Welcome to the Microplastics Fingerprinting project
Plastics pollution is a global and growing environmental hazard with potentially far-reaching consequences for food webs, biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. Of particular concern are microplastics because their small sizes enhance their mobility, toxicity to wildlife, and capacity to leach potentially dangerous contaminants.
The Microplastics Fingerprinting at the watershed scale: from sources to receivers projectseeks to better understand the sources, transport, fate and exposure risks of microplastics at a watershed scale in the lower Great Lakes. In doing so, we hope to inform program and policy approaches that can mitigate risks posed by plastic debris in the environment.
The project will analyze the reactivity and breakdown of microplastics in river systems and reservoirs, quantify the loads of microplastics delivered to the lower Great Lakes, optimize microplastics elimination in wastewater treatment plants, and determine the abundance and diversity of microplastics in drinking water sources.
This project is supported by the NSERC Alliance Grant competition on plastics science for a cleaner future. The project will contribute to (䲹ʳ).
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News
Targeting Polyethylene: How enzymes break down & peptides could detect microplastics
The Problem with Polyethylene
Polyethylene (PE) is the most widely produced plastic due to its ease of synthesis, low cost, and favourable properties, including impermeability, durability, and chemical resistance. Due to its popularity, PE is also one of the microplastics most frequently identified through environmental studies. Some examples of where the average Canadian can find PE in their home are shown below in Figure 1. They are broken down by the specific type of PE, defined by the type and number of side chains on the polymer backbone. Multiple studies have now demonstrated that a more branched polymer results in a more environmentally degradable material; however, the exact pathway of degradation is still debated. Specifically, the question of how enzymes aid in degrading PE in the environment has been posed by numerous research groups over the past 30 years. The Honek lab at the University of ݮƵ, led by Dr. John F. Honek (Department of Chemistry), decided to revisit some of these studies and replicate the enzymatic oxidations of PE using commercially available enzymes and standardized PE samples.
New proposals for addressing microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes Region
Developing effective strategies to reduce future microplastic emissions and manage existing pollution is challenging. These tiny plastic particles come from diverse sources, including clothing fibers, tire wear, packaging, industrial processes, and the breakdown of larger plastics. Their widespread presence allows them to enter the environment through multiple pathways, complicating prevention efforts. Additionally, once released, most microplastics do not biodegrade and tend to accumulate. Removing them from water bodies remains neither cost-effective nor feasible with current technologies.
Engaging youth in tackling plastic pollution with the Earth Sciences Museum
As part of the Microplastics Fingerprinting project, our team, in collaboration with the University of ݮƵ Earth Sciences Museum, has created an interactive outreach activity called “Mitigating Microplastics.”