BAYCARE

Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue, but it cannot be perceived in isolation. Plastic waste is a major component of domestic effluents, where it can interact with other contaminants. Could substances found on domestic effluents, like pharmaceuticals (PHARs) and illegal drugs (IDs), sorb to plastics, adding to the threats to marine life?
BAYCARE works with the PLASTIdrugs project funded by the Pure Ocean Fund (see project here) to investigate this subject in the ZABrI. BAYCARE expects to:

• Explore the role of PHARs and IDs as potential drivers of water quality in the Bay of Brest
• Investigate the potential impact of PHARs and IDs on bivalves in the Bay of Brest
• Conduct a comparative analysis of coastal contamination between the Bay of Brest and the Bay of Santos (Brazil), which is characterized to be impacted by plastics, PHARs, and IDs

The data will be made available to local authorities and regional aquaculture and fishing committees to stimulate discussion periodic risk assessment programs, municipal regulations, and conservation efforts.

Dr. Rafael Trevisan (UBO/LEMAR); Dr. Ika Paul-Pont (CNRS/LEMAR); Dr. Caroline Fabioux (UBO/LEMAR); Dr. Arnaud Huvet (Ifremer/LEMAR); Dr. Camilo Seabra Pereira (UNIFESP/IMAR, Brazil)