Land to Sea Microplastics Consortium

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Land to Sea Microplastic Consortium
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Microplastic Pollution: The World’s Littlest BIG problem

We aim to bring together experts from leading institutions to advance a One-Health understanding of microplastics, as well as even-smaller nano-plastics. With this knowledge, we will address microplastics impacts on nature and promote evidence-based solutions to microplastic pollution. To achieve this goal, the consortium will focus on activities in four areas:

Health and Ecological Consequences:

Microplastics affect natural systems in multiple ways, including acting as vectors for pathogens and other contaminants and as sources of plastic additives and associated chemicals. Investigating these impacts informs solutions and policy action on microplastic pollution.

Standardized Protocols and Methods:

Developing standardized, accessible protocols for microplastics research across environmental monitoring and laboratory experiments enables robust comparative studies and strengthens the foundation for evidence-based solutions.

Technology and Policy Solutions:

Addressing microplastics requires a multi-pronged approach that includes the development of plastic alternatives, upstream solutions, technologies to address pollution, and evidence-based policies and regulations.

Education and Outreach:

Communicating microplastics research, alongside community-based monitoring and engagement, is essential to advancing solutions. Working directly with communities generates spatially extensive data and shared understanding to help inform policy.

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Why One Health?

Addressing microplastic pollution requires a One Health approach, factoring in the interconnectedness of our planet’s ecosystems and organisms that are each impacted by microplastics. Effective solutions within this approach will rely on robust, evidence-based guidelines and a solid consensus among researchers, industry, regulators, and other stakeholders for the best ways to measure and assess the prevalence and impact of microplastics in nature.

Consortium Contributors:

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Christina Pasparakis

Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis

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Majdi Abou Najm

Associate Professor, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis

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Susanne Brander

Project Director, Science
Pew Charitable Trusts, Safer Chemicals

Courtesy Faculty, Oregon State University

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Scott Coffin

Staff Toxicologist, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

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Jenessa Gjeltema

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, UC Davis

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Olukayode Jegede

Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension, Department of Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis

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Bushra Khan

Assistant Project Scientist, Department of Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis

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Elizabeth Marder

Public Health Toxicologist, California Department of Public Health

Department of Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis

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Sascha Nicklisch

Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis

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Sanjai Parikh

Associate Professor, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, UC Davis

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Amelie Segarra

Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology, UC Davis

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Karen Shapiro

Professor, Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, UC Davis

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Neil Tangri

Senior Research Fellow, Center for Environmental Public Policy, UC Berkeley

Science and Policy Director, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives

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Cristina Torres Duarte

Project Scientist, ToPEC Lab, UC Davis