- A recent study undertaken by Columbia University experts sheds light on the prevalence of micro- and nano-plastics in bottled water, with nano-plastics accounting for an astonishing 90% of the discovered particles.
What are nanoplastics?
- Nanoplastics are tiny particles that cannot be seen with the naked eye, making identification and measurement difficult.
- Comparative analysis: Nanoplastics are 70 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, making them both inconspicuous and widespread.
Key Findings
- Bottled water includes around 2.4 lakh micro- and nano-plastic particles per litre, indicating that the plastic concentration has been significantly underestimated in comparison to prior evaluations.
- Dominance of Nanoplastics: Nano-sized particles, which were previously undetected by traditional imaging techniques, now account for 90% of the overall plastic population.
- Complex Particle Dynamics: Analysis reveals a wide range of plastic compositions, forms, and sizes, shedding light on the intricate interactions between various plastic kinds in the aquatic environment.
How were they evaluated?
- Nanoplastics provide analytical issues due to their small size and the limits of current diagnostic procedures.
- To address these issues, researchers use a proprietary hyperspectral Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) imaging equipment, which allows for precise molecular study at the single-particle level.
- Raman Scattering Principle: SRS microscopy uses the Raman Effect to identify plastic particles based on their unique spectral fingerprints.
Implications
- Environmental Importance: The study emphasises the pervasiveness of plastic contamination, with microplastics penetrating ecosystems globally, even bottled water supplies.
- Biological Impact: Because sub-micrometre plastic particles can cross biological barriers and collect within living beings, they pose a risk to human health.
- Technological advancements: The use of modern imaging technology improves our understanding of nanoplastic dynamics, allowing for more accurate evaluations of plastic pollution levels.
Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/researchers-uncover-nanoplastics-water-bottles-2024a10001kx