Searching for solutions to microplastics in the water
new ways to tackle the problem of microplastic pollution, Derek Van Dam reports
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Plastic causing "disease and death from infancy to old age," report warns
Plastic pollution is a "grave, growing and under-recognized danger" to health that is costing the world at least $1.5 trillion a year, a report published Monday in the Lancet medical journal said. The new review of existing evidence, which was carried out by leading health researchers and doctors, was published one day ahead of fresh talks in Geneva aiming at getting the world's first treaty on plastic pollution. The experts called for the delegates from nearly 180 nations expected to attend the gathering to finally agree on a treaty after previous failed attempts. Comparing plastic to air and lead pollution, the report said the impact on health of plastic pollution could be mitigated by laws and policies. "Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually," it said. A recent umbrella review of epidemiological research on the health impacts of plastic chemicals showed "consistent evidence for multiple health effects at all stages of human life for many plastic chemicals" and found that infants and young children were especially at risk, the report said. "These effects include impaired reproductive potential (eg, polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis), perinatal effects (eg, miscarriage, reduced birthweight, and malformations of the genital organs), diminished cognitive function (eg, intelligence quotient loss), insulin resistance, hypertension and obesity in children, and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, and cancer in adults." "It is incumbent on us to act in response," Philip Landrigan, a doctor and researcher at Boston College, said in a statement responding to the report. "To those meeting in Geneva: please take up the challenge and the opportunity of finding the common ground that will enable meaningful and effective international cooperation in response to this global crisis." The researchers also warned about tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics that have been found throughout nature - and throughout human bodies. The full effect of microplastics on health are not yet fully known, but researchers have sounded the alarm about the potential impact of this ubiquitous plastic. The amount of plastic produced by the world has risen from two million tons in 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022, the report said. The number is projected to triple by 2060, yet currently less than 10 percent of all plastic is recycled, it added. Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and Landrigan said that the world's plastic "crisis" is connected to its climate crisis. "There is no understating the magnitude of both the climate crisis and the plastic crisis," Landrigan said. "They are both causing disease, death and disability today in tens of thousands of people, and these harms will become more severe in the years ahead as the planet continues to warm and plastic production continues to increase," he said. Black swimmers teach others amid history of aquatic segregation How safe is our Social Security safety net? In Gaza, hunger forces impossible choices as Hamas releases propaganda video of hostage
CBS News
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Plastic causing "disease and death from infancy to old age" that costs $1.5 trillion a year, report warns
Plastic pollution is a "grave, growing and under-recognized danger" to health that is costing the world at least $1.5 trillion a year, a report published Monday in the Lancet medical journal said. The new review of existing evidence, which was carried out by leading health researchers and doctors, was published one day ahead of fresh talks in Geneva aiming at getting the world's first treaty on plastic pollution. The experts called for the delegates from nearly 180 nations expected to attend the gathering to finally agree on a treaty after previous failed attempts. Comparing plastic to air and lead pollution, the report said the impact on health of plastic pollution could be mitigated by laws and policies. "Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually," it said. A recent umbrella review of epidemiological research on the health impacts of plastic chemicals showed "consistent evidence for multiple health effects at all stages of human life for many plastic chemicals" and found that infants and young children were especially at risk, the report said. "These effects include impaired reproductive potential (eg, polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis), perinatal effects (eg, miscarriage, reduced birthweight, and malformations of the genital organs), diminished cognitive function (eg, intelligence quotient loss), insulin resistance, hypertension and obesity in children, and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, and cancer in adults." "It is incumbent on us to act in response," Philip Landrigan, a doctor and researcher at Boston College, said in a statement responding to the report. "To those meeting in Geneva: please take up the challenge and the opportunity of finding the common ground that will enable meaningful and effective international cooperation in response to this global crisis." The researchers also warned about tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics that have been found throughout nature - and throughout human bodies. The full effect of microplastics on health are not yet fully known, but researchers have sounded the alarm about the potential impact of this ubiquitous plastic. The amount of plastic produced by the world has risen from two million tons in 1950 to 475 million tons in 2022, the report said. The number is projected to triple by 2060, yet currently less than 10 percent of all plastic is recycled, it added. Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and Landrigan said that the world's plastic "crisis" is connected to its climate crisis. "There is no understating the magnitude of both the climate crisis and the plastic crisis," Landrigan said. "They are both causing disease, death and disability today in tens of thousands of people, and these harms will become more severe in the years ahead as the planet continues to warm and plastic production continues to increase," he Ott contributed to this report.
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Scientists issue urgent warnings about future of vital US land: 'We don't have a lot of time'
Scientists issue urgent warnings about future of vital US land: 'We don't have a lot of time' A large California wetland has shrunk significantly, new research showed, and faces a major threat because of rising sea levels. What's happening? The Suisun Marsh, California's largest tidal wetland, is a part of the San Francisco Estuary, which provides water to millions of people and a home to thousands of wildlife species. In short, it's a vital ecological system in one of the United States' most populated areas. A new study showed that the marsh has undergone drastic changes since California achieved statehood, according to Maven's Notebook, a publication dedicated to California water issues. Since the mid-19th century, the study stated, the Suisun's tidal marsh area has shrunk by roughly 80%, and more than 33,000 acres of diked wetland have fallen below mean tide levels. Most concerning, however, may be the effect that rising sea levels have had on the marsh and the impact they seem likely to have on its future. The report showed that, as global waters continue to rise, the Suisun's diked wetlands lose soil each year, making the marshes "vulnerable to submergence." Why are rising sea levels concerning? Rising sea levels are one of the many environmental effects of our rapidly warming planet. Last year, NASA data showed, global sea levels rose by nearly a quarter-inch. Although that doesn't sound like much on its own, it's considerably higher than the 0.17 inches that had been predicted. Since 1993, sea levels have risen by 4 inches, with the rate of rise more than doubling. This rise is driven by two primary causes. As temperatures increase, glaciers and ice caps melt, raising levels. Those temperatures, along with windy weather, can also cause water in our oceans to get hotter and expand. As sea levels rise, coastal communities and wildlife could be at risk. Flood-prone communities will also be more prone to damage from extreme weather — and, as temperatures increase, so does the frequency and severity of weather events like floods and hurricanes. What's being done to protect the Suisun Marsh? More than a decade ago, officials adopted a 30-year Suisun Marsh restoration plan. It set goals of improving diked-land management, strengthening levees, and keeping waters brackish. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Since then, there are nearly 2,000 new acres of tidal marsh in the Suisun, the study showed. That's a step in the right direction, but as sea levels continue to rise, there's still much work to be done to reach the plan's lofty goals. "I wouldn't say that the ship has sailed," study author Lydia Vaughn told Maven's Notebook. "But we don't have a lot of time. If we wait, it becomes much more stark." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the the daily Crossword
