A McGill-led research team has developed groundbreaking technology capable of detecting and deciphering nanoplastics in water in real-time, a feat likened to finding a needle in a haystack within milliseconds. Nanoplastics are even smaller than microplastics, making them harder to detect and understand their impact on the environment.
The lead author of the study, Parisa Ariya, believes that this technology has the potential to revolutionize how we monitor and manage plastic pollution, ultimately helping to preserve our environment. With the equivalent of approximately 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic being dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes each day, understanding the impact of nanoplastics on ecosystems is crucial.
The AI-powered innovation, known as AI-Assisted Nano-DIHM, is able to automatically detect and differentiate nanoplastics and microplastics, even when they are coated in other particles. This technology offers a practical tool for identifying pollution hotspots more effectively, as demonstrated in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Developed in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, this pioneering technology represents a crucial breakthrough in environmental monitoring. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, showcases the potential of AI-Assisted Nano-DIHM to revolutionize the way we understand and address plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
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