Microplastics Finger-printing Impact Report

By Philippe Van Cappellen, Professor and Canada Excellence Research Chair in Ecohydrology Laureate, at Waterloo University.

Microplastics have now been found in all freshwater environments – rivers, lakes, reservoirs, stormwater, groundwater, and even drinking water sources – yet until recently we lacked the tools to truly determine the sources, transport pathways, and fate of microplastics along the water cycle. This project is changing how we identify, measure, and track microplastics in natural and engineered water systems. 

Through this project, researchers have developed technologies that bring unprecedented clarity to the study of microplastics. By combining Machine Learning approaches and supported by open spectral libraries plastic particles can be identified in complex or degraded samples. New microwave sensors capture particle “fingerprints” in flowing water, while simple magnetic nanoparticles offer promising low‑cost approaches for both capturing and catalyzing the breakdown of microplastics. Findings uncovered how resistant polyethylene is to true biological degradation, estimating that prior studies likely overstated breakdown. These scientific advances are complemented by long‑term sediment records, stormwater analyses, and mass‑based modeling that provide a more accurate picture of how microplastics move through watersheds.

Rea dand access on Waterloo University