Free Republic

Research has characterized how polymer-based commercial tea bags release millions of nanoplastics and microplastics when infused. The study shows for the first time the capacity of these particles to be absorbed by human intestinal cells, and are thus able to reach the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Plastic waste pollution represents a critical environmental challenge with increasing implications for the well-being and health of future generations. Food packaging is a major source of micro and nanoplastic (MNPLs) contamination and inhalation and ingestion is the main route of human exposure. A study has successfully obtained and characterized micro and nanoplastics...

COVID-19: It’s all we talk about, on the cable news, and in our 6-foot socially-distanced prison walks around our silent neighborhoods. And in nearly every conversation comes the intellectual shrug, “who could have seen this coming?” A single phrase that neatly absolves governments and experts alike of any responsibility of predicting the pandemic and, if not being able to stop it, at least cushioning its blow........ But is it unfair to engage in so much 20-20 hindsight? After all, who could see COVID coming? Well, we did. We — as in nodes within the U.S. Government tasked with tracking critical...

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (KWMU) - A law taking effect this week could make criminals out of people who bring Tupperware onto many Missouri rivers. The law was intended to reduce the floating debris from discarded foam coolers. But lawmakers confused their chemistry and barred the wrong plastic. The white foam coolers commonly called "Styrofoam" are made from expanded polystyrene. But the law bars polypropylene instead. That's a plastic found dishwasher-safe plastic containers. The mix up means river floaters can use foam coolers without fear. But someone caught with a plastic container could risk up to a year in jail.