Better Planet
Toxic chemicals in everyday products "enter the human body" via touch
Toxic PBDE chemicals were found to be absorbed into the skin from microplastics rapidly, with sweaty skin absorbing more than dry skin.
Sea plastics are causing embryos to "go wrong" and die
When exposed to high concentrations of plastic, none of the marine species' embryos remained viable.
Warning as microplastics escape gut to "infiltrate" brain
In a study, microplastics appeared to have altered the metabolism of the affected tissues after just four weeks.
Better Planet
"Worrying" remote ocean plastics study troubles scientists
"There should be considerably less plastics in this area," researcher Robby Rynek explained.
Halloween "witch's finger" found in turtle's gut
"It's likely that turtles ingest the plastics that mostly closely resemble their foods," researcher Emily Duncan said.
Chemical in water bottles linked to child obesity
Bisphenol A, or BPA, can be found in a variety of widely used products and has now been linked to problems with the gut.
Better Planet
Scientists reveal simple trick to reduce microplastics in your tap water
The surprising method can remove up to 90 percent of nano- and microplastics from drinking water.
Placenta study reveals troubling pervasiveness of microplastics
Microplastics were found in 100 percent of the placenta samples tested by researchers from the University of New Mexico.
California bill for total ban on plastic bags slammed as "overreach"
Supporters of the bill say that it's a step toward better environmental policy in the state.
Scientists warn chemicals in baby products may cause premature birth
"These chemicals may be silently seeding lasting challenges for the health of the next generation," scientist Jiwon Oh said.
News
Americans eat up to 3.8 million bits of plastic each year via protein alone
Some protein sources contain significantly more microplastics than others—and not just seafood.
Ford's new plastic auto parts are made from olives
The company used a materials simulator to find a mix that is 40 percent olive waste and 60 percent plastic.
Millions of toxic "mermaid tears" engulf coastline and threaten wildlife
These pellets can leach polluting chemicals and bacteria, which can be harmful to marine animals that end up eating them.
News
Chemists warn bottled water 100 times worse for plastic than thought
The water tested was found to contain 240,000 plastic particles per liter on average, scientists warn.
News
Lake Tahoe littered with thousands of plastic bag, bottle, and toy pieces
An average of 133 pieces of plastic litter were found per mile of the lake floor, mostly coming from food containers, plastic bags, toys, and bottles.
News
Bizarre plastic rocks now found across five continents
One expert told Newsweek that these deposits are a "danger to ocean sustainability, blue economy and overall human health."
News
"Plastic rainfall" contaminating nearly everything people eat and drink
The tiny plastics may act as cloud nuclei, affecting climate systems and weather patterns worldwide.
Mobility
Your future car may be made of garbage
New avenues of sustainability are leading automaker suppliers to take inspiration from unique places
Paper straws might not be better for you or the environment
Scientists warn that paper straws may contain toxic-forever chemicals that can harm you and the planet.
Whales and dolphins are now partly made of plastic: Study
A new study suggests that when ingested, microplastics can travel through the digestive tract and get lodged in tissues on the way.
Sex toys shed fertility-damaging chemicals
Scientists have found that several types of sex toys contain phthalate chemicals at levels higher than the regulatory limit in children's toys.
President Biden, Come to East Palestine and Bring FEMA With You
The Ohio train derailment is not a comeback story, it's a grim warning.
Plastic's Health Impacts Are Becoming Impossible To Ignore
Plastic has been creeping into our food, our air, our water, and our bodies for decades now.
Top 5 plastic waste items found on beaches—the worst is not what you think
Over 14 million tons of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year, but which items are the worst?
Plastic Isn't Going Away on Its Own. Here's How to Fix the Problem
"We are drilling for oil to produce plastic that we burn or bury a few months later. It is an economic and ecological absurdity," French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Scientists warn toxic microplastics now getting stuck in our airways
Researchers have found that microplastics floating in the air that we breathe accumulate in our noses and the back of our throats.
Your kids might be playing on toxic chemicals
"We're talking carcinogens and neurotoxins and endocrine disrupters," Genoa Warner told Newsweek.
Small city defeats McDonald's over plastic packaging
The tax was introduced to reduce single-use plastics and takeout trash in a small German city in 2022, and the fast-food giant tried in vain to reverse it.
Police hunt two prostitutes after man's body found wrapped in plastic
A man has been charged with unlawful disposal of remains after Nathan Millard was found dead in Baton Rouge, but two women are still wanted for questioning.
Mystery sparked as sick turtle found spewing 'pink liquid'
Green sea turtles are endangered, with plastic pollution posing a major threat to the species due to the turtles eating or becoming entangled.