Micro- and nanoplastics are making their way into our food, drinking water, and the air we breathe, and they are now being found in our bodies, affecting everything from testicles to brain tissue. Researchers at the University of British Columbia have created an affordable and portable tool designed to effectively measure the amount of plastic released from common items like disposable cups and water bottles.
Micro- and nanoplastics are pervasive in our diet, drinking water, and the air we inhale, with their presence increasing in the human body, affecting various organs.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia have introduced a budget-friendly, portable device capable of accurately measuring the plastic released from typical products such as single-use cups and plastic bottles.
This device, which works in conjunction with a smartphone application, employs fluorescent labeling to identify plastic particles as small as 50 nanometers to 10 microns—size ranges that are invisible to the naked eye—and produces results in mere minutes.
The methodology and results are published in ACS Sensors.
“The transformation of larger plastic items into microplastics and nanoplastics poses serious risks to our food systems, ecosystems, and human health,” explained Dr. Tianxi Yang, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems who contributed to developing this tool. “This innovative technique permits quick and inexpensive detection of these plastics, potentially aiding in the protection of our health and environment.”
Nano and microplastics stem from the breakdown of larger plastic substances, such as lunchboxes, cups, and utensils. These tiny particles have a large surface area, raising concerns for human health due to their enhanced capacity to absorb toxins and breach biological barriers within our bodies.
Conventional detection of these plastics usually requires trained personnel and costly equipment. Dr. Yang’s team aimed to enhance the speed, accessibility, and reliability of this detection process.
They designed a small, biodegradable box created through 3D printing, which includes a wireless digital microscope, a green LED light, and an excitation filter. For plastic measurement, they tailored MATLAB software with machine-learning algorithms and linked it with image capturing software.
The end product is a portable instrument that connects to a smartphone or mobile device, allowing users to determine the number of plastic particles in a sample. The tool requires only a minuscule amount of liquid—less than a drop of water—and illuminates the plastic particles, making them visible under the green LED light in the microscope for measurement. The results are straightforward enough for anyone, whether a technician in a food lab or simply someone curious about their morning coffee.
In their study, Dr. Yang’s team examined disposable polystyrene cups. They filled the cups with 50 mL of freshly boiled distilled water and allowed them to cool for 30 minutes. The findings indicated that these cups released hundreds of millions of nano-sized plastic fragments, around one-hundredth the width of a human hair and even smaller.
“Once the microscope captures the fluorescent image, the app correlates the pixel area of the image with the count of plastics,” stated co-author Haoming (Peter) Yang, a master’s student in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems. “The display indicates whether plastics are present and their quantity. Each test costs just 1.5 cents.”
Currently, the device is calibrated specifically for polystyrene, but the machine-learning algorithm can be adjusted to detect other plastic types such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The next goal for the researchers is to bring this device to market for applications in identifying plastic particles in various environments.
The long-term consequences of consuming plastic through food, beverages, and airborne plastic particles are still being investigated but raise significant concerns.
“To lower plastic ingestion, it’s vital to steer clear of petroleum-based plastic products and choose alternatives like glass or stainless steel for food containers. Additionally, developing biodegradable packaging materials is crucial for replacing conventional plastics as we transition toward a more sustainable future,” said Dr. Yang.
