Press Center

Real-Time LIBD Tracks Nanoplastics Deposition on Nanofiltration Membranes

A bench-scale Water Research study uses LIBD to count nanoplastic deposition and release on nanofiltration membranes in real time. An engineering measurement advance, not a consumer product claim.

Mouse Study Tracks Microplastics Into Liver Immune Cells

A mouse study tracked size-dependent plastic accumulation in liver immune cells and changes in fat storage. It does not establish effects or health risks in people.

A 3D-Printed Filter Caught Up to 90% of Microplastics in Waterloo Tests

University of Waterloo engineers stacked 3D-printed disk filters with tiny pores and a sticky coating, and the tallest stack removed up to 90% of microplastics in their tests.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a low-cost, customizable filter built from stacked 3D-printed disks made of PLA, a biodegradable polymer. The disks are printed with an offset grid that forces water to flow through them. A water-soluble additive is washed out after printing to leave nano- and micro-scale pores, and a thin pressure-sensitive adhesive coating helps hold particles.

The team tested stacks of 8 to 20 disks. With 20 disks, the column removed 90% of microplastics. Larger particles were captured almost completely, while particles smaller than 10 micrometres were harder to trap. The university says catching that remaining fraction is the next step.

Why it matters: the researchers note that common methods such as activated carbon are only partly effective against microplastics. This filter is still a research design, not a commercial product.

Lawmakers Ask GAO to Review EPA's Microplastics Work

Twenty-four members of Congress want an accounting of EPA's micro- and nanoplastics research after the agency's proposed national monitoring rule left microplastics out.

On September 28, 2026, 24 members of Congress, led by Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Janelle Bynum and Bonnie Watson Coleman, asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the Environmental Protection Agency's work on micro- and nanoplastics since fiscal year 2023.

The request follows two EPA steps. In April 2026, EPA placed microplastics on its draft sixth Contaminant Candidate List, a list of contaminants that may need future drinking-water regulation. In July, its proposed sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) left microplastics off the list of 30 contaminants that public water systems would have to monitor, even though seven governors had petitioned for them. EPA said no validated drinking-water test method for microplastics exists yet.

The lawmakers ask GAO to document EPA's research, methods, monitoring and risk-assessment work, how much of its 2023–2026 research plan has been completed, and what constraints the agency faces.

Why it matters: national monitoring data depends on reliable test methods. The letter does not set a standard or require testing, and GAO has not issued findings.

India Court Keeps Micro/Nanoplastics Warning-Label Order for Bottled Water, Sugar and Salt

On September 28, 2026, the Madras High Court in India dismissed a petition from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) asking it to review an earlier order on plastic packaging. That February 6, 2026 order directed FSSAI to issue a notification requiring drinking water, sugar and salt sold in plastic bottles and packets to carry a warning in bold red letters: “This water/sugar/salt may contain micro/nano plastics.” A special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy said the court had not concluded that these products become unsafe because of plastic packaging. It had ordered the warning so consumers could make an informed decision before consumption. FSSAI had argued that research on the health effects of micro- and nanoplastics is inconclusive and still at an early stage, and that the warnings could cause public panic and disrupt supply chains. It also said no country has yet regulated micro- and nanoplastics this way, and that it has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research to study the issue.

Why it matters: the ruling shows one way a court has handled consumer information about micro- and nanoplastics while research on their health effects continues.

Farm Soils Across Europe Are Loaded With Microplastics That Hitchhike Toxins

The EU-funded MINAGRIS consortium reports microplastics in every one of 227 tested agricultural fields across 11 European countries. Researchers describe a “Trojan horse” effect: smaller particles can adsorb pollutants, pesticides, microbes, and DNA — creating plastisphere hotspots where antibiotic-resistance genes may concentrate. Soft soil / food-chain literacy — not a drinking-water MCL claim. Coverage: The Guardian (Pippa Neill), Sep 16, 2026. Parallel findings flagged: earthworm / nutrient-cycle impacts; reduced lettuce leaf area and biomass at higher loads (worse with drought); biodegradable plastics are not automatically safer once fragmented. Policy asks cited: standardized plastic monitoring, manufacturer transparency, and risk assessments that treat plastics as co-pollutants. Optional soft nod: atmospheric / source literacy at WaterVO sits beside soil-to-water pathway conversations — AWG does not remediate farm soils.

Catchment and soil-literacy context from Hydrology University. Soft claims only — association / exposure pathways / co-pollutant framing; not proven human disease causation; not an EPA MCL.

Heavy Rain Can Supercharge Microplastic Pulses in Rivers, Science Study Finds

Qin and colleagues report in Science (DOI 10.1126/science.aeb4487; published around September 10, 2026) that hydroclimatic “pulse enrichment” can amplify riverine microplastic export. Their machine-learning framework harmonizes field methods and tracks daily rainfall and flow, identifying short-lived spikes as storms flush plastics from land and resuspend bed particles. Coverage cites an estimated 263,000 metric tons exported to oceans in 2022, about 96% from the Global South. Extreme rainfall could intensify these pulses without stronger upstream waste controls. The practical frame is source water: storm-driven loads arrive before treatment, making upstream hydrology and waste controls central to the discussion.

Source-water and climate-hydrology context from WaterVO.

Spout Monolith Is Back — Limited-Time Pricing at WaterVO

Spout Monolith atmospheric water is available again through WaterVO for a limited-time price of $1,495 (regularly $1,995). WaterVO provides the current pricing, after-sale support, and warranty information.

Source Matters: Airborne vs Waterborne Drinking Water

Drinking water is not just filtered or not — source matters. Waterborne cycles carry runoff, pesticide and glyphosate concerns, pharmaceuticals, nanoplastics, heavy metals, and a moving target of new chemicals. Vapor optimizing pulls moisture from air (HEPA → condense → filter → UV). Soft educational framing only; no disease claims. Explore Hydrology University, then Spout Monolith at WaterVO.

Soft educational framing from Hydrology University / WaterVO.