2 March 2027 – Ali Kermanizadeh

Microplastics

Are we eating too much plastic?

Microplastics - small plastic fragments - are abundant in the ecosphere and widespread in the food and drink we consume. They arise from washing synthetic cloths, tyre wear, microbeads used in cosmetics, larger items that break down through wear and exposure to UV, and many other causes.

It is estimated that the average human ingests around 50,000 microplastic particles each year. They are known to be harmful to marine life, and their long-term effects on human health remain largely unknown.

For Engaging Issues, Dr Kermanizadeh will explain what microplastics are, how they get into our food, potential effects on human health, and ways in which we may be able to limit our exposure.

Ali Kermanizadeh

Dr Ali Kermanizadeh is a toxicologist and senior lecturer in Toxicology and Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Derby. He has extensive experience across both academia and industry, having held positions at Heriot-Watt University, Unilever, the University of Copenhagen, and the French Institute of Health and Medical Research. He publishes widely in international journals and is an active member the British Toxicology Society and the British Society for Nanomedicine.