The Plastic Inside Us: Microplastics Are Disrupting Nature | Dimitri Deheyn | TEDxEncinitas Blvd

Marine biologist Dimitri Deheyn of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, examines how microplastics are disrupting the natural balance of life. His research looks at plastics that can enter organisms and move through the food web, including to humans. The talk also raises questions about the toxicity of plastic materials and their chemical additives. The talk stresses public education and global citizen science as part of efforts to understand how microplastics are produced and distributed. It was given at TEDxEncinitas Blvd, an independently organized TEDx event.

• Microplastics and their ability to enter organisms and the food web
• Potential toxicity of plastics and their chemical additives
• The role of public education and global citizen science
• Understanding microplastic production and distribution

This talk from Dr. Dimitri Deheyn at TEDxEncinitasBlvd explores how microplastics are disrupting the natural balance of life. TEDxEncinitasBlvd was made possible by Executive Producer, Lead Organizer, and Editor Rohan Phadnis, WayZero, and BAAIRS. Dimitri Deheyn is a marine biologist and ecotoxicologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. His cross-disciplinary research focuses on plastics, especially microplastics, which pose serious threats due to their ability to enter organisms and the food web, including humans. He explores the potential toxicity of plastic materials and their chemical additives, emphasizing the importance of public education and global citizen science efforts. With a background rooted in Belgium, Africa, and South America, Deheyn brings a global perspective to environmental health. His goal is to better understand microplastic production and distribution and help develop solutions that protect ecosystems and future societies. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx