PRIORITY • COST ACTION CA20101
Structure
One of the main aims is to create and coordinate a team of scientists and experts to address the challenges in the field of environmental nano- and microplastic pollution
Structure
Infographic
The infographic illustrates the organization of the PRIORITY COST Action, which brings together a multidisciplinary network of scientists and experts to address the global challenge of nano- and microplastic (N/MP) pollution.
The Action is structured into seven interconnected Working Groups (WGs), each focusing on a specific aspect of the problem, yet closely linked through shared objectives and collaborative activities.
- WG1 – Impacts and Risks
Focuses on understanding the effects of nano- and microplastics on human health and the environment, and on developing harmonized methods for hazard assessment. - WG2 – Monitoring and Sampling
Works on harmonizing monitoring and sampling procedures across environmental compartments (air, water, soil, and biota), supporting both European and developing countries. - WG3 – Tools and Data Analysis
Addresses instrumentation, modeling, data evaluation, and analytical procedures, with the aim of improving comparability and facilitating access to European research infrastructures. - WG4 – Nanoplastics
Dedicated to the detection and quantification of nanoplastics, promoting the identification and validation of analytical methods tailored to this challenging size range. - WG5 – Recycling and Recovery
Explores remediation strategies, recycling, and the development of sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, linking research to circular economy principles. - WG6 – Metrology and Standardization
Aims to ensure measurement reliability and method validation through interlaboratory comparisons and protocol harmonization for size, shape, and composition characterization. - WG7 – Synergy with Society and Education
Strengthens the connection between science, society, and education, fostering awareness and promoting science communication on the environmental impacts of N/MPs.
The graphic representation highlights the dynamic interplay among WGs, where knowledge flows from fundamental understanding and measurement (WG1–4), through methodological and technological standardization (WG6), toward societal awareness and sustainable innovation (WG5 and WG7).
By entering in each dedicated section of the WG you will find regular update of individual Working Groups (WGs) Activities. You can also find here a Report for WG activities with all the relevant links.
Structure
Meet our
Working Groups
WG1 aims to assess impacts and risks on human health and environment related to N/MPs, as well as to identify, develop and increase the European and global standardization of methods for testing the hazards of N/MPs.
WG2 aims to help European and developing countries to assess and develop harmonized monitoring methods and sampling procedures for different environmental matrices.
The objectives of WG3 are to (1) understand the potential of the tools available for the analysis, (2) to help European and developing countries to assess harmonized methods, and (3) to facilitate and encourage access to EU research infrastructures and facilities.
WG4 aims to identify suitable and validated analytical methods for detection and quantification of NPs based on the experiences of the Action participants.
WG5 – Remediation, recovery and development of sustainable alternative to plastic materials- aims to identify reuse, recycling, and recovery alternatives for environmental plastics and to define technological approaches for new recycling and recovery alternatives.
The main objectives of this WG are the validation of existing protocols for sample preparation and measurements (shape, size, abundance, and composition) in the range of N/MPs, through organization and the participation of PRIORITY laboratories in interlaboratory studies and comparison with different independent measurement principles.
This WG plans to encourage scientists to participate in science communication activities to increase awareness in society and education regarding the environmental issues related to N/MPs.
Structure
Meet DE&I Group
The primary objective of the DEI (Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion) group is to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion within the COST PRIORITY framework. Action CA20101 is a research project that brings together institutions from various different countries.
