Professor Nathalie Gontard, a leading French plastics expert, will speak on the alarming scale of plastic pollution and its impact on human health.

Gontard, the research director at France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), says microplastics now make up about 0.5% of our brains.

In her upcoming talk at the University of Auckland, Gontard will discuss the global threat posed by plastic particles, which cause a variety of health issues, including neurotoxicity, inflammation, and an increased risk of cancer.

She highlights that, between 1950 and 2025, 12 billion tons of plastic were produced, with 10.5 billion tons still remaining in the environment.

“Microplastics are jeopardising the proper functioning of both the environment and our bodies,” she says.

While recycling is often seen as a solution, Gontard points out that plastic production, use, and even recycling still release microplastics into the world.

A particular concern is the recycling of tyres into artificial turf, a major source of microplastic pollution.

She urges careful consumption as the most effective solution: “A plastic toy can be replaced by a wooden alternative, or simply by a gift of time.”

The free event, organised by the University of Auckland’s Centre for Climate, Biodiversity, and Society, will take place on 30 April from 2pm to 3pm.

To attend, register here.

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