Plastics are petrochemical products whose production and pollution have increased exponentially over the past few decades. Accordingly, human exposure has increased over time. Scientists have now identified the presence of microplastics in all human organs tested, including the brain. This talk will explore the emerging evidence behind the neuropsychiatric impacts of micro- and nanoplastics. It will also highlight other pathways by which plastics can increase the risk of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and exacerbation of air pollution, climate change, and health disparities.
Format
Live, interactive webinar
1.5 hours of virtual, synchronous learning.
This activity will consist of a live, online lecture (approximately 75 minutes), a question/answer session or discussion (15 minutes), followed by independent completion of an online survey to claim 1.5 CME credit.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize that plastics are composed of fossil fuel-derived polymers and chemical additives, each of which exerts direct and indirect effects on the brain
- Describe how each phase of the plastics life cycle (production, use, and disposal) causes environmental pollution and associated neuropsychiatric risks
- Appreciate the role of plastics reduction as a public mental health prevention strategy
References
- Ryznar E, Haase E, Lauterbach M. The plastics crisis: a neuropsychiatric problem hidden in plain sight. Psychiatric Times 2024; 41(9): 13-16.
- Landrigan PL, Dunlop S, Treskova M, et al. The Lancet Countdown on health and plastics. Lancet 2025; 406: 1044-62.
- Woodruff T. Health effects of fossil fuel-derived endocrine disruptors. New England Journal of Medicine 2024; 390: 922-33.
- Amato-Lourenço LF, Dantas KC, Júnior GB, et al. Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain. JAMA Network Open 2024; 7(9): e2440018.
- Nihart AJ, Garcia MA, El Hayek E, et al. Bioaccumulation of microplastics in decedent human brains. Nature Medicine 2025; 31(4): 1114-1119.
Target Audience
Medical students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social workers, Nurses
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.5 hours
Program Start Date: August 4 2026
Program End Date: August 4, 2026
Credit for this webinar must be claimed by November 2, 2026.
Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A.
How to Earn Credit
After evaluating the program, participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Instructor
Elizabeth Ryznar, MD, MSc; Associate Chair of Psychiatry at St. George's University School of Medicine
Dr. Ryznar is the Associate Chair of Psychiatry at St. George's University and a part-time Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed her medical training at Harvard Medical School, her residency training at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, and her postdoctoral training in medical education at Johns Hopkins. A passionate educator, she has created several online curricula and has published about decision-making capacity, psychiatric training, and the history of psychiatry, including as editor of the textbook “Landmark Papers in Psychiatry.” Her current research interest is the impact of plastic pollution on brain health and she is active with many environmental health organizations.
Planners
Vishal Madaan, MD, APA Deputy Medical Director, Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity