(Columbia Climate School) There are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans, according to the World Economic Forum. This is a result of humans recycling only nine percent of plastic waste and dumping 10 million tons of it into the seas each year. If we continue on this path, the annual flow […]
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ELK GROVE, CA – Soar Optics has been named as a “Re-Imagine Imaging” Finalist in the ABB Analytical Measurement Startup Challenge 2022, in collaboration with Microsoft, ABB Measurement & Analytics, and SynerLeap. This Challenge seeks to discover new techniques and methods related to imaging. Soar Optics will be participating in the final presentation on December 15, 2022. Winners
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Scientists find microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow for the first time (CNBC.com) Scientists have found microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow for the first time, highlighting the extent of global plastic pollution as even the most remote regions experience contamination. Researchers from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand gathered samples of snow from 19 different
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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
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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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