Unraveling pollutant pathways in agroecosystems through robust measurement and reproducible data analysis
I investigate the fate and effects of anthropogenic pollutants across soils, agriculture, and connected land–water systems. My work combines environmental chemistry, instrumental analysis, and reproducible data workflows to understand how pollutants move, transform, persist, and affect ecosystems.
This spans analytical method development and quality assurance, environmental monitoring, data interpretation, and transparent scientific communication.
Environmental systems
I study plastics and other anthropogenic pollutants from their sources and pathways to their fate and effects.
Analytical methods
I develop and validate analytical methods for complex environmental matrices, with a focus on quality assurance and instrumental analysis.
Data and reproducibility
I use statistics, automation, and open-source software to make environmental data analysis transparent, efficient, and reproducible.
My teaching connects environmental chemistry and analytical methods with practical laboratory work, data interpretation, scientific reasoning, and critical reflection.
Selected publications
View all →Plastic Problem Solved? Environmental Implications of Synthetic Hydrophilic Polymers across Ecosystem Boundaries
Zacharias Steinmetz*, Christian Plicht, Christian Buchmann, Mathilde Knott, Maximilian Meyer, Stefanie Müller-Schüssele, Dorina Strieth, Marc H. Prosenc, Heidrun Steinmetz, Hermann F. Jungkunst, Werner R. Thiel, Mirco Bundschuh
TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Review tracing synthetic hydrophilic polymers from households, agriculture, and mining across ecosystem boundaries and calling for precautionary assessment.
Are agricultural plastic covers a source of plastic debris in soil? A first screening study
Zacharias Steinmetz, Paul Löffler, Silvia Eichhöfer, Jan David, Katherine Muñoz, Gabriele E. Schaumann*
SOIL
First screening of agricultural plastic covers as a microplastic source, identifying thin perforated foils rather than durable mulch films as the main emitters.
Microplastic Spectral Classification Needs an Open Source Community: Open Specy to the Rescue!
Win Cowger*, Zacharias Steinmetz, Andrew Gray, Keenan Munno, Jennifer Lynch, Hannah Hapich, Sebastian Primpke, Hannah De Frond, Chelsea Rochman, Orestis Herodotou
Analytical Chemistry
Introducing Open Specy, an open-source tool for the processing and identification of microplastic spectra.
News
Website relaunched 🚀
AgriRePlas: reducing agriculture's plastic footprint in the Upper Rhine region