Whatcha Got There, JRC? A Groundbreaking Tool to Tackle Microplastic Pollution!
Advancement in microplastic surveillance to safeguard human health and the ecosystem
Here's the scoop: The European Joint Research Centre (JRC) has dropped a world-first tool in the fight against microplastic contamination in our waterways. Microplastic pollution is a nasty issue, potentially wreaking havoc on both human health and the environment. To understand the magnitude of this problem, we gotta be able to measure and map the extent of these pesky particles.
But let's be real, analyzing these particles ain't a walk in the park. They vary in size, shape, composition, and chemical structure, making it a pain in the arse to get accurate readings. Plus, different labs may use different methods or gear, leading to some inconsistent results.
Labs need to agree on their findings, and quick!
Enter the JRC's new control material! This baby will help labs adjust their measurement techniques for microplastics and guarantee a harmony of results, ensuring they're kicking out comparable data.
Labs can now compare the outcomes of their tests with the JRC's reference material to determine the quantum and concentration of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles, a kind of plastic, in various samples of H2O. Precise measurements and analyses will help paint a more precise picture of the pollution's extent and offer a more dependable scientific basis for action. Reliable data will help policymakers, businesses, and Joe Schmo get a better grip on the pollution's scale and the measures needed to lessen it.
Bridging the gap between science and policy for cleaner water
Besides giving lab results a much-needed boost, this new control material also assists EU policies in action. For instance, the refresh of the EU Drinking Water Directive marked microplastics as an emerging pollutant that could make the watchlist.
The watchlist system aims to spotlight and keep tabs on pollutants in surface waters that aren't currently regulated by EU legislation, but may still pose a risk to the environment or our health.
The European Commission is currently finessing a harmonized methodology to measure microplastics in drinking water, and this new reference material will back this vital endeavor. Gathering intel on how common and how concentrated microplastics are in our H2O is crucial to learning their impacts on health and the environment. This intel will help us tackle pollution in our oceans and drinking water for a cleaner, healthier planet.
Check it out!
JRC Certified Reference Materials Catalogue
EU Drinking Water Directive
- This new control material by the European Joint Research Centre (JRC) is crucial for laboratories as it helps them adjust their measurement techniques for microplastics, ensuring harmonized results and comparable data.
- As microplastics have been marked as an emerging pollutant in the refreshed EU Drinking Water Directive, this new reference material will support the EU Commission in developing a harmonized methodology to measure microplastics in drinking water.
- By providing lab results with a boost and bridging the gap between science and policy, this new control material enables more precise measurements and analyses, contributing to cleaner water, a better understanding of the pollution's extent, and a more dependable scientific basis for action on climate change, environmental health, and health-and-wellness.
