ALLATRA participated in the networking session Recycling as a Tool for Shaping Environmental Education Among Youth

Participants of the networking session Recycling as a Tool for Shaping Environmental Education Among Youth, Uralsk, Kazakhstan

Uralsk, Kazakhstan — November 13, 2025 — Participants of the ALLATRA IPM from the city of Uralsk (Republic of Kazakhstan) took part in the networking session Recycling as a Tool for Shaping Environmental Education Among Youth, held dedicated to World Recycling Day.

The event was organized by Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University, represented by its structural division, the Institute of Digital Economy and Sustainable Development, headed by Associate Professor, PhD in Economics Aizhan Ibyzhanova.

Among the guests were:

• Almatay Zhumagaziyev, Head of the Environmental Department of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• Fariza Sultasheva, Head of the Department of Natural Resources for the West Kazakhstan Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
• specialists from KPO b.v., the company responsible for the development and production of the Karachaganak gas condensate field in Kazakhstan, one of the largest in the world;
• environmental experts from Schlumberger, a global provider of technologies for hydrocarbon extraction and processing.

At the meeting, participants exchanged experiences and results in waste recycling, emphasizing that environmental solutions are not just a trend but a necessity that will shape  the quality of life for future generations.

Thanks to the organizer’s kind invitation, ALLATRA volunteers presented a scientific report titled Nanoplastics in the Biosphere: From Molecular Impact to Planetary Crisis.

ALLATRA participants presented a report Nanoplastics in the Biosphere. From Molecular Impact to Planetary Crisis at a networking session Recycling as a Tool for Shaping Environmental Education for Young People in Uralsk, Kazakhstan

During the networking session, ALLATRA participants presented data based on recent scientific studies on the contamination of the biosphere with micro- and nanoplastics. According to these studies, this issue has long gone beyond the scope of a purely environmental problem. Microplastic pollution now threatens the survival of food crops. Scientists have detected plastic particles in fruits and vegetables, as well as in milk and meat. According to the latest data, up to 81% of tap water and 100% of bottled water already contain plastic particles. Researchers have found that the average person currently consumes approximately 250 grams of plastic per year through food — equivalent in weight to about 50 plastic bags.

ALLATRA representatives drew attention to an alarming fact: micro- and nanoplastics have already become an integral part of the human body. They accumulate in the tissues of the brain, intestines, cardiac muscle, and endocrine and reproductive organs, impairing their function. Studies indicate that such systemic accumulation of nanoplastics in the body leads to a wide range of severe chronic diseases, genetic mutations, and increased antibiotic resistance. Of particular concern is the impact of micro- and nanoplastics on children, starting  from the prenatal period, which can lead to disruptions in the development of the brain, immune system, and nervous system.

A separate part of the data presented at the session focused on the physical properties of microplastics. According to recent scientific findings, micro- and nanoplastics are capable of accumulating and retaining electrostatic charge on their surface for extended periods of time. It is this charge that makes micro- and nanoplastics such highly  active destructive agents, enabling them to interfere with fundamental bioelectrical processes in nature and in the human body, disrupting the functioning of cells, the nervous system, and entire ecosystems. This triggers a chain reaction of diseases and degradation affecting both living organisms and the environment.

ALLATRA participants emphasized that scientists now link even some climate anomalies to micro- and nanoplastic pollution. These particles accelerate ocean warming, and influence cloud formation in the atmosphere, contributing to extreme phenomena such as large hail, intense rainfall, and disruptions of the hydrological cycle. Due to their electrostatic charge, plastic particles are capable of damaging the biosphere at the molecular level.

The data presented indicate that the problem of micro- and nanoplastic pollution is complex and rapidly escalating. It is already having a significant impact on the biosphere and human health, underscoring the urgent need for further interdisciplinary research and increased attention to this threat from both the scientific community and society at large.

Following the discussion, participants noted that organizing such meetings is especially important in the context of increasingly complex environmental challenges. These events strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation among specialists and create a foundation for developing more effective and coordinated solutions to current issues.

On behalf of the participants of ALLATRA International Public Movement, we express our gratitude for the highly professional organization of the event, which was focused on a comprehensive analysis of today’s environmental challenges and the development of practical recommendations for addressing them collaboratively.

About ALLATRA International Public Movement

ALLATRA International Public Movement is an independent, volunteer-based organization dedicated to carrying out large-scale research in geodynamics and environmental issues. ALLATRA IPM is recognized for its interdisciplinary approach to the study of natural disasters, for promoting international scientific cooperation and advocating human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In recognition of its commitment to environmental protection and preservation of creation, ALLATRA International Public Movement was granted an Apostolic Blessing by His Holiness Pope Francis in 2024. In 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV bestowed an Apostolic Blessing upon the President of ALLATRA and all its volunteers.

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