The’ Clean Danube’ project is centered around a German Chemistry professor’s swimming expedition along the entire 2700km stretch of the Danube river for a dedicated research, analysis and awareness campaign. An initiative of AWP (Association for Wildlife Protection- a non-profit association based in Germany), and Furtwangen University (Germany), this unique project aims to combat plastic pollution in water bodies.

It is disheartening to note that our rivers have more plastic particles than fish larvae. Nearly 4 tonnes of plastic waste ends in the Black Sea through the Danube river that flows through 14 counties in Europe. Considering that some of these countries lack effective waste management and recycling systems, plastic waste poses a grave environmental hazard, microplastics being especially alarming, to the extent that in some stretches, the river is so highly polluted that swimming is prohibited as it could be hazardous to health. Local handling of the problem becomes difficult considering the cross-border course of the river.

Project detail

Andrew Fath, a professor of chemistry at Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences, has many publications to his credit, based on his findings on microplastics. In early May 2022, Fath started his expedition to swim the entire length of the Danube river from its source to the estuary. His journey is continuing as we go through this report and he is going to swim nearly every day for 2 months. AWP planned and coordinated the journey, with mobile laboratory and training workshops keeping pace with Fath at various preplanned stations along the course of his route. The idea is to impart knowledge and awareness about the nature and cause of the pollution, through well designed course modules, especially among youth. The uniqueness of the innovative effort has gained mass media attention (both print and broadcast media as well digital social media platforms)  highlighting the matter among the masses.

Following Fath’s journey, water samples across the entire stretch of the river are being collected and analysed daily, as part of the research side of the project. The samples will be passed on to the University research scholars at three stopovers on the swim tour - in Vienna (Austria), Budapest (Hungary) and another location on the border of Serbia and Romania. The first batch of samples was handed over to the researchers on 6th May 2022. The research has been designed and developed to detect about 30 different substances, including specific focus on waste originating from vehicle tyre additives and plastic softeners.

The objective is to arrive at a comprehensive report about the extent of pollution in the Danube. A documentary is going to be made tracking Fath’s swimming route to highlight the findings and to ensure the message continues to resonate beyond the completion of the project.

A wide variety of activities including clean-ups, swim-alongs and paddling, as well as information events, lectures, competitions, and exhibitions are being conducted along the project route, in collaboration with a strong network of local and regional partners and stakeholders, including local NGOs, schools and universities, regional authorities, corporates and more. With this effort the research and its findings are reaching the masses directly. With the scientific knowledge being delivered in a way that it is easily understood, general public will be more aware and motivated to attack the root cause of the problem.

The trans-border international project will contribute to interlinked local and regional collaboration for water conservation, with a clear goal to reduce water pollution, minimise plastic waste, understand the hazards of microplastics and to promote respect for the Danube as a valuable natural biological habitat. Now referred as the “swimming professor”, Fath is an inspiration to his students. His ongoing journey can be followed through the map on the project website (Link given under reference)

Reference

https://www.cleandanube.org/