact Argentina), which aims to bring together various research groups focused on studying plastic pollution. Its goal is to optimize research results to serve as a basis for plastic waste management by decision-makers. This article details the history, development, and consolidation of SEPIA, as well as its future projection.

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