Plastic pollution could more than double by 2040, report finds
Failure to address a worldwide plastic pollution crisis could trigger a surge in greenhouse gas emissions and human health problems tied to the industry, according to a new report.
microplastics
Microplastics drive plaque buildup in arteries of male mice, study suggests
Exposure to tiny plastic particles that litter the environment may speed plaque buildup in the arteries of male mice, a condition that leads to heart disease, according to a new study.
EPA panel warns plastics threaten kids’ health — Bayer says evidence lacking
A committee of expert advisers is calling for stronger environmental regulations to protect children from plastics and other harmful chemicals, despite a dissenting industry position claiming there is little evidence that plastic is toxic to children.
New report calls plastics a “grave” danger to health as nations negotiate treaty
By Brian Bienkowski
Plastics are a “grave” danger to humans and the planet, responsible for an estimated $1.5 trillion annually in health-related costs, and nations need to center human health as they finalize the global plastics treaty, scientists said in a new report released Monday.
Postcard from California: Plastics ‘recycling’ – out of sight, out of mind
By Bill Walker
Last year California shipped more than 156 million pounds of plastic waste to poor countries, with almost three-fourths sent to Mexico and another 44 million pounds sent to developing nations in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. That’s the reality behind the blue recycling bins Californians fill with plastic waste for curbside pickup. We may think we’re recycling, but we’re really sending much of our waste out of sight, out of mind.
Chemical exposure from ultra-processed foods may contribute to health issues
By Shannon Kelleher
Toxic synthetic chemicals that migrate into ultra-processed foods from packaging, processing equipment and other sources may explain why these foods are so bad for our health, according to a new review article.
Common plastic chemicals linked to 356,000 annual heart disease deaths worldwide
By Brian Bienkowski
Chemicals used to make plastics more flexible are linked to more than 356,000 deaths annually across the globe, creating what researchers called a “substantial global health burden,” according to a new peer-reviewed study.
“Plastics addiction” is killing us, experts say, but hope remains
By Douglas Main
Plastics are negatively impacting our health in shocking ways, with the problem growing worse over time amid lax government regulations, a group of scientists and policy experts warned on Thursday.
Chewing gum releases microplastics into saliva, study finds
By Douglas Main
Chewing gum made from either synthetic polymers or tree-based resins sheds significant quantities of tiny plastic particles into saliva, according to a study currently undergoing peer review that was presented Tuesday at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Microplastics boost antibiotic resistance in E. coli, lab study suggests
By Shannon Kelleher
Co-mingling of tiny pieces of plastic with certain harmful bacteria can make the bacteria harder to fight with several common antibiotics, according to a new study that adds to global concerns about antibiotic resistance.