Nano- and micro-plastics and fish: Novel methods for detection and the role of RRI in such research

Plastic production and use continues to grow, and after use most of it resides in landfills or is dispersed in the environment including oceans. Focus has recently turned towards the potential threat of degradation products – action from sunlight, wind, rain, waves and microbiota – potentially yielding e.g., nano- and microplastics (NPs and MPs, respectively). These degradation products are so-called secondary microplastics. The arctic marine environment is vulnerable to anthropogenic microplastics impact – where microplastics have been found abundant in many animal phyla as fragments larger than 0.25 mm. Due to methodological difficulties, the abundance of nanoparticles is more difficult to assess, thus the effects of the tiniest nanoplastics/particles on e.g., the skin cells of fish are largely unknown This project addresses the impact of NPs and MPs on Atlantic salmon skin health by introducing a systems biology approach. In this project we aim to develop new methods, including advanced microscopy and -omics technologies to answer fundamental questions: a) Whether the skin cells of salmon actively take up tiny plastic particles, b) Presence of any plastic polymer-specific biological effects, and c) Whether wounded fish (e.g., sea lice infected fish) especially suffer from uptake of NPs and MPs. This will be investigated by studying: 1) Uptake mechanism in fish keratocytes (skin cells) by advanced superresolution nanoscopy, 2) Transcriptomic and proteomic response, 3) Aberration of metabolism by cells exposed to NPs and MPs, and to find 4) Correlation between plastic type and impacts. In the presentation we will present our novel methodological approach (advanced microscopy to study uptake of nanoparticles) and how we apply RRI (responsible research and innovation) concepts to guide the development of our methodological approach. RRI is a science policy framework, which seeks to align scientific research and technological innovation with broader social values and can help to consider effects and potential impacts on the environment and society by such projects. The findings will be of crucial importance with respect to management on how environmental NPs and MPs affect fish, and this connects with agenda of RRI, where anticipation is one of the key dimensions. Anticipation can include a diversity of activities, and here we aim to identify uncertainties and knowledge gaps of relevance for risk assessments of NPs and MPs. As inclusion of stakeholders is a key objective in RRI, the project will engage several stakeholders including citizens, government, agencies and authorities, NGOs, and industries both with regard to the approach chosen in the project and about plastic degradation products in oceans. This project is in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals: No. 14 – Conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas and marine resources, and No. 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.