Microplastics Seminar Series

Starting in the fall of 2024, the SAFES Institute began hosting a series of microplastics-themed talks to enable faculty to engage with scientific and policy expertise spanning the full microplastics lifecycle.

Topics include polymer design and manufacturing, polymer recycling, the fate and transport of microplastics, and impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. We hope that many interdisciplinary research partnerships will emerge from these conversations.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Rebecca Whiteash - Water Program Specialist, Bureau of Clean Water, PA Department of Environmental Protection

Microplastics 2025 Sampling and Analysis

Time: 2:00-3:00

Location: 118 Ag Sciences and Industries Building

Abstract: In 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Clean Water conducted a microplastics data collection project, sampling surface waters at six different locations throughout the Commonwealth. The project goals included to develop microplastic collection protocols, make comparisons of abundance and types of microplastics of different land uses, same-stream longitudinal samples, and replicates. Land use comparisons included forested, developed, and agricultural streams; longitudinal samples included two samples from Spring Creek in Dauphin County, upstream and downstream of Hershey; and replicate samples included two samples from Raccoon Creek in Beaver County, near a polystyrene manufacturer’s permitted discharge. Preliminary sample results suggested contamination introduced through collection protocols but also indicated differences between land uses and replicate sample collections. This presentation will discuss these preliminary results and the steps to be taken moving forward.

Recording: DEP Survey of Microplastics 2025

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Yingxue Yu - Assistant Professor of Soil-Water Interactions, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Penn State

Micro- and Nanoplastics in Terrestrial Environments: Sampling, Impacts, and Environmental Fate

Time: 11:00-12:00

Location: 342 Erickson Food Science Building

Abstract: Micro- and nanoplastics are recognized as emerging contaminants in the environment, yet uncertainties remain regarding their occurrence, impacts on ecosystem functioning, and environmental fate. In this talk, a sampling framework is presented that links microplastic concentration to soil sample size and spatial heterogeneity, demonstrating how inadequate sampling can bias reported abundances. Laboratory experiments show that microplastics can modify soil bulk density, water retention, and hydraulic conductivity, but critical concentrations have to be reached for pronounced effects to occur. Finally, the aggregation and transport behavior of biodegradable nanoplastics is examined, revealing that despite their degradable nature, these materials exhibit high stability and mobility, which may facilitate off-site transport.

Recording: Micro- and nanoplastics in terrestrial environments

Timestamps:

  • 00:23 Overview of Yingxue's research agenda
  • 04:58 Global plastic pollution
  • 06:59 Definitions of micro- and nanoplastics
  • 08:00 Sampling and statistical methods for estimating the concentration of microplastics in soils
  • 17:06 How do microplastics affect soil physical properties?
  • 21:07 How do nanoplastics aggregate and transport in physical environments?
  • 30:08 Aggregation kinetics
  • 33:41 Estimating transport of nanoplastics through unsaturated soil

Q&A

  • 37:42 How might the organic carbon content of the soil affect the aggregation and transport properties?
  • 40:15 Some of our soil-applied pesticides (herbicides) lose efficacy over time because microorganisms evolve to utilize them as a food source. Are we starting to see that with microplastics, where this abundance of carbon can be used by organisms? Or do we expect to see that phenomenon in the future as microplastics become more prevalent and have longer exposure to soil microorganisms?
  • 41:49 Do you think the presence of a microbial community on the plastics affect the way the plastics degrade?
  • 42:39 How degradable are the plastics you've been working with (e.g. PBAT)? (How long does it take to turn into CO2?)
  • 43:45 How long does it take for, say, a compost bag to degrade? And is there a difference between plastic's ability to degrade in compost versus its ability to degrade in soil? (Yes! And so biodegradable compost bags might actually persist longer in the soil than standard plastics.)
  • 46:10 Regarding the plastic bag bans discussed at the beginning, are there specific types of plastic of plastic products we could target that would have the largest impact on plastic pollution?
  • 48:30 How salty are the solutions you worked with in your experiments, e.g. how salty is 10 millimol NaCl per liter? And how does salt concentration affect nanoplastic aggregation?
  • 53:28 Do the aggregated nanoplastic particles ever break apart again into smaller particles or do they always stay at that larger size?

