ALLATRA GLOBAL RESEARCH CENTER PRESENTS
NANOPLASTICS
THREAT TO LIFE
An Invisible Extinction: How micro- and nanoplastics penetrate every organ, disrupt the impulse of life, and threaten all living systems.
WATCH DOCUMENTARY
About the Documentary
Presented by ALLATRA Global Research Center, this research-based documentary brings together global scientific evidence on the impact of micro- and nanoplastics and presents it in an accessible, popular science format.
The film reveals how micro and nanoplastics have infiltrated every corner of the planet and every organ of the human body, including the brain, heart, bloodstream, and even interfere with the beginning of life itself.
This investigation uncovers how electrostatically charged nanoplastic disrupts cellular communication, accelerates aging, fuels cancer, weakens immunity, destroys reproductive health, and destabilizes the entire biosphere.
This film, created in collaboration with world-renowned scientists, is the first to examine and present the full scope of the micro- and nanoplastic threat, revealing the true magnitude of the danger these particles pose for current and future generations.
Visualizing Nanoplastic Damage
The film features original scientific animations that illustrate how nanoplastics interact at the molecular level and disrupt the function of cells, ion channels, mitochondria, neurotransmitters and DNA.
Micro- and nanoplastics have already become an inseparable part of the human body. They accumulate in the tissues of the brain, intestines, heart muscle, and in the endocrine and reproductive organs, disrupting their functions.
From the film Nanoplastics. A Threat to Life
Featured Experts
Voices of Science
Prof. Sarju Ganatra, MD (USA)
Cardio-Oncologist; Director, Cardio-Oncology Program; Medical Director of Sustainability, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center; Founder, Sustain Health Solutions
Prof. Lukas Kenner, MD (Austria)
Pathologist & Cancer Researcher, Medical University of Vienna; Director, Christian Doppler Institute for Applied Metabolomics; Scientific Director, microONE Project
Prof. Antonio Ragusa, MD (Italy)
Obstetrician & Gynecologist; Director, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Fatebenefratelli Hospital; First to Discover Microplastics in Human Placenta
Dr. Jeffrey P. Long, MD (USA)
Radiation Oncologist, Expert in Human Health Impacts of Environmental Factors
Prof. Richard Thompson OBE FRS (UK)
Professor of Marine Biology; Director, Marine Institute, University of Plymouth
Prof. Sedat Gündoğdu (Turkey)
Professor of Marine Biology, Çukurova University; Founder, Microplastic Research Group; Scientific Advisor on Plastic Pollution Policy
Prof. Valeriy A. Etkin (Israel)
Founder & Director, Institute of Integrative Studies; Member of the European Academy of Natural Sciences; Expert and Leader in Thermodynamics, Bioenergetics, and Physics Research
Dr. Dušan Materic (Germany)
Environmental Analytical Scientist; Head of Microplastics, Nanoplastics & Elements Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Dr. Elke Ludewig (Austria)
Head of the Sonnblick Observatory; Head of the European Centre for Cloud Ambient Intercomparison (ECCINT); Expert in Environmental and Climate Research
Prof. Dr. Paul D’Abzac, Bolivia
Water chemist & microbiologist, Bolivian Catholic University
Water chemist & microbiologist, Bolivian Catholic University Coordinator, Center for Research in Exact Sciences and Engineering (CICEI); Lead Scientist, Integrated Water Management Projects; Expert in water properties, pollution dynamics & environmental impacts
Liliana Cáceres Sánchez, Bolivia
Biologist, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health; PhD Researcher, Zoology: Biodiversity & Toxicology, Hasselt University. Research area: Micro- and nanoplastics, regeneration, and pollution impacts on human and environmental health
Prof. David Baracchi, Italy
Professor of Zoology and Ethology, University of Florence; Head, Cognitive & Behavioural Ecology Lab (BeeLab); Pioneer in experimental research on the effects of microplastics on bee health, cognition and social behavior
Film Host
Dr. John Ahn
PhD, MBA
ALLATRA Global Research Center, Scientific Advisory & Research Council
MBA, INSEAD, France, 2017
PhD in Chemical Engineering, TU München, Germany, 2013
MS in Chemical Engineering, UC Berkeley, USA, 2008
BSc in Chemical Engineering, Penn State, USA, 2006
John Ahn, PhD, MBA, is a distinguished professional recognized for building pathways between cutting-edge research and commercial impact. With multidisciplinary expertise in chemistry, life sciences, engineering, and venture development, Dr. Ahn drives sustainable innovations by translating early-stage discoveries into scalable technologies that address pressing global challenges.
