SYDNEY – Scientists have developed a groundbreaking biosensor using modified bacteria to quickly and affordably detect microplastics in water, a significant step toward addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. The world generates around 400 million tons of plastic waste each year, with microplastics now found in nearly every corner of the environment.
The new sensor, detailed in a recent study, uses modified bacteria that are sensitive to microplastic particles. When the bacteria were added to filtered seawater samples, the water’s fluorescence intensity indicated a microplastic concentration of up to 100 parts per million. Raman spectroscopy further confirmed that a portion of these particles were biodegradable plastics.
“Our biosensor offers a fast, affordable, and sensitive way to detect microplastics in environmental samples within hours,” said lead author Song Lin Chua.
The sensor proved effective at identifying both traditional plastics and biodegradable polymers, including polyacrylamide and methyl cellulose. Chua believes the technology could revolutionize large-scale environmental monitoring by acting as a rapid screening tool to identify pollution hotspots for more detailed analysis. While microplastic concentrations in drinking water are estimated to range from zero to 1,000 particles per liter, this new biosensor provides a critical tool for better understanding and combating the ubiquity of this growing form of pollution.