From MACRO to MICRO challenges and opportunities in a world of water and plastics
Chair: dr. Luewton Lemos, Applied Research Professor (Lector) Water Technology, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences; Project Coördinator in Applied Water Physics, Wetsus.
Plastic pollution has escalated into a critical environmental issue, driven by the surge in production and consumption of plastics, especially in the food and packaging industries. Much beyond the visible plastic debris in oceans and landfills, microplastics—tiny fragments resulting from the degradation of larger plastics, microbeads, and synthetic fibers—pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Moreover, the lack of regulations and standardized analysis methods further complicates efforts to address microplastic contamination. Therefore, effective solutions to the microplastics problematic must aim not only towards their removal/mitigation, but also the sampling and detection aspect.
Join our session to hear more about the current challenges and recent developments in this topic.