UBC researchers develop tool that can measure how many microplastics you’re drinking

A new portable tool developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia can measure the level of microplastics present in your water.“The breakdown of larger plastic pieces into microplastics and nanoplastics presents significant threats to food systems, ecosystems and human health,” Tianxi Yang, who led the team that developed the tool, said in a news release. “This new technique allows quick, cheap detection of these plastics, which could help protect our health and ecosystems.”As described in their study published in the journal ACS Sensors on Aug. 12, the researchers created a biodegradable 3D-printed box that contains a wireless digital microscope, a green LED light and an excitation filter, connected to either a smartphone, tablet or computer.Only a tiny liquid sample smaller than a single drop of water is needed for the device to work. The green LED makes the plastic particles glow and using image capture software combined with machine-learning algorithms, the researchers were able to accurately measure the number of plastic particles in a sample of liquid.“Once the microscope in the box captures the fluorescent image, the app matches the image’s pixel area with the number of plastics,” said co-author Haoming (Peter) Yang in the news release. “The readout shows if plastics are present and how much. Each test costs only 1.5 cents.”In the study, the researchers tested microplastics from disposable polystyrene cups, also known as Styrofoam. The cups were filled with distilled boilng water and allowed to cool for half an hour, allowing microplastics from the cup to leach into the water. The device was able to measure the presence of hundreds of millions of particles in the water samples. These particles were as small as 50 nanometres, or 0.00005 millimeters.While the tool was only calibrated to measure polystyrene, the researchers say the technology could be used to measure the content of other types of plastics, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.“To reduce plastic ingestion, it is important to consider avoiding petroleum-based plastic products by opting for alternatives like glass or stainless steel for food containers. The development of biodegradable packaging materials is also important for replacing traditional plastics and moving towards a more sustainable world,” said Yang.

UBC researchers develop tool that can measure how many microplastics you’re drinking

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