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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Allisyn Miller & WATERMELONS!! 🍉🍉🍉 Watermelon check-in from the field, these melons are a part of our season-long comparison of traditional plastic mulching films vs alternative materials, tracking impacts to soil, the crop, and of course, the watermelon!

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Reposted by PNW Consortium on Plastics

Dr. Susanne Brander @smbrander.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Fun to see my science peeps in Oregon this week! @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social

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Reposted by PNW Consortium on Plastics

Dr. Susanne Brander @smbrander.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Don’t forget to submit your comment by COB tomorrow 🧬 🧪 🐟 🔬 💪 www.faeb.org has a great template. @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

We had the best time chatting (ON A SAILBOAT!!) with textile experts from production and marketing to science (that's us!), gov, and nonprofits! Lauren got to share what we know about microfiber toxicity so far, including some of her own research from @smbrander.bsky.social lab!

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

HAPPY WORLD OCEAN DAY! A few easy steps to be kind to the ocean, all related to clothes - wash clothes less often, buy less, shop secondhand, mend something, consider installing a microfiber filter! Here are some photos from our time on Materevolve's Textile x Ocean Connector Sail in SF Bay!

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Check out these photos of field sites, mulches, lab spaces, and of course, Alli and Juno 🐕!

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT! @oregonstate.edu student, Alli Miller is comparing #environmental and #agricultural impacts of #plastic, #bioplastic, wool, & paper #mulch across farms, evaluating breakdown, #toxicity, & value to help farmers make decisions about transitioning to #sustainable alternatives.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

ICYMI!! PUBLICATION & PRESS ALERT! @smbrander.bsky.social and her co-authors Shanna Swan, PhD, Alvine Mehinto, Karen Kidd, Judith Weis, Scott Belcher, Jamie DeWitt, Stacey Harper, and Caren Helbing published their work in npj Emerging Contaminants & it was featured in @theguardian.com !

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! We're putting our heads together with some of the coolest people across sectors and disciplines to "...Advance Clean Technologies to Address the Plastics Crisis"! Here are some photos from our working meeting! #earthday #sustainability #microplastics #packaging #ai #upcycling

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

There are opportunities to apply for financial assistantships for SETAC members and students to help offset travel costs on SETAC's website. Please share with others who may be interested in submitting to our session, and let us know if you have any questions! www.setac.org/discover-eve...

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Submit an abstract FOR FREE by June 3 at 17:00 EDT! www.setac.org/discover-eve...

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Excited to announce we're hosting the Session Microplastics, Chemicals, and the Soil beneath: Confronting the Growing Concern of Agricultural Plastic Pollution at North America SETAC this year! @smbrander.bsky.social @setac.bsky.social setac.secure-platform.com/meetings/sol...

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

WEBINAR ALERT! Join us April 29th from 2pm-3pm PST to learn about compostable materials that are ocean, fish, earth, and human healthy! Hear from P3RD.Earth founder and CEO, Ariadne Dimoula! DM us for the Zoom link! #microplastics #sustainability #compostable #environmentallyfriendly

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

IN THE PRESS: "Do We Know Enough About Microplastics to Act?" Several scientists, including @smbrander.bsky.social weighed in! Check out the Dispatch article below! #microplastics #humanhealth #policy #plasticpollution #plasticpolicy thedispatch.com/article/micr...

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

He received the 2024 ASME Kos Ishii-Toshiba award for sustained and meritorious contributions to design for manufacturing and the life cycle.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

He has chaired both the Life Cycle Engineering and the Design for Manufacturing and Life Cycle technical committees of ASME, as well as the Sustainable Manufacturing track of SME NAMRI.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

He has authored over 180 refereed proceedings and journal articles, receiving four best paper awards and having six conference papers fast-tracked to journals.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

His research addresses sustainable manufacturing challenges, including life cycle engineering methods, manufacturing process performance modeling, & sustainable engineering education, & has received over $39M in research funding in collaboration with university, national lab, & industry colleagues.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Dr. Karl R. Haapala is a Professor in the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University, where he directs the Industrial Sustainability Laboratory, the OSU Energy Efficiency Center, and the OSU Industrial Training Assessment Center.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Bay Area friends!! Join us! We're super excited to be part of the Materevolve Textile x Ocean Connector Sail! This is an experience including hands-on demonstrations, where participants can feel materials, learn how microfiber samples are collected, and more! Register here! luma.com/txosail

luma.com

Textile x Ocean Connector Sail · Luma

On Friday, April 24th, set sail with us to discuss the most critical topics at the intersection of textiles and oceans on our 4th annual Textile X Ocean …

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! forms.gle/iqKEpRTQiqLA...

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

We are looking forward to strategizing how to best tackle the #plastics crisis with incredible leaders across disciplines and sectors! Drs. Scott Coffin & Huazheng Wang will be continuing the #AI Discussion at our event!

