Microplastics contaminate the world’s surface waters, yet scientists have only just begun to explore their presence in groundwater systems. A new study is the first to report microplastics in fractured limestone aquifers – a groundwater source that accounts for 25 percent of the global drinking water supply. The study identified microplastic fibers, along with a […]
Pediatricians issue warning for parents not to microwave your kids’ food in plastic
Pediatricians have issued a warning for parents: don’t microwave your kids‘ food in plastic. Doctors say chemicals in the plastic pose health risks to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics say – in a statement published online – “that growing evidence that some chemicals found in food colorings, preservatives, and packaging materials may harm children’s health.” The Academy says […]
Phthalates may impair fertility in female mice
A phthalate found in many plastic and personal care products may decrease fertility in female mice, a new study found. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that giving female mice oral doses of the phthalate DiNP for 10 days disrupted their reproductive cycles, decreasing their ability to become pregnant for up to nine months […]
Microplastics discovered in human stools across the globe in ‘first study of its kind’
Microplastics have been found in the human food chain as particles made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and others were detected in human stools, research presented today at the 26th UEG Week in Vienna reveals. Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna and the Environment Agency Austria monitored a group of participants from countries across the […]
Microplastics detected in humans for the first time
In a pilot study conducted by the Federal Environment Agency and the Medical University of Vienna, microplastics in the human stool was discovered for the first time – in all of the eight international participants. Bettina Liebmann from the Federal Environment Agency and Philipp Schwabl from the Medical University of Vienna have succeeded in proving […]
Plastic contamination in bottled water
Research shows that a single bottle can hold dozens or possibly even thousands of microscopic plastic particles. Tests on more than 250 bottles from 11 brands reveal contamination with plastic including polypropylene, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Twenty-seven different lots of bottled water from 11 different brands purchased in 19 locations across 9 different countries […]
Exposure To BPA During Pregnancy May Cause Health Problems For Offspring
A chemical called bisphenol A — BPA — used in plastic packaging and in the linings of food and beverage cans, may be passed from a mother to her offspring during pregnancy and cause changes in the gut bacteria of the offspring, according to an international team of researchers. In a study on rabbits, the […]
BioBag® Compostable Bags For The Purpose Of Composting Organic Waste
BioBag® is a world leader in providing bags and films for the collection of organic waste for the purpose of composting. Unlike regular plastic, BioBags can be consumed by micro-organisms that live in our soils. Because we use starches from renewable crops, our bags can be readily composted along with organic waste in municipal composting […]
Flame Retardants: Human Hair And Nails Can Tell Toxic Secrets
Chemicals used as flame retardants that are potentially harmful to humans are found in hair, toenails and fingernails, according to new research from Indiana University. The discovery of an easily available biomarker should ease the way for further research to determine the human impact of chemicals commonly found in the environment, including in indoor dust, […]
Plastic Toothbrush Toxins Could Be Dangerous
Toothbrushes are among those products that contain PVC plastics and are used several times a day by people all around the world. Therefore, if toothbrushes contain a significant amount of phthalate, they could be very dangerous and harmful. Phthalates are chemicals found in everyday products and PVC plastics, mainly because of their ability to enhance […]