Dr. Kurunthachalam Kannan of the Wadsworth Center’s Division of Environmental Health Sciences delivered a keynote lecture at the Trans-NIH Workshop on Micro- and Nanoplastic Measurement for Population Studies, held at the National Cancer Institute’s Shady Grove campus in Maryland on July 9-10, 2026. Dr. Kannan’s presentation, “Current State of the Science in Micro- and Nanoplastic Measurement Techniques for Population Science Research,” addressed the rapidly evolving methods used to measure micro- and nanoplastics in human specimens. Microplastics, generally defined as particles measuring 1-20 micrometers, and nanoplastics, measuring 1-1,000 nanometers, are collectively referred to as micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). Their potential to cross biological barriers and reach human organs and tissues has generated significant scientific and public-health interest.
Recent studies have reported MNP accumulation in human brain tissue and carotid artery plaques, with findings that raise important questions about potential associations with dementia and cardiovascular disease. These reports have heightened interest in population-based biomonitoring to better understand human exposure to MNPs and their possible health effects. Dr. Kannan’s laboratory is developing techniques to measure MNPs in human specimens. During his keynote, he reviewed the current state of measurement science and the challenges involved in accurately detecting and characterizing these particles. A key concern is contamination: biospecimens collected for population studies are often stored in plastic containers, which can introduce background contamination and complicate MNP analysis.
The workshop discussions focused on strategies for using existing biospecimens in exposure assessments while minimizing contamination, overestimation, and misidentification. Dr. Kannan emphasized the need for rigorous sample preparation and analytical methods to ensure reliable results. The meeting brought together program directors and officers from the National Cancer Institute, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Participants discussed the need for coordinated population-based studies and the development of national and international strategies to better understand MNP exposure and its potential health effects.