Congratulations to Irene on her PhD defence

Irene defends PhD on the health effects of inhaled micro- and nanoplastics

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Irene Gosselink successfully defended her PhD thesis on June 30th, 2026, entitled "It’s in the Air: Toxicological Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Human Airways and Lungs: An In Vitro Approach", under the supervision of Frederik-Jan van Schooten and co supervision of Alexander Remels and Ingeborg Kooter.

Her research focused on the potential health effects of inhaled micro- and nanoplastics on the human airways and lungs. In her thesis, Irene investigated how particle size, shape, and polymer type influence toxicity using advanced in vitro models and exposure methods that better reflect real-life inhalation.

The findings show that certain nanoplastics, particularly polyamide particles, can trigger inflammatory responses and affect the function of airway and lung cells. This work contributes to a better understanding of the potential health risks of airborne micro- and nanoplastics and supports the development of more realistic methods for assessing their safety.

Congratulations Irene on this achievement!

The full thesis is available for download here, and the recording of the defence can be rewatched here.