18-02-2025
Paula Sobral, professor at NOVA FCT, and Joana Antunes, both researchers at MARE of NOVA FCT, stood out at the 1st National Congress on Health and Environment – For a Healthy and Sustainable Future, held on February 7th and 8th, 2025, at Culturgest in Lisbon.
Joana Antunes presented her pioneering study on the impacts of co-exposure to nanoplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on human and environmental health, developed in collaboration with NOVA FCT and iMED. The research demonstrated that simultaneous exposure to these compounds intensifies oxidative stress, causes DNA damage, and alters the expression of genes related to inflammatory and detoxification processes, significantly contributing to the scientific debate in this area.
Paula Sobral participated in the panel "Plastic in Health and Health in Plastic," highlighting the impacts of plastics, especially micro and nanoplastics, on health and the environment. The researcher emphasized the need to reduce excessive plastic consumption, recycle uncontaminated materials, and addressed the feasibility of biodegradable plastics, transparency about additives, and collaboration between industry, consumers, government, and academia.
The congress, organized by the Portuguese Council for Health and Environment (CPSA), gathered more than 130 speakers and about 700 participants from fields such as scientific research, medicine, nursing, biology, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, psychology, and engineering, promoting discussions on the interconnection between health and the environment and encouraging sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
NOVA FCT has played an important role in research on the impact of plastics on health and the environment, contributing to the search for innovative and sustainable solutions to help mitigate this global issue.
