Dr. Manasi Agrawal—a clinician–scientist and the inaugural Director of Environmental Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai—is at the forefront of understanding how early-life exposure to microplastics, nanoplastics, and other environmental toxins shapes long-term gastrointestinal health. In this webinar, she will present the latest scientific findings on how these particles may influence gut health and contribute to the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dr. Agrawal will highlight the novel methodologies her team is using to characterize pollutants in the human body, offering new insights into prevention and early detection. The session will conclude with practical, evidence-based tips for reducing plastic exposures in everyday life.

Moderator: Ellen Lautenberg, Advisory Board Chair, Mount Sinai Institute for Exposomic Research

25-minute presentation followed by 20-minute audience Q&A

Bio
Manasi Agrawal, MD, MS, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a gastroenterologist at the Mount Sinai Hospital, with focus in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dr. Agrawal is the Director of Environmental Gastroenterology in the Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology. In this role, Dr. Agrawal will advance research on exposomics in gastrointestinal diseases, mentor trainees, and help establish Mount Sinai as a leader in environmental gastroenterology and preventive medicine. Her research focuses on the role of the environment on IBD risk, towards disease prediction and prevention. She has ongoing works to characterize the role of PFAS, pesticides, microplastics, metals, and related exposures on intestinal inflammation and IBD.

This community webinar is part of the Mount Sinai Institute for Exposomic Research Environment and Health Lunchtime Chat Series. Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are advancing research that reveals how environmental exposures—from air pollution and chemicals to social and lifestyle factors—shape health across the lifespan. Through this webinar series, we translate discovery into action, connecting groundbreaking science to real-world insights that empower families and communities to make informed choices and support long-term health.

Learn more and register for the series.