Clean Mont Blanc

Clean Mont-Blanc is a scientific research project designed to raise public awareness of diffuse atmospheric pollution caused by microplastics.

Led by the French association AQUALTI on the scientific side, in close collaboration with the Summit Foundation on the awareness-raising side, the project’s scientific referent is the Université Savoie Mont-Blanc and it relies on a multi-disciplinary team (engineers, researchers, mountaineers, communicators, etc.).

Symbol of the Alps, the Mont-Blanc massif stretches across France, Switzerland and Italy. Samples were taken between 2 and 6 June from the outlets of 18 glaciers at the foot of the massif in each of the 3 countries. Analysis of the differences in spatial contamination by atmospheric deposition will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms by which micro-plastic particles are transferred to and accumulate in ecosystems.

In addition to the 35 or so samples taken from glacial streams, a sample was also taken from the summit of Mont Blanc. These samples are currently being analysed at the Université Savoie Mont Blanc in Chambéry.

The expedition film

Directed by @Zimydakid, produced by Summit Foundation