27–28 November 2025 | Newcastle, Australia

The Arab Network for Emerging Pollutants (EPN) made a high-profile scientific contribution to the Microplastics in Focus 2025 Conference, held in Newcastle, Australia, a leading international forum addressing plastic pollution and its impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Representing EPN, the network’s Founder and Chair delivered a keynote address entitled “Monitoring and Assessment of Micro- and Nanoplastics Pollution in the Arab Region.” The presentation provided one of the first comprehensive regional overviews of micro- and nanoplastics contamination across Arab countries, highlighting pollution sources, environmental pathways, analytical limitations, and gaps in long-term monitoring data.

The keynote emphasized the uneven distribution of research capacity across the region, noting the scarcity of standardized sampling protocols, limited access to advanced microspectroscopy technologies, and the absence of unified regional databases. The presentation also called for coordinated Arab monitoring programs aligned with international best practices.

In addition to its scientific role, EPN served as an official sponsor of the conference, reinforcing its commitment to international collaboration. Conference organizers noted that EPN’s participation reflects the growing engagement of the Arab region in global environmental research and policy development related to plastic pollution.