Understanding Microplastics’ True Contribution to Snowmelt and Climate Change (Surf Rider Foundation) It is well understood and studied that black carbon particles from gasoline, diesel fuel, coal, and other organics contribute to the melting of snowmelt and climate change. Black carbon is a contributor to warming because it is effective at absorbing light and heating its surroundings. […]
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Tiny bits of plastic are swirling in the sky, and a new model suggests they could be subtly affecting the climate (Wired.com) Like the ash spewed from a supervolcano, microplastics have infested the atmosphere and encircled the globe. These are bits of plastic less than 5 millimeters long, and they come in two main varieties. Fragments
Microplastics May Be Cooling—and Heating—Earth’s Climate Read More »
6 reasons to blame plastic pollution for climate change (World Bank Blogs) What is the link between plastics and hurricanes Sandy and Katrina in the United States, melting glaciers in Antarctica, summer heat waves and erosion of coastal areas in Australia, and other natural disasters hitting us with greater frequency? We blame climate change for
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How Airborne Microplastics Affect Climate Change (Scientific American) Like other aerosols, these tiny particles scatter and absorb sunlight, influencing Earth’s temperature. Microplastics—minuscule bits of bottles, bags, synthetic fibers and other plastic waste that have broken up in the environment—are influencing Earth’s climate as they circulate through the atmosphere. Like other aerosol particles, both natural and
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The Microbead-Free Waters Act: FAQs Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic found in many health and beauty products, including soap and body scrubs. On December 18, 2015, Congress amended the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) by passing the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015. Learn what the new law prohibits, why Congress passed this
(BBC.co.uk 6/26/20) Microplastics: Is there plastic in our fruit and veg? Environmental campaigners have called for urgent action after a study found microplastics in fruit and vegetables. Researchers at a university in Italy discovered tiny plastic particles in things like lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, and pears. The study, published in the Environmental Research journal, discovered that Apples and
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New York Times, Livia Albeck-Ripka 3/7/22 In a First, California Plans to Clean Up Microplastics The state has adopted a strategy to monitor and reduce the ubiquitous form of pollution. They are in your gut. They are in the ocean. They are even floating through the air in the most remote regions of the West. Microplastics — fragments
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(Web MD 10/28/22) You eat a credit card’s worth of plastic in a week. That may bother you. But does it harm you? The answer depends on who you ask. Awareness of microplastics in general is certainly increasing; the most recent news is the detection of microplastics in human breast milk. Other research has suggested that
Microplastics and Health Risks: What Do We Really Know? Read More »
October 21, 2022 Elk Grove, California-based technology startup Soar Optics has been named a regional winner in the Cleantech Open Accelerator competition and has advanced to the national semifinals in San Jose, California on October 25, 2022. Soar’s technology detects microplastics in the environment using rapid surface chemical analysis tools. The emerging technology is poised to play a key role in
19 October 2022 – For immediate release ELK GROVE, CA – Soar Optics has been named as a Regional Winner in the Cleantech Open Accelerator and have advanced to the National Semifinals of the competition. Soar’s technology is being developed for the detection of microplastics in the environment. This technology will play a role in
Soar Optics Announced as Regional Winner in 2022 Cleantech Open Read More »
