Smartwatch: Until now, detecting microplastics in the body requires blood samples and complex lab equipment. This process is expensive and time-consuming.

(This device will tell how much plastic is in the body)

Smartwatch: Plastic use has increased so much these days that its tiny particles are now reaching our bodies. Scientists have found the presence of microplastics and nano plastics in air, water, and food. Worryingly, these particles can reach various parts of the body through the bloodstream, but their measurement is still difficult.

Why is it difficult to detect plastic in the body?

Until now, detecting microplastics in the body required blood samples and complex laboratory equipment. This process is expensive and time-consuming. This is why scientists still don't fully understand how much plastic is accumulating in the human body and its long-term effects.

Smartwatch-like wearable device

Researchers at the University of Tartu are working on a new technology that could simplify this problem. They are developing a wearable device that looks like a smartwatch and can detect plastic particles in the body without any tests.

How will this technology work?

This device uses a technique called spectrometry. This technique studies the nature of light reflected by different materials. Each type of plastic absorbs and reflects light differently, which becomes its identity.

This device shines different types of light on the skin, including infrared and ultraviolet rays. It then measures how the light is reflected back, allowing it to detect plastic particles beneath the skin.

Initial test results positive

To test this technology, researchers created an AI skin that had plastic particles embedded in it. When tested, the device successfully detected plastic beneath the skin. This suggests that this technology could prove effective in real life in the future.

It can have serious effects on health.

Although research into the effects of microplastics is still ongoing, early indications suggest that these particles can accumulate in the body, causing inflammation, cell damage, and disruptions to normal body function. This is why monitoring them is crucial.

Health monitoring may change in the future.

If this technology is successful, in the future, people will be able to easily track plastic levels in their bodies using devices like smartwatches, rings, or bands. This will not only benefit the general public but also help scientists understand how plastic is affecting our health.