As concerns over microplastic contamination in drinking water continue to grow worldwide, a student researcher has developed a low-cost method that aims to make testing more accessible for households while also raising awareness among underserved communities.
Smera Arora has created a simple screening technique that enables the detection of microplastics in drinking water using Oil Red O, a staining agent commonly used in pathology laboratories. she innovated the use of the dye to identify plastic particles in water and validated the approach across 10 commonly used plastic types in a home laboratory.
“There is growing awareness about microplastics, but most people have no practical way to understand whether they are present in the water they consume every day,” Arora said.
Adding to it she mentioned that “I wanted to develop a method that is simple, affordable and accessible so that science can reach ordinary households, not just laboratories.”
The project comes amid increasing scientific evidence of widespread microplastic pollution. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), microplastics make up a significant share of global plastic pollution and have been detected in oceans, freshwater systems, food and drinking water.
Recent studies have also identified microplastics in human blood, lungs and placental tissue, while emerging research suggests that even smaller nanoplastics may be capable of crossing biological barriers, although scientists continue to study their long-term health impacts.
Despite growing concerns, affordable and standardised methods for households to detect microplastics remain limited. Arora’s approach seeks to bridge that gap by offering a simple and inexpensive screening technique that can be used outside specialised laboratories.
“The objective is not just to generate data but to encourage young people to ask questions about the quality of the water they drink and the impact of plastic pollution in their daily lives,” she said.
Beyond the research, Arora has launched an outreach initiative called JalRakshak in partnership with Gurugram-based NGOs Sapno Ke Pankh and Harmony House. Through the programme, she has engaged more than 200 children aged 10 to 18 in underserved communities, educating them about plastic pollution and water safety. She aims to expand the initiative to over 2,000 children during the year.