The next time you enjoy a cup of tea, a bottle of water, or anything else that involves the use of plastic, you might consider the impact of thousands of tiny particles being released and likely consumed by you.

Tune in for an eye-opening look at the role of plastic in our lives and bodies, and learn:

• The primary factors causing the release of nanoplastics and microplastics from products
• What happens in the body when we ingest microplastics versus nanoplastics
• What electron microscopy does and does not tell us about microplastics
• How the size and mechanics of nanoparticles impact biological cells

Most people are aware of the single-use plastic waste problem, but there's another part of the plastic problem story: nanoplastics. They range from 1 - 1,000 nanometers in size and are not intentionally produced but released from different items that most of us use every day.

Milica Velimirovic's research aims to help environmental and food scientists better understand the techniques for analyzing the release of microplastics and nanoplastics, as well as the types and levels of exposure experienced by organisms, including plants and animals.

Tune in and check out Milica Velimirovic | VITO to learn more.

Episode also available on Apple Podcast: http://apple.co/30PvU9C