Microplastics

Recent collaborative research has sought to advance our understanding of the relationship between microplastics and the human body. Despite microplastics being well-documented in the air we breathe and foods we eat and drink, their presence within human tissue  is poorly understood – a critical first step in evaluating whether or not they represent a threat to human health (such as through the leaching of toxic chemicals, distributing microorganisms, or disruption of general cellular function.) While many methodologies exist to detect and analyze microplastics (each with their own advantages and disadvantages), no one study has attempted to compare these methods. My group hopes to critically assess the best methods for this work (including methods to prevent contamination), and also generate technically-oriented methods papers to establish optimal preparation technique for microplastic detection. This work has great potential to advance our understanding of the possible effects of microplastics on the environment and our health, and to potentially inform future policy and regulations to reduce this hazard and develop more environmentally conscious, materials.