Specialists have learned much about freshwater and marine plastic pollution. The results, however, appear worrisome for public health specialists and scientists.
Microplastics and Their Sources
Erosion-prone fragments of plastic known as microplastic are seen to be ubiquitous. According to KALW, these can be spotted within seafood, fetus placentas, and bottled water.
However, the tracking of such microplastics within their source is remarkably difficult to execute. Microscopes are incapable of revealing whether a specific microplastic is from a bottle, synthetic clothes, fishing lines, or other possible origins. To know this, scientists utilize a device that is known as Raman spectrometer.
Raman Spectrometer
Azo Cleantech reports how this new and open-access Raman spectral database is useful in tracing molecular footprints of particles. It can also point out ocean plastic pollution sources with heightened accuracy.
The study got published within the Scientific Data journal. It now offers specialists a greater variety of free tools and resources.
To prevent mistakes in identification and enhance the precision, the spectrometer includes 42 different types of polymer that are not present in other open-access databases. This Raman spectrometer is the first to add polymers taken from particles that are non-plastic, such as animal tissues, shells, and seagrass.
When a laser faces the sample, light disburses based on the material's chemical composition. It leads to the creation of a unique molecular fingerprint. In order to identify the specific material or substance, the said fingerprint is then compared and contrasted with acknowledged plastics within a particular library.
Scientists, later on, built the library to enable the identification of over 40 plastic varieties. The information generally focuses on systems within the Pacific Ocean that are nearshore and that cover plastics linked to fisheries and coastal agricultural efforts.
To minimize mistakes in identification, the database covers plastics that are weathered and fresh. Other than that, it also has biological polymers that are not targeted and that can frequently be spotted within aquatic conditions.
Generally, this study included 18 new biological varieties and 24 new plastic varieties. These were not included in other preceding databases. Two of the newly added plastic varieties were from sources like fishing equipment.
Prevalence of Microplastic Pollution
Azo Cleantech reports how microplastic pollution can be spotted across almost every aquatic habitat across the globe. This was based on a study conducted last 2019 by the MBARI and Monterey Bay Aquarium. According to the researchers, over nine million plastic tons pool into the ocean annually.
In order to address the global plastic pollution crisis, the specific varieties within the ocean and other surroundings should be identified. Such identification can help in knowing more about the process and the source of the plastic pollution.
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