Lego has stopped a project to make bricks from recycled drinks bottles instead of oil-based plastic, saying it would have led to higher carbon emissions over the product’s lifetime. The move, first reported by the Financial Times, followed efforts by the world’s largest toymaker to research more sustainable materials, as part of a wave of …
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A south-east Queensland plastics spill in which 40,000 small discs were flushed into the ocean could threaten birds and marine life for years to come, an expert says, amid criticism of CSIRO’s handling of the breach. A CSIRO spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that 40 litres of plastics known as biomedia were accidentally discharged from the …
The hills that circle Skopje keep citizens safe when smog grows thick, but they also trap the toxins that make its air among the most menacing of any city in Europe. The mountains are the only escape, says Katarina, a 33-year-old accountant, as she walks home from an evening hike. “I was wearing a mask …
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What are the worst types of plastic for the environment? The worst types of plastic for the environment are those that cause the most degradation to natural resources, ecosystems, and organisms. This degradation can come in many forms such as: Plastics with these characteristics are the most threatening: The environmental impact of different types of …
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Labels such as “BPA Free” and “Phthalate Free” can be helpful in finding products that are safer than conventional alternatives, but just because a product makes a claim doesn’t guarantee it is accurate. There’s a significant difference between a product that has been tested and certified vs a product that is making a claim on …
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About 90% of water samples taken over the last 10 years from the Great Lakes contain microplastic levels that are unsafe for wildlife, a new peer-reviewed paper from the University of Toronto finds. About 20% of those samples are at the highest level of risk, but the study’s authors say the damage can be reversed …
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Dead flies could be turned into biodegradable plastic, researchers have said. The finding, presented at the autumn meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), could be useful as it is difficult to find sources for biodegradable polymers that do not have other competing uses. “For 20 years, my group has been developing methods to transform …
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Scientists have discovered a method to give new life to old plastic – by converting it into soap. Plastics are chemically similar to fatty acids, which are one of the main ingredients in soap. For Guoliang Liu, an associate professor of chemistry at Virginia Tech and author of the paper published in the journal Science, …
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Here are some ways in which plastic chemicals can get onto our skin: It’s important to note that the degree of exposure and potential risk from plastic chemicals on the skin can vary based on factors such as the type of plastic, the specific chemicals involved, the duration of contact, and individual sensitivity. Some plastic …
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Plastic chemicals can get into the air through a process known as “off-gassing” or “volatilization.” Off-gassing refers to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals from plastic materials into the surrounding air. This process can occur in various situations and environments, leading to the dispersion of plastic-related chemicals into the atmosphere. Here …
