Cesco Foreign Body Analysis Center expands KOLAS accreditation scope for microplastics in water

The Cesco Foreign Body Analysis Center has expanded its accreditation scope under the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme, or KOLAS, to cover microplastic analysis in water.

Cesco said Monday that the center has extended its KOLAS-accredited testing scope for microplastics in water based on ISO 16094-2, an international standard for water quality. The expansion allows the center to analyze microplastics in water in accordance with the international standard test method and issue certified test reports.

ISO 16094-2 is an international standard for analyzing the size, count and chemical composition of microplastics in water with low suspended-solid content — such as drinking water — using microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy.

The center has also independently developed technology capable of analyzing particles as small as 200 nanometers. It has been working with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the National Institute of Environmental Research to develop and validate test methods for detecting microplastics in water and food.

Beyond simple detection, the center conducts precision analysis based on sample characteristics — including particle size, material and shape — and is researching the root causes of microplastic generation by comparing results across different manufacturing and processing stages.

The center is also engaged in international collaborative research. This year, it was selected as a participating institution in Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation program, and is conducting joint research with 19 institutions across 10 countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Spain.

The project aims to identify the pathways through which micro- and nanoplastics are generated during food and beverage manufacturing processes over the next four years, and to develop technologies to monitor and control them.

Building on the expanded accreditation, Cesco plans to continue research into the characteristics and causes of microplastic generation across a wider range of samples and processes — including food, beverages, and containers and packaging materials, in addition to water.

"We will use this expansion of our KOLAS accreditation scope as an opportunity to strengthen our certified testing capabilities based on international standards, and to continuously advance our micro- and nanoplastic analysis technology through national and international collaborative research," a center official said.

Meanwhile, the Cesco Foreign Body Analysis Center was established in 2014 and received KOLAS accreditation as a certified testing institution in March 2016. It has since expanded its accreditation scope and renewed its KOLAS certification following a reassessment in 2024.