How to participate online

If you are not joining the defence on location, you can join us at:

Zoom
https://aaudk.zoom.us/j/66853585710 
Meeting ID: 668 5358 5710
Passcode: 544895

Thesis title

Microplastic and Nanoplastic Analysis in Drinking Water and Indoor Air with Raman Micro-Spectroscopy.

Summary of the thesis

This PhD thesis investigates microplastic and nanoplastic pollution in two environmental compartments fundamental for human life: drinking water and indoor air. Once released in the environment, plastic items can indeed break down in tiny fragments most of which are not visible by the human eye, called microplastic or nanoplastic according to their size. The ubiquitous diffusion of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment also involves drinking water sources and the atmosphere, which raises several questions (and concerns): how many of these small plastic pieces do we introduce into our bodies in our everyday life? How can we analyse drinking water and air to quantify them? Is the current state-of-the-art reliable or does it need a refresh with novel methods?

The three studies constituting this PhD thesis mostly employed Raman micro-spectroscopy (μRaman) and generally show a prevalence of very small (below 5 μm) microplastics in the investigated Danish drinking water and indoor air. This outcome underlines the pervasiveness of plastic pollution and the need for establishing standardised analytical protocols capable of providing reliable results.

Copy of thesis

For a copy of the thesis, please email inst.build.phd@build.aau.dk.