Microplastics in coastal areas, rivers and lakes (Mikronor)
"Monitoring of microplastics in coastal areas, rivers and lakes" is a monitoring programme that aims to increase knowledge about the extent of microplastic pollution in Norway.
- Project period
- -
- Funders
- The Norwegian Environment Agency
- Research section
- Environmental Contaminants
- Contact person
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Vanja Alling
About the project
Timeframe: 2021-2023 (ongoing project)
Read more about the programme at the Norwegian Environment Agency
NIVA administers the Mikronor programme on behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency in collaboration with the climate and environmental research institute NILU. The programme started in 2021 and will run until 2026.
Mikronor aims to establish a baseline for future monitoring and time trends, identify high-impact areas and sources of microplastic contamination, and create a robust knowledge base for policymaking and public awareness.
Environmental samples from six other national monitoring programs are each year collected and analysed at NIVA, including sediment samples from approximately 30 stations (see fig. 1), surface water samples from rivers, lakes, costal areas and open sea surface waters, and biota samples (blue mussles) from six stations along the Norwegian coast. In addition, the programme includes analyses and reporting of air samples from three monitoring stations, and those are analysed by NIVA's subcontraction NILU.
The programme is defined in detail from year to year, depending on government budgets. In 2023, NIVA reported the results of altogether 700 environmental samples, and in 2024 of 300 samples.