Blog
Post category: plastics
2024
What’s new
The Plastics Treaty: An opportunity to multisolve
Evidence of human health harms of plastics across the life cycle has been strong for decades. Now, as the next meeting of the global plastics treaty gets underway, new studies documenting these harms (and their costs) have been coming fast and furious. It's now crystal clear that plastics are not only a pollution problem, but also an urgent threat to public health and environmental justice. . . .
2024
Guest commentary
What’s new
A vision for safer, more sustainable food contact materials
The world is working on ending plastic pollution through a new plastics treaty. If the treaty gets the science right, it has enormous potential to detoxify the planet. But right now, this goal is far beyond reach because there is an elephant in the room: plastic chemicals. . . .
2023
Guest commentary
What’s new
“Advanced Recycling” of Plastics: Largely waste disposal by another name (Part 2)
“Advanced recycling,” also sometimes called molecular recycling or chemical recycling, is a term that encompasses several technologies that use heat, solvents, enzymes, or microwaves to break down plastic waste. Among the so-called “advanced recycling” methods, attempts to commercialize and scale up have focused mainly on pyrolysis and gasification. Pyrolysis or gasification of plastics both pose significant challenges, and their performance thus far has been poor. . . .
2023
Guest commentary
What’s new
“Advanced Recycling” of Plastics: Largely waste disposal by another name (Part 1)
Plastics are complex, heterogeneous chemical polymers with varying amounts of thousands of chemical additives that impart properties such as color, flexibility, stability, water repellency, flame retardance, and ultraviolet resistance. While many plastic products have obvious benefits, throughout their lifecycles — from production to use, recycling, and disposal — plastic polymers and their additives are also responsible for extensive harm to human health and the environment.
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2023
What’s new
A Poison Like No Other: New book on microplastics highlights global threat
Around the world today, microplastics are largely unseen but ubiquitous. This makes it difficult to grasp the scope of the problem. Matt Simon’s book, A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies, sets out to show us exactly what we’re dealing with. In a recent webinar, Simon shared findings from his book with CHE Alaska. . . .
2023
What’s new
6PPD in Tires: A concern for playgrounds, artificial turf, and more
By Rachel Massey, ScD and Zhenyu Tian, PhD
Waste tires are used in a variety of applications, including widespread use as recreational surfacing. This includes artificial turf and “rubber mulch” marketed for use in gardens and on playgrounds. These products are marketed as a solution to the problem of burgeoning tire waste, but they disperse waste material widely into the environment, creating a future cleanup problem. And they create the conditions for young children to be exposed to this problematic material. . . .
2023
What’s new
Playing on Plastic: Artificial Turf Hazards and Safer Alternatives
From professional sports leagues to elementary schools and even day care centers, many communities have questions about the pros and cons of artificial turf. The National Football League’s Players Association president is advocating for natural grass fields, citing higher injury rates on artificial turf fields. Some communities have adopted moratoria on turf installation, while some are making plans to invest in new, sustainably managed natural grass fields. . . .
2023
What’s new
Another painful reminder of PVC plastic’s toxic lifecycle
CHE is cross-posting blogs from various experts responding to the tragic train derailment in Ohio on February 3, 2023. The following is an excerpt from a Toxic Free Future blog posted on February 17. You'll find the full version here.
The vinyl chloride train derailment in Ohio is a modern environmental disaster playing out in real time. Sadly, this is yet another painful reminder of the dangers of making, transporting, using, and disposing of chemicals in plastics, especially polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. . . .
2018
What’s new
Webinars
Announcing New Webinar Series on Effects of Plastic on Health
We are excited to announce a new four-part webinar series looking into the effects of plastic on health. Over the next four months, we will be joined by leading scientists, health professionals, policy experts, and advocates to talk about the various impacts of plastics on public health. . . .
