Overview of U.S. Government Activities Addressing Micro- and Nanoplastics Issues

This public Webinar will be organised by the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)

Session 1: Research Agencies

May 22, 2023, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM Eastern time

Overview:

The increasing level of plastic waste in the environment has received global attention and concern, leading to worldwide efforts to reduce plastic pollution. The plastic waste issue includes more than just solid waste accumulation. Breakdown of bulk plastics to micro- and nanoscale particles in the environment has further challenged efforts to understand the potential human and environmental impacts of plastics over their full life cycles. This has led to a tremendous increase in national and international collaborations to identify and implement effective solutions. This webinar provides an overview of the key activities of U.S. Government agencies in tackling this challenge, providing ample opportunities for innovative solutions. The panel of speakers are participants in the informal U.S. Government nanoplastics interagency interest group that coordinates activities on this subject across the Federal agencies, and will provide highlights of agency programs and activities. This first session on May 22 will focus on activities of agencies that primarily fund or conduct research. A second session scheduled for June 6 (1:00-2:30 pm ET) will focus on activities of agencies with regulatory responsibilities or that engage in interagency or international collaborations on the subject of micro- and nanoplastics.

Agenda:

10:30 Introduction/background (Anil Patri, FDA, moderator)
10:35 NIST: Overview (Kate Beers)
10:45 NSF: Overview (Anne-Marie Schmoltner)
10:55 USDA: Overview (Hongda Chen)
11:05 DOE: Overview, including WaterPact (Ben Maurer)
11:15 NOAA Marine Debris Program (Amy Uhrin)
11:25 USGS: Overview (Shawn Fisher)
11:35 NIEHS: Overview (Nigel Walker)
11:45 Facilitated Q&A and discussion

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