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 …
The process of chemicals from plastics moving into our food is known as “migration.” Migration occurs when substances in a plastic material transfer from the plastic into the food or beverage that comes into contact with it. This transfer of chemicals doesn’t happen in all plastics or under all conditions. It is more likely to …
This is a summary of the Endocrine Society’s report on plastics and their implications for our health. Download and read the full report here: EDC Guide 2020 The Harmful Truth About Plastics: A Guide to EDCs in Plastics and Their Health Effects Plastics are all around us – in our homes, our cars, our clothes, …
