According to the abstract of a paper to be published May 13, 2023 in the Journal of Hazardous Materials https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131090 by researcher with the Australian Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania and others “… there is a need to closely examine the sub-lethal ‘hidden’ impacts of plastic ingestion … Flesh-footed […]
News and Updates
Microplastics – Report on Occurrence, Health Effects and Mitigation Policies Submitted to California Legislature
On February 2, 2023, the California State Policy Evidence Consortium (CalSPEC) released https://uccs.ucdavis.edu/calspec/2022-research-topic “An Evidence Review for the California State Legislature,” titled “Microplastics Occurrence, Health Effects, and Mitigation Policies” https://uccs.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk12071/files/media/documents/CalSPEC-Report-Microplastics-Occurrence-Health%20Effects-and-Mitigation-Policies.pdf which presents a “… systematic review of the health effects of microplastics; and summarized the current status of national, subnational, and multinational policies relating to […]
Half of all States Sue the Labor Department over ESG Rule
According to a February 6, 2023, Katten Law post https://quickreads.ext.katten.com/post/102i71z/half-of-all-states-sue-dol-over-esg-rule-foreshadowing-challenges-to-the-secs-e on January 26, 2023, twenty-five states and others sued the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) @USDOL in connection with its December 1, 2022 ESG rulemaking, titled “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights” https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/01/2022-25783/prudence-and-loyalty-in-selecting-plan-investments-and-exercising-shareholder-rights – According to Katten: “… When DOL adopted […]
DoE Issues “Strategy for Plastics Innovation”
In January 2023, the Department of Energy published its “Strategy for Plastics Innovation” https://www.energy.gov/entity%3Anode/4394292/strategy-plastics-innovation “… to accelerate innovations that will dramatically reduce plastic waste in oceans and landfills … designed to position the United States as a leader in science and technology innovations needed to develop and manufacture new plastic technologies by 2030 … Strategic Goals [include] … Create new […]
Microplastics Detected in Human Vascular Tissues (Saphenous Vein Tissue)
According to the abstract of a February 1, 2023 PLOS One article by researchers with UK University of Hull and others “… Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment, in the human food chain … This study analysed digested human saphenous vein tissue samples (n = 5) using μFTIR spectroscopy (size limitation of 5 μm) to detect […]
Environmental Marketing Claims – FTC Extends Public Comment Period to April 24 on Improving Its “Green Guides”
On February 1, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) extended to April 24, 2023 the comment period on its December 20, 2022 request for comments https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-20/pdf/2022-27558.pdf on its “Green Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims” https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/truth-advertising/green-guides “… soliciting comments about the efficiency, costs, benefits, and regulatory impact of the Guides to determine whether to retain, modify, or […]
Microplastics found to Exacerbate Virus-Mediated Fish Mortality
According to the abstract of a paper to be published in the March 2023 issue of Science of The Total Environment https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004896972208295X by researchers with Virginia Institute of Marine Science, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Hawaii Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research and others “… Interaction between microplastics and environmental pathogens is poorly understood … A […]
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Single Use vs Reusable Restaurant Plastic Takeout Food Containers Studied
According to the abstract of a Resources, Conservation and Recycling article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106862 by researchers with the University of Michigan “… Single-use packaging generates millions of tonnes of plastic waste per year – a circular economy waste-reduction strategy is to implement reusable container systems for restaurant takeout. We developed a parametric life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost model and […]
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) – Kentucky Issues “Energy Company Boycott” List
On January 3, 2023, the Kentucky Treasurer released https://www.kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=KentuckyStateTreasurer&prId=101 “… a list of 11 financial companies that are engaged in energy company boycotts… ” defined https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/22rs/sb205.html as: “… without an ordinary business purpose, refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations with a company […]
Microplastics – Remain Preserved Once Incorporated into Sediments Until Disturbed
According to a November 14, 2022, Environmental Science and Technology article https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c04264 by researchers with Spain Autonomous University of Barcelona and Denmark Aalborg University “ … there is a lack of robust data on the historical evolution of microplastic (MP) pollution in the sediment … we investigate the fate of MPs once buried in the […]