Dr Andrew Mayes: Microplastic Detection

Описание: INNOVATION & IMPACT AWARDS 2019

WINNER: ESRC Impact Accelerator Account Award

MICROPLASTIC DETECTION

Dr Andrew Mayes

Microplastics are small plastic particles, which come from a variety of sources including cosmetics, clothing, industrial processes, packaging materials and degradation of larger plastic items. It is known that microplastics are found in the environment at high levels, particularly in aquatic and marine ecosystems. Because plastics do not break down for many years, they can be ingested and accumulated in the bodies and tissues of many organisms. The entire cycle, movement and lifetime of microplastics in the environment is not yet known.

Researchers led by Dr Mayes and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have pioneered a rapid screening method to identify microscopic plastic particles - as small as a few micrometres - in water and sediment samples. The method “sees” microplastic particles, by staining them using fluorescent Nile Red dye. The dye adsorbs onto plastic surfaces, making them fluorescent when irradiated with blue light. These fluorescent particles can then be visualised and counted.

This methodology was used in a major study which discovered the presence of microplastics in bottled water from around the world. The investigation, coordinated by Orb Media and reported on BBC News at 10 in March 2018, found that most of the 259 bottles of water tested were contaminated with microplastics.

The story quickly became the number one “most read” on the BBC news homepage and, within a day of intense media interest, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced it would carry out a review of the implications for human health. As well as featuring in the BBC News at 10 report, Dr Mayes appeared on Victoria Derbyshire (BBC2), BBC 5-live Breakfast, The World Service, BBC Radio Scotland and the Asian Cable News network. The story has also been featured by more than 500 international news outlets including Sky News, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Independent, Deutsche Welle, The Japan Times, Yahoo India and the Huffington Post.