Iran and Russia Launch Collaborative Study on Microplastics in the Caspian and Baltic Seas

 

  Iran and Russia Launch Collaborative Study on Microplastics in the Caspian and Baltic Seas A joint research project has been launched between the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) and the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russia to assess the extent of microplastic pollution in the Caspian Sea and the Baltic Sea. Supported by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) and the Russian Science Foundation (RSF), the project includes extensive field sampling and laboratory analyses carried out over the past year in the southern Caspian Sea, the Volga River, and selected areas of the Baltic Sea. According to the initial findings, notable concentrations of microplastic particles have been detected in the water column, sediments, and aquatic organisms of both marine environments. The project aims to quantify microplastic levels, analyze their distribution patterns, and develop management-oriented tools such as risk assessment models to address emerging marine pollutants. Final results are scheduled to be released next year as scientific reports and policy recommendations for relevant authorities. This collaboration is expected to enhance regional knowledge on microplastic contamination and strengthen scientific cooperation between Iran and Russia in the field of marine environmental protection.