Glitter is tiny, sparkly and festive, but these minuscule particles are harmful to the environment. According to experts, glitter should be banned to protect oceans and marine life. Why is glitter bad for the environment? Glitter particles are very small, and marine animals often mistake them for food. This is bad because microplastics like glitter can damage … Continue reading Celebrate, but not with glitter: Glitter is a toxic pollutant that should be banned, warn scientists
Discarded face masks, PPE are killing wildlife around the world
Millions of people around the world have been using single-use face masks, disposable gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to avoid infection since the coronavirus pandemic began in March last year. But the increased use of such items has resulted in a new wave of litter, one that harms and even kills animals. Those are the findings of a … Continue reading Discarded face masks, PPE are killing wildlife around the world
POLLUTION PLAGUE: Coronavirus waste is harming animals around the world, from dogs to penguins
The single-use face masks and disposable latex gloves protecting people from the Wuhan coronavirus are also harming animals, according to a recent report by researchers from Leiden University in the Netherlands. The report, published in Animal Biology, provides an overview of cases of entanglement and ingestion of face masks, latex gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) by terrestrial and aquatic animals. In … Continue reading POLLUTION PLAGUE: Coronavirus waste is harming animals around the world, from dogs to penguins
Single-use no more: Plastic bottles can be upcycled to more durable materials
Single-use plastics cause plastic pollution, a problem that affects rivers, lakes, and oceans. To address this concern, researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed a recycling process that turns various materials made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into other useful products that will last longer. NREL’s research was published in the journal Joule. What is polyethylene terephthalate (PET)? Polyethylene terephthalate … Continue reading Single-use no more: Plastic bottles can be upcycled to more durable materials
Will plastic pollution end the world? Experts say it’s possible
A team of 250 experts from around the world has named plastic pollution as one of the greatest threats to global health. Estimates suggest that eight million tons of plastic waste is dumped into the oceans every year. There is little doubt that the plastic revolution has changed the world –but as we are seeing … Continue reading Will plastic pollution end the world? Experts say it’s possible
Debunking your reasons to use plastic
There is no shortage of reasons to use less plastic. It is bad for the environment, toxic to human health and it is a top contributor to pollution around the world. There are literal islands of plastic garbage floating around our oceans, and yet we continue to create more plastic (and plastic waste) every year. … Continue reading Debunking your reasons to use plastic
Glitter sunscreen is this summer’s biggest beauty trend, but experts warn it is harmful to the environment
Chemical-based sunscreens are unsafe enough on their own. But the glitter sunscreen that came out this summer of 2018 might pollute the environment on top of the existing detrimental effects on human health, an article in Harper’s Bazaar reported. Glitter is highly popular among women and children. Makeup, nail polish, and lip gloss are just some of the common … Continue reading Glitter sunscreen is this summer’s biggest beauty trend, but experts warn it is harmful to the environment
New material made from recycled plastic bottles could help reduce water pollution
Singaporean researchers have come up with a new incentive for people to recycle disposable PET plastic bottles instead of just throwing them away. They can turn the plastic waste into a group of very useful materials called aerogels, which would make the disposable bottles well worth the effort of holding on to or recovering from landfills. Aerogels … Continue reading New material made from recycled plastic bottles could help reduce water pollution
A cheaper alternative? Scientists looking at converting plastic waste into hydrogen fuel
The problem of plastic waste pollution shows no signs of letting up. Around eight million tons of plastic waste are making their way into our oceans every year, and the problem is only expected to get worse as plastic production will need to grow by three or four times by 2050 to meet demand. Although … Continue reading A cheaper alternative? Scientists looking at converting plastic waste into hydrogen fuel
Researchers develop blend of bioplastics that can decompose under diverse conditions
Biodegradable plastics have been available for a while now. But an Irish-led effort has come up with new bioplastics that also retain the best characteristics of normal plastic products, an article in Science Daily stated. These bioplastics are just as malleable, resilient, and robust as their petroleum-derived equivalents. At the same time, they can be easily broken down … Continue reading Researchers develop blend of bioplastics that can decompose under diverse conditions
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 