Expert Workshop on

Microplastics in the Water Environment

18 (arrival) – 22 (departure) August 2019, Thailand
Notice: The deadline for registration has been extended until 26 April 2019!
Background
Today plastic materials are present in nearly all spheres of modern life, starting from simple packaging, clothes containing synthetic fibers, containers, drinking bottles and tyres to various life-supporting medical equipment. Their manufacture, use and discharge have significantly increased the amount of plastic waste, including plastic marine litter in oceans which is detrimental to the ecosystems and human health. When improperly managed, plastics can make their way into the aquatic environment. Single use plastic makes up approximately 80-85%of the total number of marine litter items, measured through beach counts. Global Plastic Production is raising rapidly. By 2030 the world may produce 619 million tonnes of plastic every year. Marine litter and microplastics are having a great impact on global environment and human health. How to improve reuse and recycling, minimize plastic waste and promote plastic alternatives, have received much attention recently for the purpose of controlling plastic litter in the freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Topics
The main topics will be:

• Life Cycle Assessment of Plastics
• Distribution, Sources and Abundance of Microplastics
• Monitoring of Microplastics
• Regulation and Management of Plastic Waste and Microplastics
• Political and Environmental Dimension for Prevention of MPs Pollution
• Ecological and Social Impacts/Risks of Microplastics
• Microplastics (e.g. microbeads) in Manufactured Products and Emissions to the Environment
• Knowledge Gaps and Research Priorities about Microplastics
• Removal Technologies for MPs from Aqueous Environment with special focus on Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Analytical Methods for MPs Analysis and Standardization

Expected Outcomes
At the end of the expert workshop, participants will

• Have an improved understanding of microplastic genesis and threatening impact on ecosystem, wildlife and human beings
• Have obtain a holistic view on the microplastic problem and its inherent risk potential and negative impacts
• Have identified potential areas/topics for research on microplastic pollution and standardization in microplastic characterization and analysis

Target Audience
The target participants of this workshop are experts from universities, state research institutions, and state agencies, who are doing research and work in the field that is related to the topic of this expert workshop. Further, all associate and full exceed-Swindon members, who are interested in this field and do research, are addressed as well.
Number of participants
The number of participants is limited to 40-45.
Submission of paper
For extended abstract paper submission please c a r e f u l l y read and use the following template: Template for Abstract (Deviations will not be accepted).
The abstract has to be submitted with the application. Selected applicants are asked to submit a full paper till 09 August 2019.
Workshop Book Series
The authors of the accepted presentations (based on the abstracts submitted) are also requested to submit a full paper and copyright agreement. The authors are further requested to prepare the full paper according to the guidelines below. The full papers will be published in an international journal or in form of a book with ISBN number.
Guidelines for paper submission:
Guidelines for Exceed Swindon Proceedings Papers 2018-03-06
COPYRIGHT TRANSFER AGREEMENT 2018
Application:
Please apply online until 26 April 2019 under:
http://sea.exceed-swindon.org/apply-workshop-conference/
Each candidate will be informed about the outcome of his/her application until 6 May 2019.
For further information, please download the workshop flyer:
Flyer SEA Expert Workshop 2019