Sam Harrison

Photo of three people stood in front of a view of a lake and snowy mountain.

Three of us from @ukceh.bsky.social are attending #SafePlastChem in Ascona, Switzerland, this week. We are sharing insights on plastic chemical release dynamics, environmental fate of microplastics vs chemicals and modeling to understanding fragmentation and leaching.

@lxbllngs.bsky.social

Photo of a laptop and coffee on a small table on a cobbled street, looking out to a view of a lake and mountains, on a sunny day.

There are worse places to sit to finish off writing a presentation!

#SafePlastChem
#Ticino

It did depart eventually, which is a good job as it meant I got to enjoy these stunning Ticino views today!

NSF seeks public input on its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–2030 NSF Strategic Plan

US researchers: Do you think science should be free from political interference? Do you think NCAR is a national treasure that shouldn't be erased at the stroke of a pen? Please consider submitting comments on NSF's Strategic Plan. Deadline is Tue 27 Jan midnight ET.

www.nsf.gov/od/updates/n...

Photo of a train station with passengers gathered on a concourse and trains in the background.

I'm on my way to Ascona for the SafePlastChem conference. I'll be presenting our latest modelling efforts to link plastic fragmentation and additive leaching to uncover the complex interplay between particle size and additives. Well, I will be if my delayed train from Paris Lyon ever departs...

Science Under Siege -- The NCAR development | Michael E. Mann The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has played a key role developing the science of climate modeling and the measurement of climate observations going back […]

"Science Under Siege -- the NCAR Development" | My new commentary: michaelmann.net/science-unde...
#ScienceUnderSiege

Trump team plans to break up ‘global mothership’ of climate science Much of the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s non-climate portfolio will be dispersed, the White House says.

Here's our reporting on the proposed dismantling of the jewel of US atmospheric science, @ncar-ucar.bsky.social.

The plan is to break NCAR apart and disburse some parts to other locations (like the research aircraft fleet) and eliminate others.

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

🧪 #AGU25 #climate

Are Microplastic (∼25–1000 μm) and Plasticizer Concentrations Correlated in Sediments of an Urbanized UK Estuary? An understanding of the relationships between plastics and plasticizers is vital in order to assess their environmental risk. We investigated spatial trends and relationships between microplastics and plasticizers in sediments of an urbanized estuary subject to contemporary and historic sources of contamination (Forth estuary, Scotland, UK). As such, this study represents one of the first to investigate the co-occurrence of emerging plasticizers, phthalates, and microplastics in an estuary system. We determined the concentration of 7 legacy (phthalate) and 3 emerging (adipate, terephthalate, trimellitate) plasticizers and 21 microplastic polymer types. The most abundant microplastics were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU), and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Plasticizers were dominated by diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), although emerging plasticizers (e.g., diethylhexyl terephthalate, DEHTP) were frequently detected at low concentrations (mean 7.3 ng g–1 ww). There was strong evidence that concentrations of microplastics and plasticizers were significantly lower in the outer estuary. However, we found no evidence for a spatial relationship between the concentration of microplastics and plasticizers at individual site level. Our results indicate that microplastics in the size range analyzed (∼25–1000 μm) may not be a good predictor of the spatial distribution of plasticizers in estuaries. This could result from release of plasticizers prior to plastic fragmentation and deposition and differences in transport and fate.

Hot off the press in @pubs.acs.org Environmental Science & Technology - our new paper investigating relationships between #microplastics and #plasticisers in sediments of the Forth estuary.

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

We’ve launched! 🎉 The National Research Organisations (NRO) Group unites 35 UK research organisations to provide a unified and authoritative perspective on science, policy, and research investment. Learn more: nrogroup.org #MakingResearchMatter #NROGroup

We're proud to be part of the National Research Organisations (NRO) Group @nro-group.bsky.social, uniting 35 UK research agencies in #MakingResearchMatter.

This partnership will help ensure science-based insight benefits people, communities and the economy.

Learn more: nrogroup.org

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BASF Moves Away from PFAS Formulations, while Highlighting Ongoing Industrial Needs.

What's next for PFAS as another chemical giant announces the removal of PFAS from its products?

www.bluefrogscientific.com/c...

#PFAS #BASF #3M #Fluoropolymers #PFASAlternatives #PFASRegulation

🔮 We finish by offering perspectives on what the next generation of pharmaceutical exposure models should address to ensure they continue their contribution to environmental protection.

💻 We cover all types of modelling, from box-type fugacity models to fully spatiotemporal predictions, and from computational chemistry descriptions to machine learning and AI tools.

Advances and challenges in modelling the environmental fate and exposure of pharmaceuticals: a comprehensive review Pharmaceutical contamination in the environment poses a global concern, raising questions about potential implications for both ecology and human health. Unravelling the fate and exposure of these con...

📃 Exposure models are essential for evaluating the potential environmental impacts caused by #pharmaceuticals. In this new paper, we review models used to predict the environmental fate and exposure of pharmaceuticals.

pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

@sloftsenvchem.bsky.social
@ukceh.bsky.social

This experiments used ISO 17556, which aims to approximate real world conditions. Future work should focus on validating this predictions in real world settings.

