International Conference on Microplastics, Nanoplastics and Human Health. - UCD School of Biosystems & Food Engineering

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# International Conference on Microplastics, Nanoplastics & Human Health.

### August 28 - 30, 2024
Dublin, Ireland

### On This Page

- Conference Details
- Keynote Speakers
- Invited Talks
- Suggested Topics:
- Important dates in 2024
- General Chair
- Local Organising Committee
- General information
- Contact The Organiser

This international conference is dedicated to bringing together experts across disciplines to address the overarching theme of “Evidence-based research uncovering the intricate relationships between microplastics and human health”. In a hybrid format, participants can choose to attend in person or virtually. The conference's in-person segment will take place in Dublin, Ireland.

Across 29th and 30th of August, this conference will include keynote speeches and invited talks, the conference will feature a dedicated session, bringing together key stakeholders for a collaborative discussion on policy recommendations to tackle plastic pollution. Booking for in-person and online attendance still available and free of charge. Booking for the conference dinner on 30th of August is also available.

The conference program will include with an engaging workshop designed to offer practical, hands-on training in utilizing the cutting-edge optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy (O-PTIR) instrument for microplastic analysis. This workshop is now fully booked.

#### Conference Details

DateAugust 28 - 30, 2024

FeeFree of charge

LocationUniversity College Dublin, Ireland

OrganisersDr. Junli Xu, Chairperson

Sponsors UCD - SFI - NUI

Intended Audience Researchers, Scientists, Policy Makers, Environmental NGOs, Industry Representatives, General Public

Conference Programme

A Young Scientist Travel Grant, valued at a maximum of €500 per person, will be awarded to support the participation of outstanding students (Master and PhD students).

Young researchers with a primary affiliation in an ITC country can apply for (opens in a new window)ITC Conference Grants from COST Action (opens in a new window)PRIORITY for travel support.

The conference will feature a prize and certificate for the best poster presented, sponsored by Environmental Sciences: Advances.

Abstract Booklet (opens in a new window)Virtual Poster Playlist

## Keynote Speakers

### Jacob de Boer

#### Topic: Plastic Pollution – Human Health vs. Environment

Jacob de Boer is emeritus professor. From 2006-2022 he was Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Prof. De Boer has worked for 49 years on the environmental contamination and analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls, flame retardants,
perfluorinated compounds, PAHs and other contaminants. In 1998 he won the Excellent Scientist Award of the Wageningen University. In 2015 he was honored as one of the most cited scientists in his field (Top 1%) according to Thomson & Reuter. He has (co)coordinated a large number of European research projects, including the CleanSea project , the first European research project on microplastics, and many research projects for other international organizations and industries. He organized numerous international interlaboratory studies on contaminants including microplastics.

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### Amy O'Higgins

#### Topic: Microplastic Exposures at the Beginning of Life

Amy O'Higgins is Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at The Coombe Hospital, Dublin and Director of the UCD Centre for Human Reproduction. She graduated from UCD with a BSc in Chemistry and worked in analytical chemistry before studying medicine. She specialized in Obstetrics & Gynaecology in Ireland and completed sub-specialist training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine with the University of Toronto in Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada. Her clinical and research interests include diabetes mellitus and metabolic health in pregnancy as well as maternal and fetal complications of pregnancy.

### Elvis Genbo Xu

#### Topic: Unraveling Micro and Nanoplastics: Towards a "One Health" Perspective

Dr. Elvis Genbo Xu is an Associate Professor and Sapere Aude Research Leader at the Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark. Xu’s research combines state-of-the-art techniques from environmental toxicology, aquatic biology, omics, and bioimaging to understand the impacts of emerging pollutants.
His recent micro(nano)plastics findings are covered in Nature, Science, and 500+ global media. He has secured over two million euros in research grants and published 100+ peer-reviewed articles in PNAS, ES&T, Water Res, etc. He also serves as an editorial board member for Water Res X, Eco-Environ Health, J Hazard Mater, Front Environ Sci Eng, Environ Syst Res, and Managing Guest Editor of Environ Inter on “Micro(nano)plastic & Health”.

