IAEA approves microplastics research contract in Cuba

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has approved a research contract with the Cienfuegos Center for Environmental Studies (CEAC) to study microplastic contamination in Cuban groundwater. The project, titled “Development of an Integrated Methodological Framework Combining Isotopic Hydrology, Environmental Tracers, Hydrogeochemistry, and Microplastics Analysis to Evaluate Contamination Sources, Transport Pathways, and Environmental Fate in Cuban Groundwater Systems,” is part of the IAEA-sponsored Coordinated Research Project CRP F33032.

Scheduled to run from 2026 to 2030, the initiative will be led by principal scientific investigator Anamary Acosta Valladares. The research aims to integrate isotopic hydrology and hydrogeochemistry to determine the origins, transport routes, and ultimate environmental destinations of microplastics within the country's underground water systems.

The study will begin with a compilation of existing data regarding water quality and contaminant presence. Following this, researchers will define sampling sites to monitor groundwater and associated water sources. Samples will undergo quality control at the CEAC Environmental Testing Laboratory to analyze microplastic composition and water origin, ultimately contributing to scientific publications and technical guides.