Our AI podcasters discuss this short communication from Schmidt et al. (2024) which examines the multifaceted impact of plastic pollution on the "triple planetary crisis"—environmental pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. The authors synthesize existing research to highlight critical knowledge gaps concerning the lifecycle, release, fate, exposure, and hazards of plastics and associated chemicals, emphasizing the understudied roles of plastic additives and in-use plastics. They advocate for a holistic, multidisciplinary approach bridging natural and social sciences to achieve effective plastic governance and risk management, ultimately aiming to mitigate the plastics crisis and protect Earth's ecosystems and human health. The paper's structure progresses through a review of existing knowledge, an identification of knowledge gaps, and the proposal of future research directions focused on comprehensive hazard assessment and improved regulation.

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Producer: Clark Marchese / Duration: 22 min

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In this program "Pestizide in Flüssen und Seen" Ingolf Baur talks to Dr. Saskia Finckh about how pesticides are transported over long distances as small droplets by the wind and thus eventually end up in our waters - not without consequences.

Moderator: Ingolf Baur (NANO/3sat) / Duration: 28 min

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In this program "Synapsen: Plastik - die Geister, die wir riefen" Lena Bodewein talks to host Lucie Kluth, who has spoken to environmental chemists, cardiologists and materials researchers and takes us on board a research ship on the Elbe and into a production hall for bioplastics in Hanover.

Host: NDR Info / Duration: 1.24 hrs

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In this Podcast "Meine Challenge - Plastikmüll raus aus meinem Viertel" Max deals with the increasing plastic waste and investigates with researchers how it affects the environment.

Host: MDR / Duration: 36 min

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September 2025
Global Seminar "Solutions for the ONE WORLD: Monitoring Chemical Pollution under Low-Capacity Settings"
Duration 3.32 minutes

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October 2024
TOPIC 9 Healthy Planet - Towards a non-Toxic Environment
Duration 0.29 minutes

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June 2024
Portrait of UFZ reproductive scientist Dr. Violeta Stojanovska
Duration 1.22 hours

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February 2021
Portrait of UFZ immunologist Prof. Dr. Ana Zenclussen
Duration 2.55 hours

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November 2020
Portrait of UFZ ecotoxicologist Prof. Dr. Matthias Liess
Duration 2.01 hours

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July 2020
Portrait of UFZ environmental toxicologist Prof. Dr. Beate Escher
Duration 2.40 hours

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March 2020
Portrait of UFZ chemist Prof. Dr. Annika Jahnke
Duration 2.07 hours

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June 2020
How hazards and risks of pesticides can be better assessed - Bundestagsanhörung

On 15.06.2020, a public hearing was held in the Committee on Food and Agriculture on the topic of "Practical Approval of Pesticides". Prof. Dr. Rolf Altenburger (formerly head of the Research Unit CITE) from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig was one of the four individual experts present. His statement and the recording of the entire event are publicly available on the website of the German Bundestag.

Forwarding of the media library of the German Bundestag

May 2019
Leipzig researchers on the hunt for plastic in the Pacific with the "Sonne"
At the end of May 2019, 19 international scientists led by environmental chemist Prof. Dr. Annika Jahnke set off to board the research vessel SONNE. The Pacific expedition of the MICRO-FATE project is investigating the occurrence and fate of microplastics in the ocean. The five-week expedition took the scientists from Vancouver to Singapore.

MDR Wissen reports in detail about the expedition

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February 2014
Project SOLUTIONS
Duration 12.43 minutes

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