Dr Alice Horton

I am an Anthropogenic Contaminants Scientist with an expertise in the fate and ecological effects of microplastics in aquatic environments. My research focusses on how the connections between land, lakes, rivers and the ocean lead to the transport and accumulation of microplastics within the environment, their associations with organic chemicals, and how these processes influence the interactions and effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms. My published studies include those identifying microplastics in UK rivers and freshwater fish,  in addition to experimental studies on the ecotoxicological effects of microplastics and organic chemicals on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Additionally I have carried out research quantifying microplastics in treated and untreated wastewater and potable water products. I have chaired sessions and presented my work at a wide range of international conferences including MICRO, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), European Geosciences Union (EGU), World Water Week, and the Arctic Circle Assembly.

Alongside my research, I have worked as a guest editor for the journal Environment International (Elsevier) and I have edited a book 'Plastic Pollution in the Global Ocean' (World Scientific Press; https://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/12912).  I sit on advisory panels for the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and the Foundation for Water Research (FWR). I also regularly advise the Environment Agency and Defra on issues relating to microplastics research and management.