“Harnessing Chemistry to Remove Nanoplastics from Water”
Speaker: Gary Baker, PhD, Associate Professor, ҹӰԺ-Columbia
Date: January 28, 2025, noon-1 p.m.
Location: Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building, Atkins Family Seminar Room
*Zoom option available
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Description
Past research has that microplastics and nanoplastics could have harmful health effects. in the New England Journal of Medicine linked their presence in the plaque of blood vessels to a two to four-fold greater risk of cardiovascular complications like heart attack or stroke.
Dr. Gary Baker, a ҹӰԺ chemist, has become an expert on engineering “designer solvents,” which are liquids with chemical structures specialized for tasks like water purification. They’re a cost-effective way to help capture heavy metals, pesticides, radionuclides, PFAS (aka “forever chemicals”) and now these tiny plastic particles.
“Nanoplastics are a bit more nefarious [than microplastics] because they can be hundreds, even thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair,” says Dr. Baker. “They’re small enough that they can interact with cell membranes. They can start to intercalate in tissue.”
ҹӰԺ the Speaker
Gary A. Baker is an associate professor at the University oMissouri, where he leads cutting-edge research focused on sustainable chemistry solutions for environmental and health challenges. A specialist in water remediation and chemical problem-solving, Baker’s work has garnered national attention, particularly for his innovative solvent-based strategies to remove nanoplastics from water. His recent breakthrough—achieving over 98% efficiency in nanoplastic removal—leverages water-repelling, non-toxic solvents, offering a highly sustainable approach to global water purification efforts. Baker holds a BS from the State University of New York at Oswego and a PhD in Chemistry from the University at Buffalo. Prior to joining Mizzou, he held research positions at Oak Ridge and Los Alamos National Laboratories, where his work earned him the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2008.
ҹӰԺ the Discovery Series
provides learning opportunities for UM System faculty and staff across disciplines, the statewide community and our other partners to learn about the scope of precision health research and identify potential collaborative opportunities. The series consists of monthly lectures geared toward a broad multidisciplinary audience so all can participate and appreciate the spectrum of precision health efforts.
For questions about this event or any others in the Discovery Series, please reach out to Mackenzie Lynch.
Reviewed 2024-12-23