According to the United Nations, about 400 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced worldwide each year. If this trend continues, global plastic production could reach 1,100 million tonnes by 2050. Unlike organic materials, plastics do not decompose quickly. Instead, it breaks down into microscopic particles known as microplastics and nanoplastics. These particles are found almost everywhere, yet their effects on ecosystems and human health remain largely unknown.
Our researchers are tackling this challenge head-on by developing new ways to detect smaller-scale microplastics and nanoplastics that may pose an immediate risk to Canada's ecosystems.
However, measuring and identifying these particles is far from simple. Nanoplastics measure less than 100 nanometres—about 1,000 times smaller than a strand of human hair—and can mix with other natural and synthetic materials, making detection difficult. Their size and shape vary widely, even within samples collected from the same location.
Image courtesy: Dr. Maohui Chen.
"Nanometrology is the science of measurement at the nanoscale," explains Dr. Shan Zou, Senior Research Officer at our Metrology Research Centre. "My team is developing and integrating new methods, to study nano-objects, such as nanoplastics, in a more detailed and accurate way."
Dr. Zou leads the Nanoscale Measurement team, which recently analyzed snow samples provided by Indigenous partners from 6 sites in the Hopedale region of Newfoundland and Labrador. They designed extraction methods and used combined characterization techniques to study the presence, size distribution and concentration of particles. They also conducted in vitro experiments using fibroblast, cancer blood and macrophage cell lines to explore how these particles affect cellular growth.
Her team found a high degree of variability among samples—even those taken from the neighbouring sites. This lack of repeatability in measuring microplastics and nanoplastics makes it difficult for researchers to detect plastics in the environment and to study their effect on human and aquatic life.
"Before we can establish meaningful detection platforms for microplastics and nanoplastics or evaluate their impact, we need something more relevant than engineered nanoparticles to validate the methods for measuring microplastics and nanoplastics," explains Dr. Zou.
Her team is developing reference materials that will mimic the formation of the smaller plastics found in the environment.
"Our reference materials will allow other researchers to validate or standardize their tests," she says. "There is a wide range of materials that need to be tested, so we want to provide a universal and reliable approach for multiple types of plastics."
Setting a standard for non-standard particles is no easy feat: Establishing reliable standards for particles that vary so widely is a major scientific challenge. With its broad collaborations and expertise in measurement science, the NRC is helping advance global efforts to understand and manage microplastics and nanoplastics.
Understanding the smallest plastics helps us see the bigger picture—how human activity leaves traces even at the nanoscale. By improving how we measure these particles, we can better assess their impact on ecosystems and health.