The Immense, Eternal Footprint Humanity Leaves on Earth: Plastics 07/21/2017 If human civilization were to be destroyed and its cities wiped off the map, there would be an easy way for future intelligent life-forms to know when the mid-20th century began: plastic. From the 1950s to today, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced, with around half of it made since 2004. And since plastic does not naturally degrade, the billions of tons sitting in landfills, floating in the oceans or piling up on city streets will provide a marker if later civilizations ever
If human civilization were to be destroyed and its cities wiped off the map, there would be an easy way for future intelligent life-forms to know when the mid-20th century began: plastic. From the 1950s to today, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced, with around half of it made since 2004. And since plastic does not naturally degrade, the billions of tons sitting in landfills, floating in the oceans or piling up on city streets will provide a marker if later civilizations ever
Study shows huge impact of microplastics 01/18/2017 New research shows that even small concentrations of plastic, such as microbeads found in toothpaste, cosmetics and household cleaning products, can have a serious impact on entire marine habitats. The study, led by Dr Dannielle Green of Anglia Ruskin University and carried out at a special outdoor laboratory facility at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, is published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Rather than focusing on an individual species, like most studies to
New research shows that even small concentrations of plastic, such as microbeads found in toothpaste, cosmetics and household cleaning products, can have a serious impact on entire marine habitats. The study, led by Dr Dannielle Green of Anglia Ruskin University and carried out at a special outdoor laboratory facility at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, is published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Rather than focusing on an individual species, like most studies to
What about Nanoplastic? 12/26/2015 What are Microplastics? Within the last years, the focus of plastic pollution has been shifted from macro- to microplastics. The term microplastic is used for small plastic particles of different origins, sizes and chemical composition. An exact definition of microplastics has not been uniformly defined, but the most commonly used (taking into account the relevant literature) is that microplastic particles have a diameter between 1-5 millimeters. There are two types of microplastics
What are Microplastics? Within the last years, the focus of plastic pollution has been shifted from macro- to microplastics. The term microplastic is used for small plastic particles of different origins, sizes and chemical composition. An exact definition of microplastics has not been uniformly defined, but the most commonly used (taking into account the relevant literature) is that microplastic particles have a diameter between 1-5 millimeters. There are two types of microplastics
