Latest news with #Plastics
Mail & Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Plastic pollution a global health emergency, says Lancet report
Plastics cause disease and deaths, from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually. Plastics are a grave, growing and under-recognised danger to human and Plastics cause disease and deaths, from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding $1.5 trillion annually. These effects fall disproportionately on vulnerable populations, particularly babies and children, said the The Lancet on the eve of the expected final round of talks to conclude a The mandate for The report says the Given that less than 10% of plastic is recycled and waste can persist in the environment for decades, an estimated eight billion tonnes of plastic waste, or 80% of all the plastic ever made, now pollutes the planet. 'Yet, continued worsening of plastics' harms is not inevitable. Similar to air pollution and lead, plastics' harms can be mitigated cost-effectively by evidence-based, transparently tracked, effectively implemented and adequately financed laws and policies.' In parallel with the finalisation of the global plastics treaty, the report also announced the launch of an independent, health-focused global monitoring system — the Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics. This will develop and track indicators across four domains: production and emissions; exposures; health and interventions and engagement. 'We know a great deal about the range and severity of the health and environmental impacts of plastic pollution across the full lifecycle of plastic,' 'These impacts fall most heavily on vulnerable populations, especially Decision-makers will need access to the best available scientific evidence to guide the implementation and development of the important treaty in the months and years to come, said Margaret Spring, one of the report's co-authors and the co-lead of one of the working groups in the new Lancet countdown. 'The countdown reports will offer a robust, independent and accessible data source that can help to inform development of effective policies addressing plastic pollution at the international, regional, national, sub-national and local levels,' Spring said. The report noted how plastic is the 'defining material of our age' with more than 98% of it made from fossil carbon — gas, oil and coal. Plastics are flexible, durable, convenient and 'perceived to be cheap', it said. They are ubiquitous in modern societies and have supported advances in many fields, including medicine, engineering, electronics and aerospace. 'It is increasingly clear, however, that plastics pose grave, growing and underappreciated dangers to human and planetary health. Moreover, plastics are not as inexpensive as they appear and are responsible for massive hidden economic costs borne by governments and societies.' These harms to human and planetary health are worsening, driven mainly by continuing annual increases in the production of new plastics. Early-life exposure to plastics and plastic chemicals is linked to increased risk of miscarriage; prematurity; stillbirth; low birthweight and birth defects of the reproductive organs; neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth and childhood cancer. 'Early-life exposures to plastic chemicals can contribute to reduced human fertility and increased risks of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adult life.' Plastic production is highly energy-intensive and releases more than two gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, and other climate-forcing greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere each year, harming health by accelerating climate change. Every year, an estimated 10 to 12 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean. 'Many plastics appear to resist breakdown in the ocean and could persist for decades.' Microplastic and nanoplastic particles, which result from the breakdown of larger plastic materials, are an emerging threat to health. While their effects are still incompletely understood, more studies report the presence of microplastics in multiple human tissues and are 'beginning to link it to disease'. The report said that, in 2015, the health-related costs of plastic production amounted to almost $600 billion globally — more than the GDP of New Zealand or Finland. 'Chemicals in plastics, such as PBDE ( These estimates undercount the full costs of plastic-related health damages because they examine only a few countries and only a subset of plastic chemicals. 'The costs are externalised by fossil fuel and plastic manufacturing industries and borne by governments and taxpayers.' A key driver of the acceleration in plastic output is a pivot by fossil fuel corporations and nations that are the major producers of plastic and petrochemicals, in response to declining demand for fossil energy, the report said. 'For example, the Saudi Arabian Oil Company plans to channel about one third of its oil production to plastics and petrochemicals by 2030 and Shell has recently opened a new cracking plant in western Pennsylvania, USA, that will transform fracked gas from Appalachia into plastic pellets.'