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

THREE DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER!!! We have had a diverse range of registrants so far, including representatives from: - City of Roses - Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment - Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians -OR Sea Grant - Washington County Solid Waste & MORE!

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Reposted by PNW Consortium on Plastics

Break Free From Plastic @breakfreefromplastic.org · 16/03/2026

📉 Global fertility rates have dropped over 50% in the past 50 years. What’s driving this decline? Research from Dr. Shanna Swan shows it’s closely linked to the chemicals in plastic. 🚨 ⚠️ #BreakFreeFromPlastic #ThePlasticDetox #UnplasticYourLife

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

TEENY BITS of the potential for #AI use in #microplastics #science from Drs. Leah Thornton Hampton (SCCWRP), Scott Coffin (OEHHA), and Huazheng Wang (OSU)! - Continue the conversation! Register for our 4/10 workshop forms.gle/RSdeSZBH4zLM... -Full recording on our website www.pnwmicroplastics.org

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Still time to register for our working meeting to address the plastic crisis!!!

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Reposted by PNW Consortium on Plastics

Possibly @askpossibly.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

It seems like microplastics are everywhere these days — but their impacts on human health remain unclear. This week on Possibly we talked to professor @smbrander.bsky.social to understand why that is and how scientists are trying to get a clearer picture.

thepublicsradio.org

How do we know if microplastics affect our health? - TPR: The Public's Radio

It seems like microplastics are everywhere these days — but their impacts on human health remain unclear. Today we take a closer look at why that is and how scientists are trying to get a clearer pict...

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

IN THE PRESS: @smbrander.bsky.social is quoted a new article by Kristen Wise in the Sierra! #AgriculturalPlastics are a significant aspect of #plasticpollution. The article highlights contaminated mulches and the connection between soil and climate! www.sierraclub.org/sierra/mulch...

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

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! forms.gle/hykPs4vdEwnc... #plastic #sustainablealternatives #ai #workingmeeting #microplastics @smbrander.bsky.social

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

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 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

Weathering of a micro and nanosized tire particle mixture increases ingestion and growth inhibition in larval fish and juvenile mysid shrimp

Tire erosion from driving is a major source of secondary microplastics in the ocean. Tire particles (TPs) consist of diverse components that vary depe…

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

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 @smbrander.bsky.social 's lab @oregonstate.edu!

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

@smbrander.bsky.social et al. have assembled quite the team! Be sure to shoot us a follow for exciting news/opportunities coming soon!

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

In 2025, Dr. Bain was named one of Chemical and Engineering News’ Talented 12, highlighting her early career contributions to chemical research. www.bainaerosolresearch.com

bainaerosolresearch.com

Research | Alisonbain

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

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.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

She then 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, & held an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Bristol in 2022-2023.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Alison Bain is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at OSU. 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.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

WEBINAR ALERT! Join us February 25th from 2pm-3:30pm PST to learn about Using AI to inform microplastics science! Hear from our esteemed experts Leah Thornton Hampton, Scott Coffin, and Huazheng Wang! DM us for the Zoom link! #microplastics #ToMEx #artificialintelligence #ai #data #datamining

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

She also continues to serve on the Green Ribbon Science Panel advisory team for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, sits on the SETAC Plastics Interest Group, and is an observer member of the Scientists Coalition for the UNEP Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Brander’s interdisciplinary research over the past 15 years has focused occurrence and biological effects of stressors, such as micro and nanoplastics, microfibers, and endocrine disrupting compounds on aquatic and terrestrial organisms.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Based in Washington D.C., the program uses a science-based approach to inform policy recommendations related to chemical regulation. She retains a Courtesy Faculty appointment in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences.

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Dr. Susanne Brander received a Ph.D. in Toxicology and Pharmacology from UC Davis in 2011. She served in a tenured faculty role at Oregon State University from 2017-2025, and as of 2026 has moved into a position as Project Director, Science for the Pew Charitable Trust’s Safer Chemicals program

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Meet the team! We'll be continuing to highlight the people who make up our consortium! Be sure to read the thread below to hear more about @smbrander.bsky.social ! branderlab.net

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

If you're loving Bluesky updates, be sure to connect with us on our other platforms!

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Awesome to share some of our work as a part of the Portland State University School of the Environment Seminar! Themed Environmental Plastics - What, where, and why should we care - This series is right up our alley! #plastics #microplastics #humanhealth #marineenvironment #sustainability

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PNW Consortium on Plastics @pnwmicroplastics.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

"The body of evidence across all organisms supports that micro- and nanoplastics are accumulating in animals and humans. " - @smbrander.bsky.social "This is exactly how science works in tackling a new problem." - Christos Symeonides Megan Wolff, Matt Campen, & Elizabeth Ryznar are also quoted.

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