Could A Simple Lab Mistake Lead Scientists to Over-Estimate Microplastics?
Good, solid science is hard at the best of times, and even harder when the target of investigation is not confined to the lab, but free to roam the big, messy world. We've talked about how simple procedural errors and incorrect assumptions can cause problems even in space, and now it seems they could also haunt data collected on one of the biggest science stories of the decade: microplastics.
Researchers from the University of Michigan recently published a study presenting evidence that nitrile gloves could significantly affect readings of microplastics, donating particles that are virtually indistinguishable from substances like polyethylene. Nitrile gloves, by the way, are the standard gloves recommended for use by microplastics researchers.
Happily, the solution could be as simple as switching to cleanroom gloves, which slough off far fewer particles. For now, though, the research on this topic will need to be reexamined.
The scientists in...
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