admin Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a portable device that can inexpensively measure the amount of microplastics in beverages and other liquids.
Tianxi Yang, the developer of the tool, states in a UBC news release that microplastics are a “significant threat” to food safety, health, and the environment, and that affordable detection of these particles could help mitigate their risks.
Microplastic particles can originate from the degradation of items like plastic cups or utensils, contaminating food or drinks that might then be ingested or absorbed into the body. These plastics pose a health risk due to their capacity to absorb toxins and penetrate bodily barriers, with their long-term effects still under investigation.
The device developed by Yang’s team employs a wireless digital microscope, green LED light, and an “excitation filter” to test liquid samples, even those smaller than a drop, by making any microplastics within them glow.
A study published this month in the peer-reviewed journal *ACS Sensors* demonstrated the device’s capability using boiled distilled water that had been in contact with disposable polystyrene cups for 30 minutes. The tests revealed that the cups released hundreds of millions of polystyrene particles into the water, each approximately one hundredth the width of a human hair or smaller.
Yang, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, notes that each test costs around 1.5 cents.
The UBC release highlights that the device is currently calibrated to detect polystyrene but could be adapted to identify other plastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene. It also mentions that the results are straightforward to interpret, whether by a technician in a food processing lab or an individual interested in their morning coffee, and researchers aim to commercialise the device for “real-world applications.”
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