CLEANER MOUNTAINS
CLEAN MONT BLANC
Clean Mont-Blanc is a scientific research and public awareness project on diffuse atmospheric microplastic pollution.
Led by the French association AQUALTI for the scientific component, in close collaboration with Summit Foundation for the awareness raising component, the project’s scientific reference is Université Savoie Mont-Blanc and it relies on a multidisciplinary team (engineers, researchers, mountaineers, communications specialists, ...).
A symbol of the Alps, the Mont Blanc massif stretches across France, Switzerland and Italy. Samples were collected from 2 to 6 June at the outlets of 18 glaciers, at the foot of the massif, in each of the three countries. Analysing differences in spatial contamination from atmospheric deposition will help better understand the mechanisms of transfer and accumulation of microplastic particles in ecosystems.
In addition to the approximately 35 samples collected in glacial streams, a sample was also taken at the summit of Mont Blanc. These samples are currently being analysed at Université Savoie Mont Blanc in Chambéry.
The expedition film
CLEAN MONT BLANC DANS LES MEDIAS
«The hunt for microplastics goes through La Fouly», Le Nouvelliste, June 4, 2021
«Microplastics sought as high as the summit of Mont Blanc», Tribune de Genève, June 6, 2021
«Researchers search for microplastics on Mont Blanc glaciers», Blick, June 4, 2021
«In search of microplastics», La Liberté, June 6, 2021