We are entering a pivotal moment in our understanding of nanoplastics. Though still widely overlooked, growing scientific evidence shows that this may be the most consequential environmental and public-health crisis of our time. Through this film, I hope to bring visibility to the true scope of nanoplastic damage, highlight the work of leading scientists, contribute to a constructive global dialogue, and inspire collective efforts to safeguard future generations.
Dr. John Ahn
What Are Nanoplastics?
Nanoplastics are plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer - about 1/1000th the width of a human hair. These nanoparticles form when larger plastics break down or are manufactured at microscopic scales.
Nanoplastics can cross biological barriers including complex ones such as the blood-brain barrier and placental barrier.
They're found in bottled water, seafood, salt, and even the air we breathe.
Key Topics Explored in the Film
Emergency
Nanoplastics infiltrate all organs, systems, and cells of the body, causing damage to mitochondria, triggering chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA mutations. All of this can accelerate the development of cancer, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, infertility, and neurodegenerative diseases. Taken together, these effects can lead humanity to a health crisis that outpaces medical solutions.
Micro- and nanoplastics are constantly infiltrating everything: soil, water, air, and living organisms, already becoming part of the food chain. On average, a person consumes about 250 grams of plastic per year with food alone, and inhales up to 106,000 plastic particles during just a two-hour walk. Such ubiquitous presence means that micro- and nanoplastics pose a threat to all forms of life.
Nanoplastics bypass biological barriers (including the intestinal barrier, the blood-brain barrier, the placental barrier, etc.) and accumulate in the brain, heart, blood vessels, liver, testicles, and ovaries. Once inside cells, they disrupt ion channels, cause oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation, all of which has a systemic impact on reproductive health as well as the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
at the Cellular Level
Nanoplastics accumulate and continuously retain an electrostatic charge on their surface, which distorts electrical signals between cells, alters their membrane potential, and disrupts the functioning of ion channels and electron transport in mitochondria.
Such interference leads to cardiac arrhythmia, metabolic disorders, and cognitive decline.
Electrostatically charged nanoplastics disrupt the transmission of nerve impulses, leading to disturbances in heart rhythm, muscle contractions, immune responses, and metabolism. This results in arrhythmias, respiratory failure, cognitive impairment, and accelerated neurodegeneration.
Nanoplastics infiltrate reproductive organs, damaging sperm and egg cells, leading to infertility. Nanoplastics also cross the blood-placental barrier, causing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. This can lead to miscarriages and fetal developmental abnormalities.
As nanoplastic accumulates in the brain, it alters neuron activity, disrupts neurotransmitter production, damages mitochondria, and provokes inflammatory processes. This contributes to diseases such as depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and epilepsy. In younger generations, an earlier onset of these diseases and a decline in cognitive function are being observed.
Nanoplastics impair animal navigation (birds), electroreception (fish), and pollinator communication (bees), while damaging plant roots and nutrient uptake. This leads to ecosystem degradation and population decline.
Amplification
Nanoplastics in the atmosphere alter cloud formation, precipitation, and storm patterns, while oceanic plastics accelerate warming. They act as a previously unaccounted-for climate driver, exacerbating extreme weather.
The scale of nanoplastic contamination, from embryos to ecosystems, demands international scientific cooperation to map impacts, quantify exposure, and develop solutions. No single nation or lab can address this threat alone.
About ALLATRA Global Research Center
The ALLATRA Global Research Center is an international research think tank that addresses critical planetary challenges through rigorous scientific analysis, comprehensive risk assessment, and evidence-based policy recommendations.
Operating under the legal framework of Allatra IPM USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the center conducts multidisciplinary research in natural disaster dynamics, climate and geophysical risks, the ecological and health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics, and global human rights and intercultural cooperation.
ALLATRA GRC’s work integrates scientific inquiry with strategic and operational guidance to support informed decision-making at the global level.
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