Join us for a special WaterTalks co-hosted by the University of Waterloo's Water Institute and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN), where Juliette Legler, Chair of Toxicology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, presents, “Microplastics and Human Health: Moving the Field Forward.”
More information
The ubiquity of microplastics (plastic particles <5 mm, including nano-sized plastics <1 micrometer) in the environment raises increasing concerns about their implications for human health. Recent evidence indicates that humans constantly inhale and ingest microplastics, however, it is unclear whether these contaminants pose a substantial risk to human health. Initial studies suggest that microplastics are taken up in human tissues where they may cause biological effects. However, there are key knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in order to move the field forward and answer critical questions about the possible risks of microplastics on human health. In this presentation I will introduce research initiatives in Europe that address the lack of crucial data on human exposure and effects, to enable comprehensive risk assessment and support timely decision-making on health policies and mitigation strategies.
Speaker bio
Juliette
Legler
is
Chair
of
Toxicology
at
the
Institute
for
Risk
Assessment
Sciences,
Utrecht
University,
where
she
also
heads
the
Department
of
Population
Health
Sciences
at
the
Faculty
of
Veterinary
Medicine.
Previously
she
worked
at
Brunel
University
London
(2016-2017)
and
VU
University
Amsterdam
(2001-2015)
where
she
became
a
full
professor
in
2013.
She
has
a
BSc
degree
in
environmental
studies
from
the
University
of
Waterloo,
and
MSc
and
PhD
degrees
in
environmental
toxicology
from
Wageningen
University,
the
Netherlands.
Her
research
focuses
on
understanding
how
exposure
to
endocrine-disrupting
chemicals
and
other
contaminants
such
as
microplastics
may
affect
health.
Juliette
has
led
various
international
research
projects
and
currently
coordinates
the European
Commission-funded
project
GOLIATH
(Generation
of
Novel,
Integrated
and
Internationally
Harmonised
Approaches
for
Testing
Metabolism
Disrupting
Compounds)
as
well
as
MOMENTUM
(Microplastics
and
Human
Health
Consortium)
funded
by
the Netherlands
Organisation
for
Health
Research
and
Development.
More
information
on
Juliette
can
be
found
at https://www.uu.nl/staff/JLegler
The University of Waterloo is committed to achieving barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities who are visiting, studying or working at Waterloo. If you have questions concerning access or wish to request accommodations for this event, please contact Julie Grant (j26grant@uwaterloo.ca)