Laura Vandenberg, associate professor of environmental health sciences, who was recently recognized as among the world’s most highly cited scientists, gave a talk explaining her research on harmful chemicals found in plastic at the first annual Plastic Health Summit held in Amsterdam earlier this fall. Her presentation focused on how early life exposure to chemicals and chemical mixtures can predispose individuals to diseases that manifest later in life.

“Every child born on this planet is born pre-polluted with dozens or perhaps hundreds of chemicals that are found inside of their bodies,” Vandenberg says.

The Plastic Health Summit, created by the Plastic Soup Foundation, was designed to bring together researchers, policy experts, corporate leaders and media from across world to raise awareness of the potential dangers of microplastics to our health.

Watch her presentation here.