Full course description
Plastics and Microplastics: Human and Environmental Risk Overview
January 12, 2023
10:00 – 11:30am
Dr. Allen Burton
University of Michigan
Plastic production is increasing exponentially. Plastics and microplastics have become ubiquitous across the planet in air, soil, sediment and water. There is a growing awareness globally of the environmental problems associated with plastics, including greenhouse gas emissions, gross levels of contamination affecting aesthetics and property values, hazards to wildlife, and uptake of microplastics by wildlife and humans. We will discuss risks to human health and ecosystems of plastics and microplastics, and promising solutions.
Dr. Burton is a Professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. His research has taken him to all 7 continents, with Visiting Scientist positions in China, Denmark, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal. His research deals with freshwater and marine ecotoxicology. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, and past President of the Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, with over 225 peer-reviewed publications.