We all know virgin plastics contain additives that have been linked to cancer, issues with brain function and a range of hormone-related effects like infertility and early puberty.
The issue with recycling is that that melting together different plastics can multiply the additives -- and their potential health hazards.
A study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials earlier this year found more of the offending additives leach from recycled PET bottles into their contents than from virgin plastic ones.
The recycled plastic may become tainted by chemicals when it’s collected and sorted, the researchers said, but it’s still unclear exactly how the contamination happens.
Switching to another material carries pitfalls, too. Flogging more pop in glass bottles may increase drinks’ companies’ carbon footprint, for example. That’s why the hunt for new plastics substitutes is so important.
No comments:
Post a Comment