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### Kevin Thomas

#### Topic: Advancements and challenges in assessing human exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics.

Professor Kevin Thomas is Director of the at Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Kevin is an environmental health scientist with a particular interest in understanding the environmental exposures associated with contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) with the goal of protecting environmental and human health. Kevin also leads the Minderoo Centre- Plastics and Human Health at UQ and is Deputy-Director of the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies (HyTech). His current research is focused on understanding human exposure to plastics pollution and developing mass spectrometric analytical methods for characterizing plastics and other CECs, assessing community-wide health status through analysing wastewater (wastewater-based epidemiology) and establishing alternative approaches to exposure monitoring.

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## Invited Talks

### Cezmi Akdis

#### Professor

Topic:

Epithelial Barrier Theory for the Development of Allergic and Autoimmunity Diseases: Exploring Implications for Microplastics.

Institution:

University Zurich, Switzerland.

### Shuai Chen

#### Associate Professor

Topic:

Analysis of Plastic Distribution in Coastal and Farming Areas of Shanghai

Institution:

Shanghai Polytechnic University, China.

### Joao Frias

#### Ph.D.

Topic:

Marine Plastisphere: Vector for Accumulation of Trace Metals and Interesting Species

Institution:

Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC), Atlantic Technological University, Ireland.

### Stefania Federici

#### Associate Professor

Topic:

Exploring Micro- and Nanoplastic Pollution Through More Realistic Test Materials

Institution:

Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Italy

### Sedat Gündoğdu

#### Professor

Topic:

Pathways of Human Exposure to Micro and Nanoplastics: Food, Air, and Medical Treatment.

Institution:

Cukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries.

### John Placheril

#### Dean

Topic:

Neurotoxicity Induced By Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Institution:

Faculty of Sciences, IIS (Deemed to Be) University, Jaipur, India.

### Paramasivam Raajeswari

#### Associate Professor

Topic:

Sustainable Edible & Ecofriendly Packaging Films & Tableware Tackling Plastic Pollution

Institution:

Avinashilingam University, Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women, Dept of Food Science & Nutrition, Coimbatore, India

### Stephanie Wright

#### Lecturer

Topic:

A New Screening Framework to Support the Identification of Microplastic Particles in Situ in Pathological Tissue Samples

Institution:

Imperial College London

### Liwen Xiao

#### Associate Professor

Topic:

Investigation of Microplastics Release From Plastic Products

Institution:

Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin

### Wei Xu

#### Associate Professor

Topic:

Nanoplastics in Coastal Environments: Challenges, Solutions, and Future Directions

Institution:

Texas a & M University - Corpus Christi

## Suggested Topics:

We invite you to submit original research results on the following suggested topics:

- Methodology development for identification of micro- and nanoplastics;
- Micro- and nanoplastics contamination in food and environmental samples;
- Exposure pathways into the human body;
- Implications of chemical additives released from micro- and nanoplastics;
- Potential health risks at cellular, organism and population levels;
- Innovative solutions for risk assessment and the mitigation of plastic pollution.
- Policy recommendations to mitigate plastic pollution Impact.

## Important dates in 2024

Deadline for Abstract Submission: July 12

Deadline for Abstract Submission Competing Young Scientist Travel Grant: May 24

Registration Deadline: August 23

How to Attend Online: To attend the conference virtually, please use the Zoom link provided below. This will grant you access to all live sessions, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, and virtual poster showcases.

Zoom Link: https://ucd-ie.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fq91N0Q-RT-AjgWav1eExQ

## Publications

All participants are cordially invited to submit a manuscript for publication in Environmental Sciences: Advances, subject to the normal peer review process. All details will be available on the conference website.

## General Chair

### Dr Junli Xu

#### Conference Chair / Assistant Professor (Ad Astra Fellow)

Dr. Junli Xu is an Assistant Professor at the University College Dublin, leading the research team with 3 PhDs, 3 Postdocs and 1 Research Assistant. She has gained international recognition in the field of spectral imaging and spectroscopy, as evidenced by invitations to present work at major international conferences, membership on several editorial boards, authorship of 4 book chapters and 50+ peer-reviewed research articles. She has secured prestigious funding awards (ca. €1.2 million) as PI.
The Microplastic Research Team led by Dr. Xu aims to advance the methodology for characterizing microplastics and improve the understanding of the associated human health impacts.

