What effects do chemicals such as PFAS and microplastics have on health, ecosystems and the economy? How can understanding of and sensitivity to pollutant risks be improved?
Pollutant risks come from chemicals that pose a growing threat to ecosystems and human health. Through industry, agriculture and everyday use they enter soils, waters and the air, where they often persist for years or decades. These chemicals include pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, microplastics and so-called “forever chemicals” such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Many of these substances are toxic, endocrine-disrupting or hard to degrade, and can accumulate in food chains. This leads not only to a loss of biological diversity but can also endanger human health – for example through contaminated drinking water, food or air pollution.
“Given the growing trend towards biomaterials, it is crucial to bring the chemical safety of both conventional plastics and bio-based, biodegradable alternatives to the political agenda.”
Dr. Carolin Völker, Research Scientist
Our research addresses the societal processes and trade-offs that shape how pollutant risks are handled. It is based on social-ecological justice as a normative framework. We examine how pollutant risks are perceived and assessed, promote knowledge transfer for public awareness, and develop ways to involve society more strongly in political decision-making.
Among other things, we work on the sustainable use of plastics, risks of microplastics and forever chemicals such as PFAS (project ChemKom on science communication), and strategies to reduce pharmaceutical substances in waters.
ChemKom investigates how scientific organizations, industry associations, authorities and NGOs strategically communicate scientific content, with a focus on per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS).
