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, …
The panel of experts in this presentation summarize what is known about endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in plastics that threaten human health. What Are EDCs? Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system in humans and animals. The endocrine system is a complex network of glands that produce …
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Key Points:– The use of single-use plastic bags in England has dropped by 98% since retailers began charging for them in 2015.– Seven leading grocery chains have seen a significant decline in the distribution of plastic carrier bags, from 7.6 billion in 2014 to 133 million last year.– Environmental campaigners are urging the government to …
Environmental campaigners have called on the government to learn from its own successes after official figures showed the use of supermarket plastic bags had fallen 98% since retailers in England began charging for them in 2015. Since the charge was introduced, annual distribution of plastic carrier bags by seven leading grocery chains plummeted from 7.6bn …