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Odette Mina - Penn State Energy & Environmental Sustainability Lab (EESL) and Tawanda Zimudzi - Penn State Materials Characterization Lab (MCL)

Overview of Microplastics Analytical Methods at Penn State

Time: 11:00-12:00

Location: 252 Erickson Food Science Building

Abstract: Microplastics, small plastic particles ranging in size from 1 to 5000 microns, are present in diverse environmental matrices and pose significant threats to human health and ecosystems. The Environmental Contaminants Analytical Laboratory (ECAL) and the Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL) will review physical and chemical characterization techniques for microplastics in a wide range of environmental and biological matrices. In this talk, we will also discuss ECAL's quality assurance and control, standardized procedures for sample preparation, detection and identification, as well as small-scale, research-focused characterization techniques at the MCL. This information will help researchers make informed decisions on the most suitable analytical approach for their research projects.

Recording: Microplastics Seminar - Thu Apr 3 - Odette and TJ.mp4

Slides:

Notes:

  • 1:24 Overview of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability Laboratories (EESL)
  • 2:12 Introduction to the Emerging Contaminants Analytical Laboratory (ECAL)
  • 2:55 Difference between working with ECAL versus a commercial lab
  • 5:00 Introduction to microplastics and trends in microplastics publications
  • 6:00 Microplastics in human tissue
  • 9:20 Plastic chemistry
  • 10:35 Sources of microplastics
  • 11:05 Matrices where microplastics are found (all of which ECAL can handle)
  • 12:20 Analytical challenges for microplastics
  • 14:05 Analytical resources and capabilities at ECAL
  • 14:50 Sample prep
  • 18:10 Laser direct infrared (LDIR) imaging
  • 22:35 Pyrolysis GC-MS
  • 25:10 Quality assurance/quality control protocol
  • 26:05 Key considerations for working with ECAL
  • 27:50 TJ's talk begins

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Lisa Emili - Associate Professor and Chair of the Environmental Studies Program, Penn State Altoona

Microplastics: Sediments as a Record of Legacy Plastic Pollution

Time: 11:30-12:30

Location: 252 Erickson Food Science Building

Abstract: One of the most damaging and long-lived legacies of plastic pollution is microplastics. These small, persistent particles are increasingly being recognized as a global threat to environmental and human health. Due to their large surface area, microplastics adsorb other contaminants of concern, including persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and toxic bacteria, further amplifying ecosystem contamination. While it is imperative that plastic emissions to the environment be curtailed, an understanding of where and how microplastics have accumulated over time is essential to developing effective monitoring and remediation strategies. This presentation will highlight historic microplastic accumulation in sediments across a diverse range of freshwater environments from the shores of Lake Erie to the Delaware Estuary. Discussion topics will also include field monitoring and microplastic collection methods for environmental matrices and laboratory methods for separation and identification of microplastics.

Recording: Microplastics Seminar - Tue Mar 18 - Lisa Emili.mp4

Resources and links related to Lisa's talk:

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Kat Knauer - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Transforming the Plastic Industry: Life Cycle Assessment-Guided Innovations and Strategies for a Sustainable Future

Time: 10:30-11:45

Abstract: The plastic pollution crisis is deeply intertwined with the energy crisis, with projections indicating that by 2050, approximately 20% of fossil fuel consumption will be devoted to plastic production, contributing nearly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions—double that of the aviation sector. To address these challenges, comprehensive systemic transformations are essential to decarbonize the U.S. plastic industry. This involves integrating bio- and waste-based supply chains and creating a circular economy loop for plastics through innovative recycling techniques. Leading these efforts is the Bio-Optimized Technologies to Keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE™) Consortium, a multi-organization initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The consortium is dedicated to developing new chemical upcycling strategies for existing plastics while designing future plastics with inherent recyclability. This presentation will highlight flagship technologies from the BOTTLE Consortium, including low-energy plastic deconstruction methods, novel upcycling approaches for waste intermediates, and the creation of recyclable-by-design (RBD) polymers poised to transform the plastic industry. Topics will also cover integrated economic and life cycle modeling efforts and proposed methods to account for the impact of microplastics in the plastic carbon life cycle.

