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Field Validation of a Portable Zero-Shear Optical Interaction Assay for Microplastic–Nanoplastic Detection in Coastal (High Salinity) Water Under Uncontrolled Conditions: San Francisco Bay (April 2026)
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Researchers field-validated a portable, equipment-free optical assay for detecting microplastics and nanoplastics in San Francisco Bay coastal water, showing that replicate samples produce consistent, time-dependent optical patterns driven by intrinsic particle interaction dynamics rather than controlled laboratory conditions.
This study demonstrates field validation of a portable zero-shear optical interaction assay for detecting microplastics and nanoplastics (MP–NP) in coastal water under uncontrolled conditions. Samples collected at Crissy Field, San Francisco Bay were analyzed directly on-site without specialized equipment, controlled lighting, or sample preparation. The assay produced consistent, time-dependent optical patterns characterized by progressive structural organization and radial clearing, distinguishable from passive sedimentation in control samples. Replicate samples showed reproducible behavior despite environmental variability, supporting robustness to real-world conditions. These findings indicate that diagnostic signal arises from intrinsic particle interaction dynamics rather than dependence on imaging conditions, establishing the approach as suitable for scalable field deployment and decentralized environmental monitoring.
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Field Validation of a Portable Zero-Shear Optical Interaction Assay for Microplastic–Nanoplastic Detection in Coastal (High Salinity) Water Under Uncontrolled Conditions: San Francisco Bay (April 2026)
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Researchers validated a portable optical assay for microplastic and nanoplastic detection directly in San Francisco Bay coastal water, showing that the time-dependent structural patterns it produces are reproducible across replicate field samples without controlled lighting or sample preparation — supporting its use for decentralized environmental monitoring.
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