Scalable Pyrolysis-GC-MS for Mapping Plastic Exposure in Environments and Biology
Plastics are now part of our air, water, food—and even our biology. But how do we detect and characterize them at trace levels across such diverse matrices?
Join us for this insightful webinar where experts will explore complementary Pyrolysis-GC-MS approaches to detecting and profiling micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs). From high-resolution workflows for biological exposure analysis to routine GC-MS methods for environmental monitoring, you’ll discover how scalable pyrolysis strategies are transforming our ability to identify, quantify, and understand plastic pollution.
- Dr. Kuanliang Shao (Emory University) will share how Py-GC-HRMS is enabling population-level biomonitoring of MNPs in human tissues and its integration into exposomics frameworks.
- Dr. Giulia Riccardino (Thermo Fisher Scientific) will present a robust, single-quadrupole Py-GC-MS method for quantitative polymer profiling in plastic debris, including real-world samples collected from Mediterranean beaches.
Whether you’re working in environmental science, analytical chemistry, or human health research, this session offers practical tools and cutting-edge insights into one of today’s most urgent global challenges.
Who should attend?
- Environmental researchers
- Exposomics scientists
- Analytical chemists
- Public health professionals
- Laboratories investigating plastic pollution or polymer exposure.
Presenter: Kuanliang Shao, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Environmental Health Comprehensive Laboratory for Untargeted Exposome Science, Emory University)
Kuanliang Shao is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Environmental Health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. His research focuses on developing untargeted Py-GC-HRMS and LC-HRMS methods for detecting and quantifying micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) and related chemicals in humans, along with their biological effects. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China and earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside, where he advanced pyrolysis reaction theory. His work also includes studies on air pollution and exposure risk, supported by two internal UC research grants.
Presenter: Giulia Riccardino (Senior GC/GC-MS Applications Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
Giulia Riccardino is a senior applications specialist for the GC/GC-MS business unit. Before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific she worked for more than 10 years as a biologist in a clinical and toxicology lab where she had an extensive experience with both gas and liquid chromatography. She started at Thermo Fisher as a product specialist for GC standalone and autosamplers and in 2018 she joined the product applications specialist team. Giulia holds a degree in Biology from the University of Milan with a further Specialization in Clinical Biochemistry.
Moderator: Daniela Cavagnino (Product Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
