Nanoplastics: Professor Kühn explains things – free lecture in Rostock!

Nanoplastics: Professor Kühn explains things – free lecture in Rostock!

On Saturday, July 5, 2025, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Rostock is offering a special lecture entitled “Let’s talk about nanoplastics”. Professor Oliver Kühn will be at 11:00 a.m. in Lecture Hall 1 of Physics, Albert-Einstein-Str. 24, 18059 Rostock, will talk about the physical aspects of nanoplastics. Admission to this event is free.

The lecture will deal with the occurrence of nanoplastics in a wide variety of environments. Loud uni-rostock.de Examples from the deep sea, from beer and even from the human lungs are mentioned. In addition, possible consequences and challenges in detecting nanoplastics are discussed.

What is nanoplastics?

Nanoplastics refer to particles in the size range from 1 to 100 nanometers that are made of plastic and are playing an increasingly important role in the environment. The term “nanomaterial” includes materials with particles that occur either independently or as part of aggregates. The European Commission has set precise standards for nanomaterials in its 2011 definitions and the updated 2022 version. These recommendations are relevant in various areas of law, including the EU Cosmetics Regulation and the Biocides Regulation, which provide specific definitions for nanomaterials, as in bfr.bund.de reported.

In total, at least 50% of the particles must meet the specific size criteria. This applies to both insoluble and biologically stable materials. Variations in this definition may occur in specific areas of law, which may cause confusion.

The importance of research

Professor Kühn will not only explain the existing challenges in detecting nanoplastics, but also present methods for the theoretical description of the diffusion of particles. The main target group is anyone interested in natural sciences who would like to develop a deeper understanding of the topic. Registration is not required, but we recommend that you arrive on time to secure a place in the lecture hall.

In addition to the presentation, there is the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with Professor Kühn. Contact information is below this link available. Anyone interested can also reach him by phone at +49 381 498-6950 or by email at oliver.kuehn@uni-rostock.de.

The growing presence of nanoplastics in our environment raises important questions that this event could make an important contribution to answering.