Ban Plastic Bags, Says UN Official

Plastic shopping bags that are usually sold in groceries must be banned, according to Achim Steiner, head of the U.N. Environment Program.

Speaking to McClatchy Newspapers, Mr Steiner said there was zero justification for manufacturing them any more, anywhere. His statement accompanied a report called “Marine Litter: A Global Challenge," which said plastic was the most prevalent polluting substance in oceans.

Plastic-eating Bugs can Save Billions of Waste Bottles from Landfill
Scientists at University College Dublin, Ireland have discovered that pseudomonas bacteria can convert the low-grade PET plastic used in drinks bottles into a more valuable and biodegradable

The report says, "Plastic, the most prevalent component of marine debris, poses hazards because it persists so long in the ocean, degrading into tinier and tinier bits that can be consumed by the smallest marine life at the base of the food web."

However in a shocking statement, the plastic industry claimed the bags were safe, the problem was actually with the people who threw them.

Some officials have also called for recycling on a massive basis saying plastic is very valuable and should not be wasted.

Plastics in Common Household Items May Cause Fertility Defects
The contaminant bisphenol-A (BPA)—widely used to make many plastics found in food storage containers and dental products—can have long-term effects

Source-Medindia
RAS

Thai Environmentalists Battle Against Plastics Has Started Yielding Results
Environmentalists in Thailand have waged a long, uphill battle against plastic bags, trying to convince skeptical consumers to give up a convenience that many regard as a symbol of modern life.

Breast Enlargement Could Be Highly Risky, Warn Brit Plastic Surgeons
The cosmetic fillers used for breast enlargements could prove to be risky for women, warn Brit plastic surgeons.