NMC Supports 2026 Microplastics Exposure and Human Health Conference in Santa Fe

NMC Supports 2026 Microplastics Exposure and Human Health Conference in Santa Fe

The New Mexico Consortium (NMC) was a proud supporter of the 2026 Microplastics Exposure and Human Health Conference, held January 11–14, 2026, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This conference, organized by faculty and students from the College of Pharmacy at the University of New Mexico (UNM), was an interdisciplinary international symposium that brought together leading scientists, policymakers, industry representatives, and nonprofit stakeholders to address the growing concern of microplastics and nanoplastics and their potential impacts on human health.

Microplastics and nanoplastics (tiny plastic fragments that are now found in our food, water, and air) are a pressing environmental and public health issue. While research into their health effects is still evolving, we continue to find evidence on the potential risks associated with exposure.

The conference drew more than 250 participants from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors across 32 states and six countries. A total of 140 abstracts were submitted, which reflects the amount of research and impact in this rapidly developing field.

New Mexico institutions were strongly represented and made up nearly one-third of the total participants. Attendees included students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty members, and private-sector professionals from UNM, Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico State University, and other organizations across the state. The NMC’s sponsorship helped support student and trainee participation and strengthened opportunities for early career researchers to engage with others in the field.

Dr. Robert Taylor, one of the organizers from UNM stated, “Support from the NMC was instrumental in enabling strong participation from New Mexico students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty. This helps strengthen the state’s position as a national hub for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of environmental exposure and human health. By bringing together diverse laboratories employing complementary analytical and experimental approaches, the conference highlighted emerging convergence across independent datasets, sharpening our understanding of the health implications of microplastic exposure.”

The NMC is happy to have supported this impactful event and remains committed to advancing collaborative research that addresses pressing global challenges.

For more information about the conference, visit: https://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/research/areas/cmbm/mnp-conf/