Life in Plastic: Determining Microplastics in Drinking Water
by Allison Mackenzie, CEO
The 90s party-favorite song by Aqua would have you believe life in plastic is fantastic. While this may be Barbie’s reality, plastic has crept into almost every facet of our life—including our drinking water—and as scientists are beginning to discover, that’s not a good thing.
Since John Wesley Hyatt first combined cotton cellulose and camphor to create an ivory substitute to make billiard balls, the world has become reliant upon the synthetic polymers commonly called plastics. Hyatt’s discovery in 1869 heralded a modern age full of chemically manufactured plastics and polymer materials that substitute for natural materials such as cotton, rubber, and wood. The huge societal benefits gained through the invention and use of plastics in everyday life have come at a cost as discarded plastic materials have polluted the environment. Increasingly, concerned citizens wonder about the long-term consequences of these man-made materials and scientists have turned their attention to understanding the many different effects plastic waste may have on public health and the environment.
One microcosm of this public health concern has been the presence of microplastics in the environment, and the potential for these tiny particles to make their way into our food and water. ... read more.
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