Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have found that adding natural plant compounds, known as tannins, to a layer of wood dust creates a filter that traps virtually all microplastic particles present in water.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic debris resulting from the breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste, and keeping them out of water supplies is a huge challenge.

They are typically present in both tap water and bottled water. US studies have shown that an average of 325 plastic particles can be found in a litre of bottled water, and around 5.5 plastic particles per litre of tap water. Their long-term health impact on the human body is still largely understood.

While the experiment is confined to the laboratory at this stage, the team says this bioCap solution can be scaled up relatively easily and inexpensively.

UBC’s Dr Orlando Rojas said: “Our filter, unlike plastic filters, does not contribute to further pollution...