Public Education

On 13 September 2022, the Soil Science Society of China held an online expert lecture in response to the National Science Popularization Day 2022. Themed “Microplastics in the Environment and Risks to Health”, the lecture attracted over 600 scholars and students.

Plastics have become ubiquitous in natural and built environments which has caused concerns regarding potential harms to human and aquatic life. Microplastics (plastic particles ranging in size from 5 mm to 1 nm) have been found in every ecosystem on the planet. Under this background, three experts, Prof. Huahong Shi from East China Normal University, Prof. Lei Wang from Nankai University and Prof. Yongming Luo from the Institute of Soil Science, explained the microplastics’ features and harm to ecology, marine creatures and human health in a concise and explicit manner. SSSC hoped that after this lecture, the public will be aware of the negative impacts of microplastics and advocate green lifestyle by reducing and even discarding the use of plastic products.