It's (Probably) Not Rocket Science show logo

Everything You Should Know About Microplastics

Season 2
Episode #1
Spotify logo

Microplastics have been found in human placentas, testicles, brains, and more, so what happens now? In this episode, we talk with ⁠⁠Matthew Campen⁠⁠, Regents’ Professor in the UNM Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, about what these findings mean for our health, how we can (or can’t) find avoid microplastics, and what happens next. Then we hear from ⁠⁠Eliane El Hayek⁠⁠, Research Assistant Professor in the UNM Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, about ongoing research into the environmental impacts of plastics.

Read more about microplastics research:

Donate to the ⁠⁠Pharmaceutical Sciences Department Activity Fund.⁠⁠

Learn more about IPNRS and subscribe to the email newsletter on ⁠⁠podcast.unm.edu.⁠⁠

About Our Guest(s)

Matthew Campen

Dr. Matthew Campen received a BS in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech, then his PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then did a postdoctoral fellowship in pulmonary physiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has authored over 100 peer reviewed publications, largely in the area of the cardiovascular health effects of inhaled pollutants. Campen directs the New Mexico Center for Metals in Biology and Medicine, as well as the KL2 Mentored Career Development Program within the UNM Clinical and Translational Sciences Center. He is also the Deputy Director and Training Core director for the NIEHS P42 UNM Metal Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on Tribal Lands in the Southwest (UNM METALS) Superfund Research Program Center. Campen has also led several recent studies into the presence of microplastics in human body tissue.

Eliane El Hayek

Dr. Eliane El Hayek received her Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the Lebanese University and University of Paul Sabatier Toulouse. In her Ph.D., she studied atmospheric pollution and the potential of using cactus species for biomonitoring in arid and semi-arid regions by conducting lead isotopic studies. She conducted a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of Dr. Jose Cerrato in the School of Engineering at UNM, where she became involved in research understanding the environmental fate and toxicity of heavy metals like uranium and arsenic. In her postdoctoral fellowship, she also taught quantitative chemistry course with Dr. Stephen Cabaniss at the chemistry department.

Hosted by UCAM’s Carly Bowling

Carly Bowling headshot

Long-time listener, first-time podcaster, Carly Bowling, is a university communication representative in The University of New Mexico’s University Communication and Marketing team (UCAM). She is thrilled to help shed light on the outstanding research work being done at UNM, New Mexico’s only R1 university. In addition to producing IPNRS, she contributes stories and videos to the UNM Newsroom, the University’s official communications platform.

Bowling is a graduate of the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism (’19). Her background includes multimedia journalism, documentary filmmaking, photography and writing. She is passionate about science communication and making academic topics and research accessible and interesting to people from all backgrounds and she hopes you’ll consider subscribing to the show!