Plastic Waste is also a Hazard for Subalpine Lakes: Research

Many subalpine lakes may look beautiful and even pristine. But new evidence suggests that they may also be contaminated with potentially hazardous plastics.

Researchers say those tiny microplastics are likely finding their way into the food web through a wide range of freshwater invertebrates too.

Plastics Used in Food Packaging Linked to High Blood Pressure in Children
Common types of plastics used in food packaging could be dangerous to children as they may lead to high blood pressure, a new study reveals.

The findings, based on studies of Italy's Lake Garda and reported on October 7th in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, suggest that the problem of plastic pollution isn't limited to the ocean.

"Next to mechanical impairments of swallowed plastics mistaken as food, many plastic-associated chemicals have been shown to be carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting, or acutely toxic," said Christian Laforsch of the University of Bayreuth in Germany. "Moreover, the polymers can adsorb toxic hydrophobic organic pollutants and transport these compounds to otherwise less polluted habitats. Along this line, plastic debris can act as vector for alien species and diseases."

Source-Eurekalert

Chemicals in Cosmetics and Plastics Doubles Type-2 Diabetes Risk
Researchers have found that phthalates, which are commonly found in cosmetics and plastics, can increase the risk of developing diabetes among elderly.

Plastics Used in Some Medical Devices Break Down in a Previously Unrecognized Way: Study
A previously unrecognized way that degradation can occur in silicone-urethane plastics that are often considered for use in medical devices was discovered by scientists.

Vegetable and Animal Oils can be Converted to an Ingredient for Making Plastics
Scientists have developed a new method through which vegetable and animal fats and oils - ranging from lard to waste cooking oil - can be converted to a key ingredient for making plastics