MappA
Monitoring and Analysis of Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Environments
MappA is a comprehensive national network in Argentina dedicated to mapping plastic pollution in terrestial aquatic environments, encompassing more than 100 lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and streams across the country. Using a standardized methodology, MappA monitors and analyzes macro and microplastics to better understand their distribution, sources, and potential impacts on ecosystems and human health.
This large-scale initiative brings together over 50 researchers from universities, institutions and national research centers, promoting collaboration, data sharing, and methodological consistency across diverse aquatic systems — from the Iguazú and Paraná rivers to Pampean shallow lakes and Patagonian lakes.
FOLLOW US:
MappA was established to strengthen Argentina’s scientific capacity for monitoring plastic pollution in continental aquatic systems—lakes, rivers, and reservoirs—where reliable data remain scarce but are essential for understanding local and regional pollution dynamics.
The initiative emphasizes:
- Comparable and standardized methodologies for sampling, processing, and data reporting.
- Resource sharing and collaborative work in both field and laboratory settings.
- Integration of national efforts to build a coherent and accessible dataset for Argentina, contributing to global microplastic databases and international data harmonization.
Resources
MappA guidelines for continental waters microplastics research
All protocols in Spanish and English
Sample processing
Protocol for water sample processing for microplastic analysis Ver 1.2
Field survey
Microplastics sampling in water: LENTIC environments Ver 1.2
Microplastics sampling in water: LOTIC environments Ver 1.2
ACTIVE MEMBERS
MICROPLASTICS -Technical group:
Lidwina Bertrand
Mariana Fasanella
Guido Rimondino
Marina Alma
Participants (in alphabetic order):
Mauricio Akmentins · Ricardo Albariño · Katya K. Albarrán · Luz Allende · Alan S. Andrade-Muñoz · Yadira Ansoar-Rodríguez · Esteban Balseiro · Giselle A. Berenstein · Martín C. M. Blettler · Diego Bombelli · Leonardo M. Buria · Rolando Caraballo · Joaquín Cochero · Cecilia Y. Di Prinzio · Boris Díaz · Yamila Díaz · Soledad L. Diodato · Santiago A. Echaniz · Luis B. Epele · María S. Fontanarrosa · Mailén Franco · Celeste Franceschini · María S. Gastón · Adonis Giorgi · María Granitto · María L. Gultemirian · Atilio E. Guzmán · Jorge A. Kuroda · Carolina Nieto · Pamela D. Novarese · Natalia A. Ossana · María L. Padulles · Agostina Pecile · Mariana Reissig · María C. Reynaga · Juan Manuel Ríos · Luciana Rocha · Patricia Rodríguez · Lara M. Sabater · Luca Schenone · Facundo Scordo · Carina Seitz · Marina Tagliaferro · Lucila Thomsett Herbert · Marcos Vaira · Alicia M. Vignatti · Naomi C. Yacelga Villavicencio
For more details visit: https://redmappa.com.ar/microplasticos
MACROPLASTICS- Technical group:
Alan S. Andrade-Muñoz
Cecilia Y. Di Prinzio
Ricardo Albariño
Participants (in alphabetic order):
Mauricio Akmentins · Luz Allende · Pablo Almada · Marina Alma · Diego Bombelli · Rolando Manuel Caraballo · Boris Díaz Gastón · Soledad Diodato · Luis B. Epele · Mariana Fasanella · María Soledad Fontanarrosa · Mailén Franco · Soledad Gastón · Adonis Giorgi · María Granitto · Atilio Guzmán · Lucila Herbert · Luz M. Manzo · Romina Mansilla · Naihara Ximena Oses · M. Luz Padulles · Pamela Quinteros · Mariana Reissig · Juan Manuel Ríos · Carolina Rodríguez Castro · Marina Tagliaferro · Marcos Vaira
