Innovation in research on micro- and nanoplastics and their effects on human health

We are a multidisciplinary team with expertise in a wide range of fields including food sciences & technology, allergy, immunology, biomedicine, biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, machine learning, paediatrics and others, cooperating across Europe to investigate the relationship among micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) and allergic diseases.

The Project

Untangling the multifaceted relationship of exposure routes, risks and health impacts of MNPs.

Improving MNP detection

We plan to develop innovative tools to measure and characterize MNPs and potential contaminants in food, water and air.

MNPs combined with pollutants

We are committed to understanding the effect of MNPs combined with potentially harmful environmental contaminants adhering to their surfaces and finding their way into the human body.

The relationship with allergic diseases

We aim to examine a possible link between MNPs and their role in food allergy and allergic asthma.

CUSP Research Cluster

Imptox is one of five projects in the EU Horizon 2020 programme that collaborates with the European Commission's Joint Research Center to form The European Research Cluster to Understand the Health Impacts of Micro- and Nanoplastics, CUSP. It is the cluster’s overall goal to contribute with new scientific knowledge and know-how to the European Strategy for Plastics.

Discover by playing

Microplastic Madness: Catching PlastikPunk is an educational videogame for kids and adults alike. Through a captivating journey of question-solving and coding challenges, players can test their knowledge about microplastics, discover the research carried out in Imptox and help the iconic character NanoNinja to catch PlastikPunk and free the world from plastic trash. Don’t hesitate and sign up for this exhilarating advenuture!

Highlights

18/04/2025
EVENT

Imptox Workshops Engage Over 200 Students at Lionello Stock Middle School in Trieste

In 11 interactive sessions, about 240 students in Trieste (Italy) engaged with the science of micro- and nanoplastics, the aims of the Imptox project, and their own role as informed citizens.

17/04/2025
RECOGNITION

Imptox Publication on Food Allergy Models Among Most-Viewed from 2023

Dr. Michelle Epstein’s article on animal models to study food allergies ranks in the top 10% of most-viewed Current Protocols papers published in 2023.

04/04/2025
EVENT

FOODMicro 2026 in Ljubljana Will Address Micro- and Nanoplastics

Could Invisible Plastics Be Changing the Way We Think About Food Safety?

26/03/2025
PROJECT PUBLICATION

Toxins in Our Food? Scientists Investigate How Water Contamination Affects Our Crops

New research examines how strawberries, lettuce and carrots absorb microcystins, raising questions about food safety and environmental interactions.

The Imptox Team

Imptox is a multidisciplinary consortium of 12 partners from 8 European countries.