The Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning/McGill University

Published purpose

Although, there is increasing environmental awareness about plastic wastes, a lack of understanding of the physicochemical transformation processes. The goal of the collaborative research Project is to understand the natural transformation and agglomeration of microplastic particles in Canadian water bodies. Using McGill’s ultra-trace quantification of microplastics technology supporting by other technologies, the environmental fate of microplastics will be studied in microcosms, at different conditions. The collaborative Project between McGill University and NRC supports two scientists and will assist NRC in developing advanced monitoring technologies, digital models and decision-making tools. These tools will also facilitate improved water quality management, directly supporting NRC’s Ocean Program and the Government of Canada’s agenda to reduce and mitigate the environmental impact of plastics in waterbodies.