Recording: Microplastics Seminar - Thu Feb 13 - Kat Knauer.mp4

Resources and links related to Kat's talk:

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Leah Thornton Hampton - Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)

Microplastic Research to Inform Management Strategies in California

Time: 12:00-1:00

Abstract: In 2018, the California Legislature adopted a pair of bills that require the State to begin building microplastics management strategies for both drinking water and California’s aquatic ecosystems. The passing of these bills initiated a burst of collaborative activity in California to provide a scientific foundation for these legislative mandates. For instance, multiple international efforts have been convened to identify the primary pathways by which microplastics affect aquatic biota and humans, prioritize the microplastic characteristics that are of greatest biological concern, develop frameworks for assessing the risks associated with microplastics, and identify critical thresholds at which those biological effects become pronounced. In addition, methods for both sample collection and analysis have been evaluated to better understand method performance and work toward standardization. Through these activities and others, critical research needs were also identified, laying the groundwork for the next phase of microplastic research and environmental management in California.

Recording: Microplastics Seminar - Leah Thornton Hampton - Thu Jan 23.mp4

Resources and links related to Leah's talk:

Additional microplastics publications from Leah and co-authors:

Monday, November 18, 2024

Ezgi Toraman - Penn State, Energy & Mineral Engineering and Chemical Engineering

Transforming Waste into Resource - Sustainable Strategies for Plastic Management in a Global Circular Economy

Time: 9:30-10:30

Location: 312 Ag Engineering Building

Abstract: Currently, around 60% of all plastics ever produced remain in waste sites, causing an annual economic loss estimated between $80-120 billion USD. Plastic production, which accounts for 6% of global oil usage, is projected to grow to 20% by 2050. Under harsh landfill and environmental conditions, plastics are subjected to factors such as high salinity, fluctuating temperatures, gas emissions, and microbial interactions. These conditions contribute to the breakdown of plastics into microplastics, which can harm marine ecosystems, wildlife, and human health through food contamination. Our lab applies expertise in catalysis, reaction engineering, and advanced separation techniques like two-dimensional gas chromatography and artificial intelligence to investigate the fundamental chemistry that drives mixed plastic recycling technologies. In this talk, I will demonstrate how a combination of well-defined, controlled experimentation, data science, and advanced analytics enables the collection of experimental data that can aid in refining process design and identifying potential contaminants.

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Greg Zarus, Gaston Casillas, and Katie Stallings - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Microplastics: Small size, big challenges

Abstract: This presentation will briefly summarize the current state of microplastics research including: what they are, how they are being identified, the rate of expanding research, microplastics and biomonitoring, and how they are currently understood to behave in certain environments. Our microplastics work at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is aimed at producing literature reviews focused on human health and exposure as well as establishing collaborations. We will give a live demonstration of our unique data visualizations, Hub for Interactive Literature (HILs), which allow researchers to navigate through the figures and references from our microplastic reviews. HILs are especially useful in helping users to home in on specific microplastics aspects. Finally, we will show who and what ATSDR is as an organization and how students can get involved.

Recording: Microplastics Seminar - ATSDR - Thu Oct 3.mp4

Hubs for interactive literature:

Publications:

Other links/resources:

Opportunities for students and post-docs:

Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science

Address

111 Ferguson Building
University Park, PA 16802-2600

Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science

Address

111 Ferguson Building
University Park, PA 16802-2600