Dr. James Cizdziel, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Mississippi will present: "Microplastic Pollution: What’s the BIG deal?"

Plastics are everywhere! We are living in an age of plastics, much like the Bronze and Iron Ages.  Whereas plastics are cheap and useful, they are also carelessly discarded and mismanaged.  Unfortunately, this has resulted in widespread plastic pollution, including the infamous ocean garbage patches.  Worse, plastics degrade by UV-radiation, microorganisms, and mechanical action (e.g. waves), yielding smaller and smaller particles called micro- and nano-plastics. These small plastic particles accumulate in the food chain and have even been detected in rain!  They also accumulate contaminants, including toxic heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and pathogens.  I will introduce microplastics as an emerging global pollutant, discuss its sources and impacts, and highlight potential solutions and things we all can do to reduce plastic waste.  

When: Tuesday, October 15, 2019, 6pm - 7pm.

Where: Uptown Coffee, 265 North Lamar Blvd, Oxford, MS, 38655

Cost: Free!

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