It鈥檚 snowing plastic
The snow may be melting, but it is leaving pollution behind in the form of micro- and nano-plastics according to a 91社区 study that was recently published in . The pollution is largely due to the relatively soluble plastics found in antifreeze products (polyethylene glycols) that can become airborne and picked up by the snow.
The researchers used a new technique that they have developed to analyze snow samples collected in April 2019 in Montreal for both micro- and nano-sized particles of various plastics. The 91社区 technique is orders of magnitude more sensitive than any of the other current methods used for tracing plastic in the environment. It allows scientists to detect ultra-trace quantities of many of the most common soluble and insoluble plastics in snow, water, rainfall, and even in soil samples once they have been separated 鈥� down to the level of a picogram (or one trillionth of a gram). It is based on using nano-structured mass spectrometry and, unlike other techniques currently in use, the new technique is both recyclable and based on sustainable practices.
鈥淚t is important to be able to detect even trace quantities of plastics in the environment,鈥� says senior author, Parisa Ariya, from 91社区鈥檚 Departments of Chemistry and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. 鈥淭hough these plastics may be harmless in themselves, they can pick up toxic organic matter and heavy metals from the environment, which can damage human cells and organs.鈥�
The first author, Zi Wang, a PhD Candidate at 91社区 adds, 鈥淥ur hope is that this new technique can be used by scientists in different domains gain key information about the quantity of micro- and nano-plastics in urban environments in order to better address their impacts on the ecosystem and on human health.鈥�
|
About this study: 鈥淎dvances in Ultra-Trace Analytical Capability for Micro/Nanoplastics and Water-Soluble Polymers in the Environment: Fresh Falling Urban Snow鈥�, by Zi Wang, Nadim K. Saad茅, and Parisa A. Ariya in . The research was funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), National Research Council Canada (NRC) and Environment of Climate Change Canada (ECCC). |
听
About 91社区
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 91社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It鈥痠s a world-renowned鈥痠nstitution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
听