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Maverick
New WWF report unveils alarming links between plastics and human health
Reducing plastic pollution is central to reducing the overall toxic burden on people and the planet and mitigating its far-reaching health and ecological consequences. Proving causality in public health is rarely straightforward, and plastics are no exception. But a comprehensive synthesis of the latest scientific literature (about 200 studies) by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Birmingham has cast the spotlight on this complex and evolving field. The WWF literary synthesis, Plastics, Health, and One Planet: An Evidence-Based Call for Global Rules, highlights what the latest scientific research reveals about how micro- and nanoplastics, as well as six major groups of toxic chemicals commonly used in plastic products, could be causing a wide range of harm, not just to wildlife, but to us as well. Studies have found that these almost invisible threats could be linked to cancer, infertility, metabolic disorders and lifelong developmental harm. The findings strongly support a One Health approach, recognising that plastic pollution affects humans, animals and ecosystems through shared pathways and vulnerabilities. As world leaders gather to negotiate a global plastic pollution treaty in Geneva from 5 August 2025, they have a responsibility to agree on a treaty that puts the health of our planet, our health and that of future generations first. At this moment in human history we have an enormous opportunity to create change. Here's why it matters. Plastics are leaking into the environment, contaminating ecosystems and harming the animals that live in them. In water, they can be taken up by animals and move through their bodies and food webs, disrupting feeding, physiology and survival. On land, they can harm vital soil organisms, which may undermine soil health and food production. Toxic additives used in plastics have been detected in a wide range of species, from primates to soil-dwelling organisms, indicating widespread ecological exposure. Micro- and nanoplastics can enter the human body by inhalation, ingestion or through the skin. These particles have now been detected in vital human organs such as the lungs, placenta, intestine and even the brain. Recent studies suggest that they may accumulate in the arteries, exacerbating inflammation and potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. They can transport and release toxic chemicals, which are often introduced during manufacturing to give plastic products specific properties such as flexibility, durability or resistance to heat, fire and UV light. Studies of the toxicological impacts of chemicals added during production, including phthalates, bisphenols, UV stabilisers and alkylphenols, PFAS, flame retardants, as well as metals, metalloids and their compounds, have associated them with increased risk of a wide range of serious health outcomes. The evidence we have at our fingertips about the near-universal and involuntary exposure people, wildlife and nature have to plastic and its added chemicals demand precautionary action. The precautionary principle has guided a number of successful international agreements, such as the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which acted decisively on ozone-depleting substances before the science was fully settled, and thereby prevented millions of cases of skin cancer and facilitated the restoration of the ozone layer. The growing body of evidence, with more than 1,400 studies published since 2018 alone, must serve as a foundation for strong, science-based legislation rooted in the precautionary principle: while research continues to evolve, current evidence justifies decisive action now to minimise future harm. Due to the widespread use of plastics, micro- and nanoplastic particles are now almost omnipresent, found across every part of the planet from oceans, rivers and mountains, to soil, air, indoor environments, food and drinking water. Reducing plastic pollution is central to reducing the overall toxic burden on people and the planet and mitigating its far-reaching health and ecological consequences. The global plastic pollution treaty is our one opportunity to create a robust and effective global response to this worsening global crisis. WWF urges governments and negotiators to deliver a science-based, legally binding treaty that tackles plastic pollution at its roots. Protecting human, animal and environmental health must be a core function of the treaty. To ensure world leaders deliver a treaty that people and nature need, it must include four essential binding global rules that regulate the production and consumption of plastic across its entire lifecycle: Global bans and phase-outs of the most harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern, starting with an initial ban list; Binding global design requirements for a non-toxic circular economy; A comprehensive and accessible finance package and alignment of financial flows with the treaty's objectives; and Mechanisms for continuous strengthening over time. Decisions made during the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2) will determine the future for today's children and generations to come. Failure to agree on a strong, binding treaty risks turning a moment of hope into one of irreversible harm. This is a pivotal moment. Inaction now could lead to long-term consequences for people and nature. DM Zaynab Sadan is the Global Plastics Policy Lead for WWF. The lead researcher on the synthesis report is Professor Stefan Krause from the University of Birmingham.
Business Insider
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Amanda Seyfried says Paramount still owes her money for using her face on 'Mean Girls' merch
Amanda Seyfried still loves seeing her face on "Mean Girls" T-shirts — but she's also wondering why she never saw any cut of the merchandise profits. Seyfried, who played the ditzy "Plastics" clique member Karen Smith in the 2004 teen comedy, recently sat down with her "Jennifer's Body" costar Adam Brody for Variety's "Actors on Actors" video series. When asked about her iconic role, she said "Mean Girls" is still a big part of her life more than two decades after its release. "I'm a little resentful because Paramount still owes me some money [for] the likeness," Seyfried told Brody. "Every store sells 'Mean Girls' T-shirts with our faces, photographs. And I'm like, don't I [get something from that]?" "Is it 'cause I was 17 and dumb?" Seyfried added, referring to her age when she was signed on for the role. It's not uncommon for actors to receive royalties if their name or likeness is used in merchandising, although deals vary and tend to be negotiated by lawyers and agents ahead of filming. It's also not unheard of for studios to be stingy with payments. For example, James Best, who played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the '80s film "The Dukes of Hazzard," reportedly signed a contract with Warner Bros. Entertainment that guaranteed him "5% of merchandising revenue from products that featured his identity," per The Hollywood Reporter. However, in 2011, he sued the studio for withholding millions in compensation. (The parties reached an undisclosed settlement two years later.) The question of actors controlling their own images became a central issue during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike in Hollywood, when the union fought to require "informed consent" for an actor's likeness to be replicated with AI.
