As part of the research project I am undertaking at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, I’ve started analysing the snow, ice and water samples collected during the B.I.G. North Pole Expedition training journeys in Iceland and Svalbard.
I will be looking for tiny particles of microplastic in the samples which might have been deposited from the atmosphere. Because the particles are so tiny, the work has to be done in a laboratory space that is as ‘clean’ and free from dust, dirt and other contamination as possible. Everyone entering the lab I am working in must wear protective clothing and the work is carried out in protective hoods through which filtered air is circulated.
Even so, the biggest part of the work at the moment is working out the best methods to use in both collection and analysis of the samples to make sure we get the best results.
The clean lab at the NOC in Southampton where I am starting to look at the snow, ice and water samples collected by the B.I.G. North Pole team in Svalbard and Iceland.