Microplastics

In this article, we explore py-GC-MS, how it can be used in the field of microplastic analysis and the advantages it may offer over traditional methods based on microscopy or spectroscopy.

Microplastics are now ubiquitous in our lives and environment. To compound the problem, the advent of COVID-19 has seen uptake of single-use plastics in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE) skyrocket. We spoke to Kathleen A. Young about how the microplastics issue has evolved in light of COVID-19, particularly around PPE waste and what gains are being made in the areas of testing and analysis standards.

This article highlights the adverse impact of microplastics (MPs) on our environment, detection methods for MPs and the challenges in the detection of MPs.

The full impact that microplastics have on health and the environment is still not well understood, however, mounting evidence regarding their negative effects has made microplastics a topic of interest for scientists, governments and regulatory bodies. We spoke to Kathleen A. Young about microplastics detection techniques and technologies, the importance of standards and how regulations may come to fruition in the years to come.