According to the abstract of an August 15, 2023 Water Research article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2023.120249 by researchers with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Qingdao University in China, Institute of Environmental Sciences in the Netherlands and University of Potsdam in Germany “… our present work aimed to accurately trace the uptake and transport of […]
Category: News
Plastic Waste – UN Negotiations – Nature Editorial – “researchers must play their part in designing adequate measurement, monitoring and compliance systems”
According to a July 12, 2023, Nature Editorial https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02252-x “… Plastic waste is everywhere — and countries must be held accountable for reducing it … As UN negotiations on eliminating plastic pollution enter a crucial phase, researchers must play their part in designing adequate measurement, monitoring and compliance systems … Plastics have infiltrated some of […]
Micro and Nano Plastic Particles – Further Research is Required to Understand how Exposure Affects the Gut Microbiome and Health
According to the executive summary of a 2023 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report, titled “The Impact of Microplastics on the Gut Microbiome and Health – A Food Safety Perspective” https://www.fao.org/3/cc5294en/cc5294en.pdf “… Microplastics … and nanoplastics … are ubiquitous contaminants of emerging interest due to their potential effects on the environment, animals and human health. […]
Single Use Plastic – Pineapple Stem Starch Film Studied as a Substitute
According to the abstract of an April 24, 2023 Membranes article https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes13050458 by researchers with Mahidol University in Thailand and others “… biodegradable starch film was developed from pineapple stem waste as a substitute for non-biodegradable petroleum-based films for single-use applications where strength is not too demanding. High amylose starch from a pineapple stem was […]
Copolyester-Hemp Blends Studied as Replacement for Plastic Packaging
According to the abstract of an April 14, 2023 Journal of Polymer Science article https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.20230060 by researchers with Western University in Canada “… There is growing interest in biodegradable and bio-based materials that can replace conventional plastics in applications such as packaging … Described here is the preparation of a small library of copolyesters based […]
Bacterial Cellulose Films Studied as an Alternative to Plastic for Food Packaging
According to the abstract of a May 31, 2023 Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture article https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.12758 by researchers with the Chinese University of Hong Kong “… Bacterial cellulose (BC) films present a viable alternative for food packaging applications … In this study, a novel approach for creating edible, transparent, robust, and high-barrier […]
Microplastics – Ingestion by Baleen Whales and Their Prey in Coastal Oregon Studied
According to the abstract of a June 26, 2023 Frontiers in Marine Science article https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1201078 by researchers with Oregon State University “… We collected and assessed MP loads in zooplankton prey and fecal samples of gray whales … feeding in coastal Oregon … and produced the first estimates of baleen whale MP consumption rates from […]
Micro and Nano Plastic Particles Released from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Containers – Implications for Human Health Studied
According to the abstract of a June 21, 2023 Environmental Science & Technology article, titled “Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health” https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942 by researchers with University of Nebraska─Lincoln and University of Nebraska Medical Center who “… investigated the release of microplastics and nanoplastics […]
Microplastics – Chronic Exposure of Juvenile European Perch Studied
According to the abstract of a July 10, 2023 Science of the Total Environment article https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723020442/ by researchers with the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and the University of Bayreuth in Germany “… Juvenile perch were exposed to 2 % (w/w) poly(l-lactide) (PLA) microplastic particles (90–150 μm) in food pellets, or 2 % (w/w) kaolin particles, and a […]
Microplastics – Cognition Effects in Hermit Crabs Studied
According to the abstract of a March 2, 2023 Animals article https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/6/1055# by researchers with Queen’s University Belfast and Royal Veterinary College “… Little is known about how microplastics impact animal cognition—the way animals gather and process information. We investigated whether microplastic exposure impaired hermit crab shell selection, which relies on cognitive assessments and decision-making. […]