Pacific Northwest Consortium on Plastic Pollution

04/08/2026

IN THE PRESS!!! Our own Dr. Susanne Brander was recentlty interviewed for TWO articles surrounding microplastics research!

article highlights the need for collaboration between fields to tackle the microplastics problem especially as it relates to laboratory methods

Food Fix article is a great summary about the STOMP EPA program announced last week providing $144M microplastics research & human health

04/02/2026

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and USEPA announce $144M program for in ! Check out the press release and program launch!

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-hhs-announce-historic-actions-protect-americans-microplastics-and-safeguard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-puiTHnHfDU

02/24/2026

IN THE PRESS:
Dr. Susanne Brander is quoted in the article "Mulch is dirtier than you think" by Kristen Wise in the Sierra!

are a significant aspect of

Checkout this article highlighting contaminated mulches, the importance of agriculture, and the connection between soil and climate!

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/mulch-dirtier-you-think

02/20/2026

JOIN US FOR AN IN-PERSON WORKING MEETING 4/10!
We'll have a productive conversation about all things plastics, ranging from plastic alternatives to AI-databases!

Link in bio!!!



Conversations led by our team of experts, including -
Dr. Stacey Harper
Dr. Yanyun Zhao
Dr. Huazheng Wang
Dr. Lucas Ellis
Dr. Susanne Brander

02/16/2026

NEW PUBLICATION ALERT!

Dr. Clarissa Raguso published her first first-author publication looking at the effects of weathered & pristine micro/nano tire particles in invertebrate (mysid shrimp) and silverside fish! Work completed in Dr. Susanne Brander's lab Oregon State University!

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749126001405?via%3Dihub

Some highlights:
-Growth in both species, weathered particles > pristine
-Behavior in just mysid shrimp, weathered > pristine
-Ingestion in both species, weathered > pristine
-Mysid shrimp were more sensitive than silverside fish

02/12/2026

Alison Bain is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Oregon State University. She obtained her BSc from Carleton University in chemistry with a concentration in nanotechnology, her MSc in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia, followed by her PhD in Chemistry from McGill University. Following PhD studies, she moved to the UK to undertake postdoctoral work at the University of Bristol with Dr. Bryan Bzdek developing single particle measurements and investigating surfactant partitioning in picolitre volume droplets, and held an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Bristol in 2022-2023. Dr. Bain and her research group study the physical properties of aerosol particles, including atmospheric plastics, and how they impact climate, using a combination of single particle spectroscopy, benchtop techniques, and fundamental modeling. In 2025, Dr. Bain was named one of Chemical and Engineering News’ Talented 12, highlighting her early career contributions to chemical research.

01/14/2026

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/13/microplastics-human-body-doubt

11/22/2025

SETAC Portland was a blast. Great science and fun times 🌎

11/12/2025

Lots of fun .marinesci in Japan this week. Great plastics session including Lauren’s talk on her dissertation research. 🐋 🦐

11/12/2025

11/10/2025

The truth about biodegradable plastics is that it’s not that simple. Read more at https://therevelator.org/biodegradable-plastics-help-or-hype/