This is a past event.

Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar

Lizzie Miller, PhD Student, Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Abstract:
Plastic additives are chemicals that assist in the physicochemical properties of plastic: improving durability, flexibility, flame retardancy, or resistance to UV degradation, among other benefits. Typically, these compounds bond non-covalently to plastic, increasing their susceptibility to leach into the surrounding environment, food, or drinking sources. In partnership with the San Francisco Bay Estuary Institute (SFEI), a methodology is being developed to analyze water samples for up to 120 plastic additives, including bisphenols, organophosphates, antioxidants, phthalates, and UV stabilizers, using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Findings from this study will improve understanding of the fate of plastic additives in San Francisco Bay and support risk assessment and environmental management strategies.