As microplastics increasingly become part of everyday life, it’s essential to understand their impact on the environment and human health

A new development from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) offers a significant step forward in addressing this issue.

Scientists have released the world’s first reference material for microplastics in water, designed to enhance the detection and measurement of these particles. This innovation could play a key role in safeguarding both environmental and human health.

The challenge of measuring microplastics

Tracking microplastic pollution is a complicated task. These particles exhibit a wide range of sizes, shapes, chemical structures, and compositions. As a result, identifying and quantifying them consistently across different laboratories has been a significant challenge.

Various labs often use different equipment and methods, which can lead to inconsistent or unreliable data. Without accurate and comparable results, it’s difficult to understand the true extent of microplastic pollution or evaluate its impact. This inconsistency also affects policy efforts that depend on reliable scientific evidence.

A reference material for consistency

The JRC’s newly developed reference material solves this issue by providing a standardised control sample. This sample contains polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles, one of the most common plastics used in packaging and textiles, and allows laboratories to calibrate their instruments and methods.

By comparing their test results with this reference, labs can accurately determine the number and concentration of PET microplastics in water samples. This ensures that data collected across different countries and institutions is both consistent and reliable. Overall, this lays the groundwork for coordinated global action.

Supporting better policy and regulation

Reliable data from laboratories is crucial for informing policies that protect the environment and public health. The JRC’s reference material is already supporting updates to key EU regulations. For example, the revised EU Drinking Water Directive now recognises microplastics as an emerging pollutant and includes them in its watchlist mechanism.

The watchlist system is designed to monitor potentially harmful substances in surface water that are not yet fully regulated. With the help of harmonised measurement methods and this new reference material, scientists can now track microplastic levels in drinking water more effectively.

A cleaner future

As research in this area grows, so does the need for accurate tools to assess and manage the threat. The JRC’s breakthrough provides the foundation for clearer insights and more effective action.

By helping scientists, policymakers, and communities understand the true extent of microplastics, this innovation could lead to stronger regulations and cleaner, safer water for everyone.