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Sharks contaminated with plastic are ‘cause for concern’

A new study in Scientific Reports investigated microplastic ingestion in four species of demersal sharks found in the North Atlantic Ocean.

news.mongabay.com

Bisphenol A and puberty onset in female mice: Developmental effects of low-dose exposure

Girls have been entering puberty at increasingly younger average ages since the 1800s, in no small part because health and nutrition have improved over time. A new experimental study of mice exposed to low doses of BPA indicates EDCs may also contribute.

ehp.niehs.nih.gov

Microplastics have moved into virtually every crevice on Earth

A collection of new research provides more clues about where and how microplastics are spreading.
www.nationalgeographic.com

The world is drowning in used face masks. Should we turn them into fuel?

How to deal with the glut of used medical-grade PPE? There aren't any silver bullets, and none of the options are very attractive.

grist.org

Olivia Sullivan: Can cities go zero-waste? One Japanese town tried

Kamikatsu famously declared its goal was to go waste-free by 2020. Their experience shows we can’t move further without systemic changes.
therevelator.org

Nautical not nice: how fibreglass boats have become a global pollution problem

Fibreglass fuelled a boating boom. But now dumped and ageing craft are breaking up, releasing toxins and microplastics across the world.

www.theguardian.com

Bisphenol exposure and Type 2 Diabetes: New evidence for a potential risk factor

A new prospective longitudinal study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, that BPA and its substitute, BPS, adds to the evidence tying these endocrine disrupting chemicals to diabetes.

ehp.niehs.nih.gov

Can ocean plastic cleaning projects actually clean all the ocean plastic?

A new study finds that the volume of plastic flowing into the ocean will overwhelm any cleaning efforts. If we want to clean up ocean plastic, we need to start at the source.
www.fastcompany.com

Research ranks Maldives highest among countries polluted by microplastic

The amount of microplastic pollution in waters around the Maldives is amongst the highest in the world, according to new research from Australia's Flinders University.

edition.mv

Plastic waste from relief material could add to pollution in Sundarbans

Relief material in the Sundarbans, post Cyclone Amphan, has brought in tonnes of plastic packaging, which is banned in the region, adding to plastic waste.

india.mongabay.com

Study: Floating booms won't reduce plastic debris in oceans

Scientists revealed that floating blooms could only clean up to 5% of marine plastics, showing that the process is not as efficient as what was advertised.
edgy.app

Should governments slap a tax on plastic?

More than a billion tons of plastic could enter the environment in the next 20 years. It's time, advocates say, to put a sin tax on single-use plastic.

www.wired.com

Shell: 17 new COVID cases at cracker plant, 14 active

The Shell Chemicals site in Potter Township has seen 35 confirmed COVID-19 cases since March — 14 active and 21 recovered.

www.timesonline.com

This ‘solution’ to the plastic crisis is really just another way to burn fossil fuels

Amid an escalating plastic pollution crisis that threatens "near permanent contamination of the natural environment," the fossil fuel and plastics industries say they have a not-so-surprising solution: recycling.

grist.org

COVID-19 causes setback in fight against single-use plastics

As restaurants and other businesses rethink their entire service model, Dianna Cohen, the co-founder of Plastic Pollution Coalition, urges owners to keep sustainability in mind.

www.ny1.com

Warning over disposable PPE as plastic bottle use cut in half across Scotland during lockdown

Campaigners have warned that a lack of confidence in travel mugs and piles of disposable PPE amid the COVID-19 pandemic could derail the war on plastic – despite a new study revealing that single-use containers have halved during the lockdown.

www.heraldscotland.com

Pandemic pollution wreaking havoc on San Diego County beaches

Beaches in San Diego County and other parts of California are suffering the effects of the pandemic, as visitors have left behind a steady stream of trash, including disposable face masks, plastic takeout containers and other items, according to environmental groups that collect and track beach pollution.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

'It gives you a sense of pride': what four people learned from quitting plastic for a month

Planning ahead is the easiest way to reduce your plastic waste – but for Plastic Free July participants, there have been some surprising outcomes too.

www.theguardian.com

Use of plastic bags in England drops by 59% in a year

Shoppers' use of plastic carrier bags in England has continued to fall – by 59% in the last year alone – since the introduction of the 5p charge, according to recent figures.

www.theguardian.com

Common crustacean ‘can break down microplastics in days,’ alarming scientists

A species of small crustacean is able to break down microplastics into tiny particles in just a matter of days – much faster than previously estimated, scientists have said.

www.independent.co.uk

The deep injustice of plastic pollution

Across the nation, corporate polluters are building the majority of petrochemical facilities in low income communities and communities of color—most of which are located in Texas and Louisiana, with a threat of expansion into Appalachia.

www.sierraclub.org

The COVID-19 plastic pandemic

In Nepal, there are no exact figures but evidence suggests there has been a big increase in plastic waste from provision stores, relief distribution to the destitute during the lockdown, and quarantine centers.

www.nepalitimes.com

COVID-19: Ocean Wise report looks at pandemic impact on marine life

The report looked at three impacts: Reduction in ships; Increase in plastic pollution; And a drop-off in data collection and animal rescue.

vancouversun.com

Japan just announced a plastic bag fee. But will that stop its obsession with plastic?

In its first major move to curb its deep reliance on plastics, Japan made paying for plastic bags mandatory. But experts have woken up to the fact that the country can no longer recycle its way out of an environmental crisis.
www.cnn.com

Your used mask needs to make it to the trash can

They’re on beaches, in parking lots and on sidewalks. You probably won’t catch the coronavirus from a discarded mask, but the litter poses a risk to the environment.
www.nytimes.com

COVID-19: Environmentalists call for return to reusable cups and bags

Surfrider Foundation Canada says the push to rid the oceans of harmful plastics has suffered a major setback because of the pandemic.

vancouversun.com

'Ecology is economy': These resorts say sustainability saves them money

At Potato Head beach resort in Bali, menus are made of old tires and flip flops, while bottle caps are turned into tissue dispensers. Can hotels save the planet while also saving money?
www.cnbc.com

A billion more tons of plastic could blanket Earth by 2040

Even with immediate action, 710 million metric tons of plastic will enter the environment in the next two decades, scientists show. Welcome to Plastic Planet.
www.wired.com

Breaking the plastic wave: Top findings for preventing plastic pollution

Plastic has become ubiquitous on store shelves and in our homes. From wrapped food and disposable bottles to microbeads in body washes, it’s used widely as packaging or in products because it’s versatile, cheap, and convenient. But this convenience comes with a price.
www.pewtrusts.org

Health impacts of synthetic chemicals doubled in last 5 years

Synthetic chemicals aren't good for you. Examples of how endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastics, pesticides and other US products impact health have doubled in the last five years, and now include obesity, breast cancer, diabetes and more.
www.cnn.com