@ukceh.bsky.social

Graph showing the mass fraction of initial mass (y axis) over time (x axis). The mass fraction is either in particulate classes (microplastics), dissolved, or CO2 (mineralised). The mass fraction starts as entirely in particulate classes, before rapidly transferring to dissolved and then quick onwards to CO2. After 100 days, approx 25% of the mass is mineralised, and by 400 days, the particle and dissolved fractions cannot be seen on the graph and CO2 makes up >99% of the mass.

Using the open source FRAGMENT-MNP model (fragmentmnp.ceh.ac.uk), we predict that particle counts will fall below 1 particle/g soil after 600-700 days. Experiments showed that more than 90% of polymer carbon was mineralised within 270 days.

Soil-biodegradable mulch film: Distinguishing between persistent microplastics and fragments released from certified soil-biodegradable products Soil-biodegradable mulch films offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics in agriculture, especially where recollection or recycling are…

A criticism often levelled at #biodegradable plastics is that their degradation produces persistent #microplastics. In this new publication, we used a mixture of experimental and modelling studies to show fragmentation into microplastics is a transient phase.

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

I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.

They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1

Doesn't it say it all that the most positive outcomes of #COP30 - the roadmaps for deforestation and fossil fuel transition - are the ones achieved without consensus? #ConsensusKillsAmbition

📢 Calling environmental modellers! 📢

I'm excited to be chairing two sessions at the @iemss.org Congress, Dublin next July:
B7: Advances in exposure modelling
D4: Reimagining environmental modelling: Designing for flexibility, agility, and change

conference.iemss.org/streams/

There will be no substantive negotiations during this session, leaving the prospect for a Global Plastics Treaty in a state of limbo, to say the least. Presumably any news of an INC-5.4 will come after the new Chair has been elected.

Third Part of the Fifth Session UNEP is the global champion for the environment with programmes focusing on sustainable development, climate, biodiversity and more.

There is a date for #INC-5.3! But, it is only for the "election of officers including for the position of Chair". It will take place in Geneva on 7 February, immediatedly after the first session of the ISP-CWP.

www.unep.org/inc-plastic-...

#GlobalPlasticsTreaty #PlasticsTreaty #PlasticTreaty

Farming Futures: comparing regenerative and conventional practices on soil, chemical use, and ecosystems in a changing climate at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology - Lancaster on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Farming Futures: comparing regenerative and conventional practices on soil, chemical use, and ecosystems in a changing climate at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology - Lancaster, listed ...

📢 PhD opportunity! 📢

Are you interested in studying how different farming practices influence soils, including chemical levels and bioavailability, functional soil outcomes and other ecosystem endpoints? Check out this ECOSOLUTIONS PhD!

@ukceh.bsky.social

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Chemical linked to low sperm count, obesity and cancer found in dummies, tests find BPA, a synthetic chemical used in production of plastics, found in baby products made by three big European brands

BPA free doesn't always mean BPA free! Does anyone have a link to the actual study? I want to know whether they tested for other bisphenols.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

UN plastics treaty chair to step down with process in turmoil Exclusive: Luis Vayas Valdivieso says he is quitting for personal and professional reasons after reports of pressure behind the scenes

The Chair of the #GlobalPlasticsTreaty negotiations, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, is stepping down, for personal and professional reasons.

#INC5.2 #INC5 #PlasticsTreaty

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Photo of a large pile of receipts

I hate doing expenses claims...

Plastics Treaty - What happened? What's next? YouTube video by Center for International Environmental Law

Plastics Treaty — What happened? What's next?
Negotiations collapsed in Geneva. Disappointing, yes. Defeat? Certainly not.
📽️ Watch: What happened, what's next — and why we still have hope! #PlasticsTreaty #INC52 youtu.be/-HgqLVANa78

"Because of the complexity and number of chemicals to assess and the enormous variability of their uses, the regulatory system is overwhelmed and not sufficiently protective ... chemical pollution has become a serious global issue."

www.annualreviews.org/content/jour...

Left to right: Richard Cross, Sam Harrison, Heidrun Feuchtmayr, M. Glória Pereira observing the negotiations

Observers listening to plastics treaty negotiations

🌍 A UKCEH team were observers at the latest UN talks on a global treaty to end plastic pollution.

Negotiations ended without consensus after 2 intense weeks, but there are glimmers of hope

🔗 tinyurl.com/mrxmfm87

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@samharrison.science @richardkcross.bsky.social @feuchtmayr.bsky.social #INC5

Geneva Plastics Treaty Talks End in Abject Failure - Center for International Environmental Law Plastics treaty talks collapse at the end of the resumed fifth session of the negotiations (INC-5.2).

The #PlasticsTreaty talks have ended without a treaty. To call this process a failure is an understatement. The world doesn't need more plastic. People know it, doctors know it, markets know it. We must now restart — not repeat.
👉 Read our statement: bit.ly/4fIWhCC