Abstract
Two simple laboratory experiments for addressing the issue of microplastics in the aqueous environment in science teaching are developed. Extraction of microbeads from cosmetic products using a coffee pad machine makes students aware of the potential emission of microplastics into the environment by using these products. Density separation of microplastic particles from beach sediment samples on the other hand demonstrates the difficulty of dealing with the problem once the particles have entered the environment. Using the low-cost experimental set-up facilitates integration of the microplasticsâ topic into laboratory teaching making science lessons vivid and more interesting.
Highlights
The topic of „micro-plastics and their impact on the environment” has gained increasing media attention in recent years but has become a major new field of research around the world
Since microplastics are a global and ever-growing problem, awareness must be raised of the negative effects of these materials on the environment and the subsequent prevention of waste in the future in the first place, so that the introduction of plastics into the seas and inland waters can be stopped
In the course of the experiments it became clear that the skills of the students to realize and critically assess the environmental contamination through microplastics were trained
Summary
The topic of „micro-plastics and their impact on the environment” has gained increasing media attention in recent years but has become a major new field of research around the world. This topic is increasingly discussed in society, politics and science. The question will be tackled, of how microplastics already introduced into the environment, both primary and secondary, can be removed from sediment using a density separation method This helps the students making the connection between the direct anthropogenic input of microplastics into the environment through cosmetic products and the difficulties of removing microplastics once emitted. The experiments show a high relevance to everyday life and can be integrated and replicated in the lesson through the implementation of the low-cost methods described below
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