[Physical chemist and study lead author Naixin Qian entering lab at Columbia University]
[Qian demonstrating the membrane used to filter the water sample and extract particles]
Naixin Qian (interview): “So our research found that there are, on average, a quarter of a million particles, including both microplastics and nanoplastics, per liter of that bottled water.”
[Qian using a computer to view the plastic nanoparticles, generated via a microscope scan]
Naixin Qian (interview): “If the plastic particles break up, it does not stop at micron size. It can actually go even smaller. So once the size goes below one micron, people call it nanoplastics because now its size is in the nano range.”
[Microscope used for the research]
Naixin Qian (interview): “I mean, whether we see it or not, it’s out there. So it’s better that we actually know how much is out there and what they are. But I myself, as a scientist, I would want more data in terms of the toxicology study to actually know whether–how harmful it would be to my own body.”
[Qian showing the laser box and optical box through which two lasers beams pass before entering the microscope]
[Microscope mirror and detector through which the scanned signal is sent before being visualized on computer screen]
Naixin Qian (interview): “There are actually other techniques people commonly use to study nanoparticles. That is called electron microscopy. They can actually see very tiny particles in nanometer size, but they don’t tell you if the particle is plastic or not. So our technique is kind of the…combines both benefits; being able to see smaller and then be able to tell what type of plastic chemical composition is that.”
[Qian demonstrating how a sample slide would be prepared under the microscope before scanning]
[Forklift dumping plastics into sorting machine at recycling facility]
[Plastics sorting machine]
[Hands holding pieces of plastic]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.