plastic pollution

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    Scientists Find Microplastics in Ovarian Follicular Fluid for the First Time

    Scientists Find Microplastics in Ovarian Follicular Fluid for the First Time

    Microplastics have been found in human brains, placentas, testicular tissues, lungs and blood. Now, in a new study, scientists have identified microplastic particles in human ovarian follicular fluid for the first time, prompting concerns over how these pollutants could impact reproductive health. The study, published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, found microplastics in […]

    Water Hyacinths Show Promise for Microplastics Removal, Despite Being an Invasive Species

    Water Hyacinths Show Promise for Microplastics Removal, Despite Being an Invasive Species

    In a recent study, scientists have found that the species Eichhornia crassipes, also known as the common water hyacinth, has strong potential as a remediator for microplastics in the environment. In the study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, researchers collected water hyacinths from a river in Shanghai, China and relocated the plants […]

    Global Plastic Recycling Rate ‘Stagnant’ at 9%: Study

    Global Plastic Recycling Rate ‘Stagnant’ at 9%: Study

    New research has found that the amount of plastic waste being recycled globally has remained “stagnant” at nine percent, with most new plastic continuing to be made from fossil fuels. The plastic recycling rate in the United States is even lower at just five percent. “Plastics are one of the most ubiquitous materials [on] our […]

    ‘Waste Wars’: A Conflict With No End in Sight

    ‘Waste Wars’: A Conflict With No End in Sight

    In 2018, China made global headlines when it banned the importation of foreign plastic and electronic waste. This fleeting news item exposed one of the dirty secrets of the Western world’s trash – that much of our garbage is, in reality, shipped elsewhere, many times under the shield of “recycling,” a little-known fact until China’s […]

    Researchers Find Lead, Plastic Additives and Other Contaminants in Hedgehogs 

    Researchers Find Lead, Plastic Additives and Other Contaminants in Hedgehogs 

    In a new study, researchers have found a wide range of pollutants in Western European hedgehogs, including heavy metals, plastic additives and more. The researchers from Lund University in Sweden were exploring the levels of heavy metals found in hedgehogs in southern Sweden, following previous research that revealed heavy metal pollution in hedgehogs in urban […]

    New Scorecard Ranks Food Packaging Options by Sustainability

    New Scorecard Ranks Food Packaging Options by Sustainability

    A newly launched guide, called the UP Scorecard, helps consumers and companies identify more sustainable packaging options.  The scorecard tool ranks food packaging based on six main sustainability factors, including water use required for manufacturing, recoverability, chemicals used in manufacturing, plastic pollution, sourcing and climate impacts. “With the launch of the UP Scorecard, businesses and […]