Research on Plastics
The Plastic Reduction Alliance is committed to advancing research and knowledge of plastic pollution and educating the public. Leading this effort is Dr. Julie Peller, Professor of Chemistry at Valparaiso University, who is supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) funding and collaborates with other researchers to study nanoplastic and microplastic pollution in the environment.
Nanoplastics and Microplastics Pollution: Investigating the prevalence, behavior and chemical changes of plastic particles in the environment, ecosystems and human health.
Interdisciplinary Collaborations: Partnering with researchers to understand other aspects of plastic pollution, including their impact on human health and ways to remediate waste.
Current Research Focus:
“Studies indicate that there are over 16,000 chemical additives in plastic materials,” Professor Peller says. “In addition to the plastic particle pollution, many of these other chemicals leach out under certain conditions.”
- Dr. Julie Peller, Professor of Chemistry at Valparaiso University
Research in the News
Research Publications Relating Plastics to Human Health
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Peller, JR, Tabor, G, Davis, C, Iceman, C, Nwachukwu, O, Doudrick, K, Wilson, A, Suprenant, A, McCool, J-P. (2024). Distribution and fate of polyethylene microplastics released by a portable toilet manufacturer into a freshwater wetland and lake. Water, 16, (11). https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010011
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Peller, JR, Mezyk, SP, Shidler, S, Castleman, J, Kaiser, S, Faulkner, RF, Pilgrim, CD, Wilson, A, Martens, S, Horner, GP. (2022). Facile nanoplastics formation from macro and microplastics in aqueous media. Environmental Pollution, 313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120171
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Peller, JR, Mezyk, SP, Shidler, S, Castleman, J, Kaiser, S, Horne, GP. (2021). The Reactivity of Polyethylene Microplastics in Water under Low Oxygen Conditions Using Radiation Chemistry. Water, 13, 3120. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13213120
Research Publications
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Nihart, A.J., Garcia, M.A., El Hayek, E. et al. (2025). Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nat Med . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03453-1
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Raffaele Marfella, Francesco Prattichizzo, Celestino Sardu, et al. (2024). Microplastics and nanoplastics in atheromas and cardiovascular events. New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2309822
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N. Ali, J. Katsouli, E. L. Marczylo, T. W. Gant, S. Wright and J. Bernardino de la Serna. (2024). The potential impacts of micro-and-nano plastics on various organ systems in humans. eBioMedicine (2024) Vol. 99. DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104901