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Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Ara review: affordable fine dining that's perfect for any occasion
Some restaurants are perfect for dates - low lighting, quiet and romantic - while others are favoured for business lunches. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... However, everyone is looking for that all-rounder - an eatery that is suitable for any occasion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Looking to share some small plates and affordable glasses of wine with some friends, it's perfect. However, despite the relatively reasonable prices, the food is of fine dining quality, worthy for special occasions. Its location also makes it an excellent choice for a light business lunch or dinner. And the low-light, classy interiors - designed by Nina Woodcraft who also put together Silo in Hackney Wick - make a perfect spot for a date. Ara's grilled carrots, labneh and Vadouvan spiced butter. Credit: Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit | Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit These incorporate materials to minimise waste throughout. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The sleek banquette and booth seating is made from rescued diseased London elm wood that would otherwise have been burned, while the table tops and bar facade have been crafted using recycled Smile Plastics sheets. The dedication to sustainability can be felt in the menu as well - discarded fruit peel from the kitchen is used in the cocktails, while the wine list is full of organic, low-intervention drops. The mango sticky rice is a beautifully sweet aperitif made from a mango vodka and rice syrup, while I have a delicate and light Grignolino from Piedmonte, in Italy, which compliments the food perfectly. And the food is the real star of the show, and even though the menu is relatively small we really struggled on choosing what not to order. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Restaurateur and self-taught chef, Murat Kilic, who started out as a potwash at a greasy spoon. Credit: Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit | Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit And it's a real departure from Murat's previous ventures - Route, a successful bistro in Dalston, and Amber, which is nearby in Aldgate East. They focused on his roots in Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, where his grandfather taught him to cook. He moved to London as a teenager to train as an electrical engineer, but quickly found his calling in the restaurant industry - starting out as a potwash at a greasy spoon. Now in his third restaurant, Murat has expanded his offering, with the menu influenced by his love of travel. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad We start with the potato bread, smoky from the grill, which goes perfectly with the burrata. The saltiness of the chilli oil and peanuts and sweetness of apricots cut through the rich cheese perfectly. Mussels' skewers with roasted chicken wing butter sauce. Credit: Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit | Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit The mussel skewers are small, but being finished on the barbecue leaves them beautifully smoky. Some of Murat's influences from Turkey shine through with carrots, which are soft, sweet and buttery and surrounded by labneh, missing just a hint of seasoning. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The fried chicken is a must order, crispy thighs covered in a crunchy south-east Asian salad rich in coriander. The best of the small plates comes last, mushroom dumplings with a garlic yoghurt flavoured with mint and Aleppo chillis that makes me want to lick the plate clean. Semolina halva with preserved lemon and whipped coconut , desiccated coconut. Credit: Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit | Oh Gravy! Media - Burak Can Aksit Due to our gluttony with the starters, we're advised to order just one main, the adana lamb skewer - a beautiful fine dining version of a Turkish kebab, with a deliciously charred pepper and red onion. This is easily big enough for two people, and the super crispy, thick-cut chips and punchy aioli are the perfect side. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The only thing I would say about this is the lamb is served quite pink - as I like it - but if you prefer it cooked well done then it's probably best to let the waiter know when ordering. Despite our stomachs rapidly filling up, I cannot say no to the stunning looking desserts. The semolina halva, topped with beautifully light whipped coconut and preserved lemon, is delicious, but if you go to Ara you have to order the chocolate Basque cheesecake. It's unlike any other cheesecake I've tried with the perfect amount of salt and chilli to complement the rich chocolaty flavours.
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Disney+ adds iconic 'wickedly funny' noughties cult classic that fans still can't get enough of
Disney+ subscribers should be running not walking to their TVs this Bank Holiday weekend as a fan-favourite teen comedy has dropped. Disney+ has just added a cult classic to its extensive library, which has already made its way into its top 10 most streamed films. Mean Girls is a modern-day teen classic, and now millennials can relive the magic over and over again as the Lindsay Lohan film was released on Disney+ this week. Created by 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live legend Tina Fey, Mean Girls originally hit the big screen back in 2004, with The Parent Trap's childhood star Lindsay Lohan as Cady Heron. After leaving her childhood behind in Africa, Cady joins a 'normal' school in Illinois where her two new friends give her the inside scoop on everyone's social status. Her path then crosses with the infamous Plastics: 'Fetch' creator Gretchen Wieners (Lacey Chabert), aspiring 'weather girl' Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried) and their leader, the terrifying Regina George (Rachel McAdams). Cady initially doesn't see what the issue is with the Plastics until she becomes smitten with Regina's ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett). Besides its star-studded cast, which also features Fey herself as Ms Norbury, Parks and Recreation actress Amy Poehler and Scrubs' Neil Flynn, Mean Girls is a classic thanks to its stream of memorable one-liners. Some of the classics that continue to be used in Reels today include 'On Wednesdays we wear pink', 'That is so fetch', 'Is Butter a carb?' and 'I'm sick', followed by Karen's pathetic cough and Regina's response: 'Boo you w***e'. Mean Girls may not have the best Rotten Tomatoes rating with 84% but fans cannot help but express their love for the film, with it being labelled as 'wickedly funny'. Another remarked: 'Undoubtedly the best teen comedy ever adapted from a sociological study…' A third agreed: 'Mean Girls is a hysterical comedy about high school cliques, and may be the best teen satire since Heathers', while another describes it as 'comic gold'. More than 20 years have passed since Mean Girls was first released but has been given a new lease of life with the 2024 remake starring Angourie Rice and Renee Rapp as Cady and Regina, respectively. This version differs though, as it's actually a musical and has since been made into a West End and Broadway musical.
