EHMI: Introduction to Microplastics and Health Implications: Where are we and where are we going?

This event is organized by the Environmental Health Matters Initiative in collaboration with the Roundtable on Plastics.
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long and have a variety of sources, including from the breakdown of larger plastic products, personal care products, and industrial processes. They are persistent in the environment and contribute to soil, land, and water pollution. Recent studies have detected microplastics in many human tissues and have been linked to systemic health effects such as inflammation and other health issues but how dangerous they are still lacks evidence-based answers. This first webinar of a series is intended to provide a baseline of information on microplastics, what the concerns are, how complex this issue is, and what our starting point is for assessing human health risks.
A moderated discussion between Margaret Spring (Monterey Bay Aquarium) and Robert Ellis-Hutchings (The Dow Chemical Company) will cover what we know about microplastics and their health implications. This conversation will be followed by a multisectoral panel discussion with Susanne Brander (Oregon State University) Imari Walker-Franklin (RTI International), Anil Patri (FDA), and Scott Coffin (CA OEHHA). This conversation will bring to bear what has been tried worldwide, successfully or not, the lessons to draw upon, and the path forward to bridging research gaps in science and data to inform hazard, exposure, and health risks from microplastics.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU NOW! The audience is invited to submit questions in advance of the meeting to better inform the discussions. Please submit your questions on our Slido platform.
YOU CAN SET THE AGENDA! We invite you to answer a very short questionnaire to better understand your concerns and what you hope to get out of this webinar and future ones.
Register on this webpage (right side) for Wednesday, August 28th, 2024 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm ET. The Zoom link will be sent on the day of the event and posted on this webpage. Closed captioning will be provided. The conversation will be recorded and available to view on the page soon after the event.
The Environmental Health Matters Initiative is a forum that aims to equitably improve the health of all people through evidence-based solutions to environmental health issues. The Roundtable on Plastics explores and advances systemic solutions and interventions across each stage of the life cycle to catalyze the development of innovative solutions to the plastic pollution and waste problem.