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ICAR-CIFRI conducted training program on “Microplastics pollution assessment using µ-FTIR”

17^th January, 2025
Microplastics are emerging contaminants in aquatic ecosystems and have potential toxic effects on aquatic biota and human health. However, most researchers and stakeholders are unaware of its detection techniques from environmental samples. Hence a training program on “Microplastics pollution assessment using µ-FTIR” was held at ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, and inaugurated by Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR- CIFRI. The 5-day training program from 13 to 17 th January 2025 aimed to impart knowledge on advanced techniques in microplastics analysis using a sophisticated instrument viz.

µ- FTIR. A total of 12 participants consisting of students and research scholars with various academic backgrounds like fisheries and zoology from different institutes and universities of the country attended the training program. Besides in-house resource persons, eminent researchers from other national institutes viz. Jadavpur University, Kolkata; ICAR-CIFT, Kochi; TNJFU, Tamil Nadu and BITs, Mesra gave lectures through online mode. During the training program the course director Dr. B.K. Das highlighted the importance of the training program in imparting knowledge on the functioning of analytical instruments along with concurrent hands-on practical sessions. He urged that monitoring microplastics including other emerging contaminants is imperative for proper aquatic resource management to achieve sustainable development goals.

He also stressed that statistically significant sample size, proper sampling techniques and accurate detection techniques should be prerequisites for any pollution assessment studies before drawing any conclusion as they would have wide repercussions in society. Dr. B. P. Mohanty, Former ADG, Inland Fisheries, ICAR was present during the validatory program of the training program on 17 th Jan 2025. While interacting with the participants, Dr. Mohanty emphasized on the importance of aquatic food safety and nutritional security with special emphasis on public awareness generation regarding microplastics contamination in food. The training program was coordinated by Dr. Dhruba Jyoti Sarkar and Dr. Soma Das Sarkar and co-coordinated by Dr. Santhana Kumar V. with technical assistance from Mr. Lokenath Chakraborty and Mr. Abhijit Gupta, ICAR-CIFRI.