Nanoplastics 3rd Event - November 14th

Last Thursday, the KIN Impact Circle for Nanoplastics convened once again to share updates, celebrate progress, and strategize next steps for our working groups.A key milestone discussed was the submission of a letter to the U.S. Surgeon General, advocating for Nanoplastics to be declared a public health priority—a move aimed at driving policy change at national level. Additionally, the group is preparing a French translation of the letter to engage legislative entities in France most aligned to act on this pressing issue.

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The session's highlight were the two presentations held by our distinguished guest speakers: aerospace scientist Terry Trevino and Dr. Leisha Martin. They delivered critical insights into the dangers of Nanoplastics, explaining how they form when plastics are broken down into microscopic particles by UV radiation and mechanical processes. These particles, upon entering the body, can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, invade cells, and harm vital systems like the immune system, liver, and kidneys. Alarmingly, research has also linked Nanoplastics to behavioral disruptions in fish, highlighting broader ecological and neurological risks.

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Looking ahead, the speakers emphasized research priorities, including the development of efficient and affordable methods to isolate and chelate Nanoplastics, the advancement of microbial solutions to degrade plastics, the enhancement of filtration systems, designing materials that rapidly break down after disposal, and creating economic incentives for micro and nanoplastics recovery.

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As for KIN, we are working on producing a video to raise awareness on Nanoplastics, as well as a digital repository with data points and research for anyone interested, with the invaluable input of our Circle participants.

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A big thank you to our partners at CircleSpace for providing a state-of-the-art, user-friendly platform to host this impactful and fruitful session! We look forward to the next call early next year - stay tuned for more details!