Abstract Environmental and drinking water samples often contain naturally occurring constituents that can complicate optical monitoring workflows. These include dissolved organic matter (DOM), mineral hardness species, suspended colloids, biological materials, and varying ionic strength. This technical note summarizes high-level observations from field evaluations of the EcoExposure™ platform across multiple challenging matrix categories. Despite substantial differences in co

Abstract This technical note presents a rapid distributed environmental sampling pilot conducted at Miami Whitewater Lake, Ohio. Multiple water samples were collected from geographically distributed locations using a portable rowboat-based workflow and immediately evaluated using the EcoExposure™ environmental assessment platform. The pilot evaluated operational feasibility of distributed freshwater lake monitoring, documented environmental heterogeneity across short distan

Abstract This technical note presents a rapid distributed shoreline sampling pilot conducted along the Seine River in central Paris, France. Using lightweight, low-infrastructure methods, five environmental water samples were collected from multiple publicly accessible micro-sites near the Louvre Museum, Pont du Carrousel, Quai Voltaire, and Musée d’Orsay within approximately 30 minutes. This pilot served as an early field demonstration of the EcoExposure™ environmental ass

Abstract On 11 May 2026, EU Directive 2026/805 entered into force, marking the first formal inclusion of microplastics on EU water pollutant watch lists. The directive updates the Water Framework Directive, Groundwater Directive, and Environmental Quality Standards Directive, expanding future monitoring expectations across surface water, groundwater, and wastewater systems throughout the European Union. With transposition required by December 2027, utilities, regulators, rese

Introduction Most conversations about microplastics focus on drinking water. But in reality, we consume liquids from many sources every day: Juice Soda Milk Coffee and tea Packaged beverages These products often involve plastic packaging, processing, and storage, creating additional opportunities for microplastic and nanoplastic exposure. Why Beverages Matter Beverages can introduce microplastics through: Plastic bottles and caps Packaging and lining materials Processing and

Introduction Microplastics and nanoplastics are now found in water, food, and everyday environments. While research is still evolving, studies suggest these particles can accumulate in the body and may be associated with inflammation and tissue deposition. The good news is that there are simple, practical steps you can take today to reduce exposure—especially in your drinking water and daily habits. 1. Reduce Single-Use Plastic Contact One of the largest sources of microplast

Abstract Water reuse, including Direct Potable Reuse (DPR), is an increasingly critical strategy for addressing water scarcity in regions such as Colorado. While treatment technologies have advanced significantly, monitoring frameworks have not evolved at the same pace—particularly for emerging contaminants such as microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). Current detection methods rely heavily on centralized laboratory workflows that are costly, time-intensive, and low-fre

Abstract This document provides an organized table of contents for the 2026 Ecotera research portfolio — a growing collection of technical papers focused on scalable detection, interpretation, monitoring, and mitigation of microplastics and nanoplastics across environmental and biological systems. The portfolio spans field-deployable sensing technologies, urine-based human exposure monitoring, computer-vision approaches, mechanistic models, multi-analyte water intelligence

Abstract Water quality monitoring is essential for public health, environmental stewardship, food systems, and climate resilience. Yet many current testing workflows remain centralized, infrastructure-heavy, episodic, and inaccessible for routine use outside specialized laboratories. This creates a global data gap: contamination events may be missed, geographic coverage remains sparse, and many communities lack practical access to timely information. Microplastics and nanop

Water is part of daily life—used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, recreation, agriculture, and industry. Yet many people only think about water quality when something looks unusual, smells strange, or appears in the news. In reality, water quality is shaped by many physical, chemical, and biological factors, some visible and some invisible. Learning a few basic concepts can help people better understand their local water sources and participate in citizen science projects lik

This paper is also available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19490782 This field validation study evaluated the robustness and real-world deployability of a portable smartphone based zero-shear optical interaction assay for detection of microplastics and nanoplastics (MP–NP) in coastal water at Crissy Field East Beach, San Francisco Bay — a representative estuarine environment with elevated salinity and known microplastic presence. Samples were collected directly from

Abstract: On April 2, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Health and Human Services announced the prioritization of microplastics, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts as candidate groups on the draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6). This marks the first time microplastics have been designated at the group level for drinking water consideration. While this represents a significant policy milestone, reliable detection

Abstract Turbidity, a measure of water clarity influenced by suspended particles, serves as a widely used proxy for water quality in environmental and industrial systems. Traditional nephelometric sensors and laboratory instruments, while quantitative, limit scalability and spatial coverage. This paper proposes an image-based framework for turbidity analysis using ubiquitous smartphone cameras. By extracting visual features such as clarity, light scattering, edge definition,

Abstract: Detection of dispersed particles in water systems, including microplastics and nanoplastics, is strongly influenced by stochastic sampling effects at low concentrations. When particle concentrations are sparse, the probability of detection in small sample volumes follows Poisson statistics, resulting in high variability and frequent false-negative results. This paper examines the implications of Poisson sampling variance for environmental monitoring and demonstrate

Abstract Conventional laboratory workflows for microplastic and nanoplastic analysis rely on multi-step processes involving filtration, chemical digestion, transfer, and extensive contact with plastic laboratory materials . These steps introduce potential contamination pathways that can confound environmental measurements, even when samples are collected from water intended for human consumption or recreational use. In contrast, the EcoExposure platform employs an intentional

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly recognized as environmental and potential human health concerns, with emerging evidence of widespread exposure through water sources. However, assessment of MNP burden remains challenging, particularly when samples appear visually indistinguishable. In this report, tap water, filtered water, and double-filtered water were evaluated using top-down optical imaging at standardized timepoints. Across all conditions, samples a

Environmental monitoring often relies on collecting small samples that are later analyzed in laboratories. These methods can provide highl y precise measurements, but the size of the sample itself can sometimes limit what researchers are able to observe. Many contaminants found in water—such as microplastics, sediments, and other suspended particles—are not evenly distributed throughout a water body. Instead, particles may occur in clusters, aggregates, or irregular concentra

When people think about water testing, they often picture freshwater systems such as drinking water supplies, rivers, or lakes. These environments are critically important to monitor, but they represent only a small fraction of the water on our planet. In fact, approximately 97% of Earth’s water is saltwater , contained in oceans and coastal environments. These vast systems play a central role in global ecosystems, fisheries, transportation, and climate regulation. As awaren

Many environmental testing methods rely on collecting samples that are later analyzed in specialized laboratories. This approach allows for highly precise measurements, but it also introduces delays and logistical challenges. Samples must be transported, preserved, and processed usin g complex instruments before results become available. For certain types of environmental observations, however, valuable information can be obtained by examining samples directly in the field. D

In recent years, smartphones have evolved into powerful computing platforms equipped with high-resolution cameras, advanced processors, and sophisticated software capabilities. While these devices are typically associated with communication and photography, researchers are increasingly exploring how smartphones can function as scientific instruments. Environmental sensing is one area where this transformation is particularly promising. Modern smartphones contain cameras capab