Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution
Our current understanding of environmental micro(nano)plastic (MNP) pollution is driven by field and lab-based studies performed predominantly by and in wealthier countries. However, mismanaged waste and its consequences affect low- and middle-income countries over-proportionately. Evidence suggests...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdaeb |
| _version_ | 1797747819991269376 |
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| author | Holly A Nel Trishan Naidoo Emmanuel O Akindele Tamuka Nhiwatiwa Oluniyi O Fadare Stefan Krause |
| author_facet | Holly A Nel Trishan Naidoo Emmanuel O Akindele Tamuka Nhiwatiwa Oluniyi O Fadare Stefan Krause |
| author_sort | Holly A Nel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Our current understanding of environmental micro(nano)plastic (MNP) pollution is driven by field and lab-based studies performed predominantly by and in wealthier countries. However, mismanaged waste and its consequences affect low- and middle-income countries over-proportionately. Evidence suggests that studies on MNP pollution in Africa are critically limited by the scientific infrastructure available, restricting research activities to opportunities for external collaboration with established research laboratories in the Global North. The development of Pan-African research networks and analytical nodes, is required to support intra-African research exchange and training, and drive evidence-based policy relevant to an African context. This can facilitate more inclusive conversations around the harmonization and standardization of methods currently mainly available to the Global North. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:57:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd0fd05ba1ad48e89047fae106ecd5a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:57:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd0fd05ba1ad48e89047fae106ecd5a82023-08-09T14:54:11ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262021-01-0116202100210.1088/1748-9326/abdaebCollaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollutionHolly A Nel0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0571-2678Trishan Naidoo1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2004-6228Emmanuel O Akindele2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4911-8857Tamuka Nhiwatiwa3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5295-0724Oluniyi O Fadare4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8712-0448Stefan Krause5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2521-2248School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United KingdomSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Westville Campus, Biology Building on University Road , Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South AfricaDepartment of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife, NigeriaUniversity of Zimbabwe , PO MP167 Mt. Pleasant, Harare, ZimbabweState Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 18 Shuangqing Road, Beijing 100085, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom; LEHNA- Laboratoire d’ecologie des hydrosystemes naturels et anthropises, University of Lyon , Lyon, FranceOur current understanding of environmental micro(nano)plastic (MNP) pollution is driven by field and lab-based studies performed predominantly by and in wealthier countries. However, mismanaged waste and its consequences affect low- and middle-income countries over-proportionately. Evidence suggests that studies on MNP pollution in Africa are critically limited by the scientific infrastructure available, restricting research activities to opportunities for external collaboration with established research laboratories in the Global North. The development of Pan-African research networks and analytical nodes, is required to support intra-African research exchange and training, and drive evidence-based policy relevant to an African context. This can facilitate more inclusive conversations around the harmonization and standardization of methods currently mainly available to the Global North.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdaebPan-Africannetworksresearch nodesinclusivitycapacity building |
| spellingShingle | Holly A Nel Trishan Naidoo Emmanuel O Akindele Tamuka Nhiwatiwa Oluniyi O Fadare Stefan Krause Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution Environmental Research Letters Pan-African networks research nodes inclusivity capacity building |
| title | Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution |
| title_full | Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution |
| title_fullStr | Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution |
| title_short | Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution |
| title_sort | collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an african perspective on micro nano plastic pollution |
| topic | Pan-African networks research nodes inclusivity capacity building |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdaeb |
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