From the cars we drive to the pre-packaged food we eat, the use of plastics in consumer’s lives only continues to grow. It’s showing up on our beaches and in our parks, but what about the plastics we can’t see or can barely touch? According to a recent article from the New York Times, scientists say it could be years before we have a full understanding of how microplastics and nanoplastics are affecting human health. These tiny particles are turning up everywhere — from the deepest parts of the ocean to the food on our plates, and even inside our bodies.
The scale of micro and nanoplastic pollution has sparked serious questions about our health, our environment, and our future. So, what are these particles and where are they coming from? And what are the real-world consequences of their widespread presence on the environment and our health?
Listen here:
About the Expert:
An assistant professor of biology, Peter Pfaff, Ph.D., has been teaching at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota since 2023. After graduating from Concordia University Texas, he spent nearly a decade living and working in Japan. He has been a research assistant at Texas State University for his M.S., Kansas State University for his Ph.D., and South Dakota State University as a Postdoc. Dr. Pfaff’s research centers on ecology and conservation in freshwater systems with a special interest in small impoundments, fragmented habitats, invasive species, and nitrogen and other aquatic pollutants. He grew up in South Korea, Texas, and Kansas, but spends much of his time in Minnesota during the summer season.