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## Local Organising Committee

### Professor Aoife Gowen

#### Professor

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### Dr Amy O'Higgins

#### Associate Professor

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### Dr Clare Reynolds

#### Assistant Professor (Ad Astra Fellow)

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### Dr Rajat Nag

#### Lecturer/Assistant Professor

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### Dr Anna Molter

#### Lecturer/Assistant Professor

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### Dr Leonard Koolman

#### Lecturer, Technological University Dublin, Ireland

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### Dr Abhrajyoti Tarafdar

#### Research Scientist

### Ms Nazan Altun

#### Research Assistant

### Dr Tamírís Da Costa

#### Lecturer/Assistant Professor

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### Dr Xiaohui Lin

#### IRC Postdoctoral Fellow

## General information

1. Conference Venue

   Room C007, Health Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

   Please check the following Google map link for the location: (opens in a new window)https://maps.app.goo.gl/w56hVi19c6nnniam6

2. Gala dinner Venue

   UCD University Club, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

   Please check the following Google map link for the location: (opens in a new window)https://maps.app.goo.gl/i8hLbbsDjJ7qqu4t7

3. Navigation

   Please download the map of Ireland offline in the Google map for navigation.

4. Public Transit

   Conference attendees can take the bus of 46A, 145, 155, 39A, 11, and S4 and the aircoach of 700 to UCD.

   4.1 Taking bus, you need to purchase a leap card. For more information, please visit: (opens in a new window)https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

   4.2 Checking the real time bus information, please visit: (opens in a new window)https://www.transportforireland.ie/plan-a-journey/live-departures/

   4.3 Taking aircoach, for the best fares and a guaranteed seat we recommend booking on the website ((opens in a new window)www.aircoach.ie) up to 1 hour pre departure. At Dublin Airport you can purchase your ticket from any aircoach staff member at the aircoach departure stand at Terminal 1, Zone 2 and Terminal 2, Zone 20. If you depart from UCD, you can purchase ticket from the driver by cash or card.

5. Driving

   For attendees who drive to UCD please check parking information at: Driving and Parking - UCD Estate Services

6. Campus Accessibility

   UCD is committed to making its campus, its information and its goods and services accessible to everyone. For more information, please visit: Campus Accessibility - UCD Access and Lifelong Learning

7. Things to bring

   Attendees are highly recommended to bring their own water bottles, notebooks and pens for the purpose of Environmental sustainability.

8. WiFi

   On-campus wireless connection is provided through the ucd-wireless.

9. Financial Needs

   The Allied Irish Banks (AIB) ATM is located at UCD James Joyce Library, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

10. First aid assistance

    For first aid assistance, please reach out to our certified personnel, Dr. Eva Achata Gonzales, who will be present throughout the entire conference.

11. Emergency Numbers

    +353 17167999 (UCD Estate Service), 999/112 (Ireland’s national police service)

12. Food on Campus

    UCD campus has a wide range of lunch options, we recommend staying on campus if looking to purchase lunch to ensure enough time during the conference. Seating is available in all the options below. Options below are organised closest to the conference venue to the furthest from the venue.

    - Pulse: Ground Floor, Health Sciences Centre. Offers soup and freshly made sandwiches to order or pre-made sandwiches. Cost €4.50 to 7 for lunch.
    - Pi Restaurant: Ground Floor, O'Brien Centre of Science. Hot food options, including vegetarian options. Cost approx. €8 for lunch.
    - Confucius Restaurant: Confucius Institute. Authentic Hakkahan Chinese Food. Approx €11 to €15 for lunch.
    - Main Restaurant: First Floor, Gerard Manley Hopkins Building. Range of sandwiches, salads and hot food options are available.
    - UCD Village: Located on the opposite side of campus but a wide range of options, including, Pan-Asain food, burritos, and an American style diner. Approx €6 to €12 for lunch.

Campus Map

## Contact The Organiser

We are pleased to assist with your visa application by providing a letter confirming your registration. Additionally, we will issue an attendance certificate for your records. For inquiries, please contact: (opens in a new window)IC-PlasticHealth@ucd.ie

## Sponsors & Partners

## Contact UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering

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