Environmental Health Sciences Center

California has experienced an unprecedented surge in the expansion of e-commerce and, subsequently, a dramatic boom in warehouse construction.  The warehouse boom, while contributing to economic growth, has also raised significant concerns over the long-term environmental justice and health equity repercussions. 

Plastic waste is a growing global problem. The negative impact of plastic debris, particularly on marine ecosystems, has been appreciated for decades. But potentially, an even more significant danger is the insidious microplastic we cannot see. Plastic waste does not biodegrade, rather, it breaks down, fragmented by wind, waves, and sunlight into ever-smaller pieces.