The 145th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (Fukuoka)

Organizer: Tsutsumi Yasuo, (Grad. Sch. Pharm. Sci., Osaka Univ.) Yuya Haga (Grad. Sch. Pharm. Sci., Osaka Univ.)

In recent years, the negative impacts of plastic waste have raised global concern, as emphasized by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among plastic pollutants, microplastics (MPs, <5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, <1 μm) have been detected in environments such as oceans, rivers, and the air, as well as in human tissues, including the lungs, blood, and placenta, prompting worries about ecosystem and human health impacts. In addition, research increasingly links MPs and NPs to disease risks, heightening health concerns. In fact, environmental MPs and NPs show diverse polymers, and they are influenced by factors like UV light and wave exposure, exhibit varied physicochemical properties (e.g., size, shape, surface properties). However, much remains unknown about their environmental distribution, human exposure pathways, and potential hazards. This symposium will discuss the latest topics, challenges on the environmental behavior and health impacts of MPs and NPs, along with related government initiatives.