Get insights into CUSP’s recent advancements, the upcoming final conference, and what's next in our journey.

The European Research Cluster to Understand the Impact of Micro- and Nanoplastics on human health (CUSP), of which Imptox is a proud partner, is gearing up for its final stretch as 2024 comes to a close. We have a lot to share as we head into the new year, culminating in our final conference in Brussels in February 2025.

In this 7th edition of the CUSP newsletter, you will find updates on the latest advancements, including risk assessment frameworks for micro- and nanoplastics, which will be further detailed in CUSP’s third and final policy brief. Notably, Imptox has played a significant role in these recent developments! Our researchers have been at the forefront of creating innovative AI tools for better and faster MNP detection - highlighting the advances being made to improve the analysis of these tiny pollutants. Additionally, the newsletter features an important study from Imptox that focuses on the damaging effects of long-term, low-dose exposure to nanoplastics on mitochondria, the energy centers of cells. This work, conducted under realistic conditions, is shedding new light on how nanoplastics may impact human health.

CUSP researchers have also been busy with exposure studies and contributing to the upcoming ARTE documentary, Homo Plasticus. These initiatives - along with many others featured in this edition - reflect CUSP's dedication to advancing our understanding of the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on human health and sharing our findings with both the public and the scientific community.

As we approach the final conference, CUSP scientists are in the process of developing a policy roadmap to support EU regulators in transforming our findings into impactful actions. This document will be presented at our February event, providing a unique opportunity for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders.

The newsletter continues to feature our well-loved “Meet Our Scientists” section, offering a glimpse into the inspiring journeys of our researchers - what motivates them and how their unique paths have brought them to CUSP. These stories remind us that while our focus is on generating scientific results, behind every discovery are dedicated individuals working tirelessly for the benefit of society.

We invite you to join us in reflecting on how far we have come and what still lies ahead, while wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful and joyous end of the year.

Click here to dive into the full 7th edition of CUSP NEWS!

IMPTOX is one of the five projects who form the European research cluster to understand the health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics (CUSP), together with AURORA, PLASTICHEAL, PLASTICSFATE and POLYRISK. Over the last three years, they have developed a dynamic of close cooperation and meet regularly in their well-established working-groups.