Eve is here. With so much competing news, we have neglected our climate and environment reporting. Veteran readers may remember Jerry Lynn’s avid coverage of the plastic wars. Now and then, the media reports how scientists are discovering plastic in more and more places in human tissues. Some of the many sightings:
Presence of microplastics in the human stomach Forensic Medicine International
Will plastic kill you?
A team of Italian scientists recently published an eye-opening study on microplastics and cardiovascular disease.
Here’s what they found (not good). pic.twitter.com/ffXGbCeTA5
— Max Hertan (@maxhertan) April 18, 2024
New study finds microplastics in brain tissue EHN
In the 20 years since the term “microplastics” was first coined, a rapidly growing body of research has consistently demonstrated how prevalent and problematic the contaminants are.
new #sciencereview We present an overview of this research and advances in understanding. pic.twitter.com/DBtezQTtbP
— Science Magazine (@ScienceMagazine) October 25, 2024
Given the extent of the health damage caused by plastic pollution and the regular news about the health consequences, one might wonder why a significant number of elite health fetishists are not vocally demanding reform.
And the worst part is that it’s not impossible to significantly reduce the threats in this environment.
Our new research @BerkeleyDataSci, @SchmidtDSEand @UCSBenioffOcean We can help policymakers nearly end global plastic pollution. Learn more about the latest research here. https://t.co/sasnG8sw0l
— Berkeley Lowther College of Natural Resources (@NatureAtCal) November 14, 2024
So why didn’t President Trump appoint environmental lawyer RFK Jr. to the EPA? He could make a lot of money by pursuing human rights violations and weak enforcement in areas affected by environmental issues. Was it supposed to be? The real issue seems to be deregulation. Trump and RFK Jr. appear to be working under the false belief that deregulation of the medical sector will improve health, even though the environmental record shows the contrary.
Written by Shannon Kelleher. It was first published in new lady
Government regulators haven’t updated wastewater limits in more than 30 years, allowing U.S. plastics factories across the country to dump dangerous chemicals into waterways, according to a new analysis by a watchdog group.
The Clean Water Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review wastewater discharge limits every five years to keep pace with advances in water treatment technology, but the agency has not updated its guidelines for the plastics sector since 1993. I haven’t.
EIP Executive Director Jen Duggan said at a press conference Thursday that “the plastics industry has proven that most people don’t need modern wastewater treatment controls to limit the amount of pollutants entering our waterways. I don’t know.” “It’s long past time for these plants to be cleaned up.”
In its analysis, the Environmental Protection Project (EIP) focused on 70 factories that produce a raw plastic called “nurdles.” “Nurdles” are small pellets that are later used to make products such as water bottles, food containers, and toys.
More than 80% of plants violated pollution limits in their permits at least once between 2021 and 2023, according to the report. reportHowever, the EPA only imposed financial penalties on 14% of violators, the report found. Chemours’ Washington plant in West Virginia had 115 violations during the period, more than any other plant investigated, but no penalties were imposed by regulators. was found in the EIP analysis.
Additionally, the study found that 40% of plastic factories were operating under expired water pollution control permits.
The EPA said it is reviewing the report and will “respond appropriately.”
This report was released as countries continue to prepare. further negotiations This month in Busan, South Korea. world treaty Designed to curb plastic pollution. Mr Duggan said the Plastics Treaty was “hugely important” but would not directly address harmful pollutant emissions from plastic factories “any time soon, or even if ever”, while the current water purification He said implementing the law would dramatically reduce emissions.
Most of the plants analyzed by EIP had no permit restrictions for many contaminants of concern. None of the plants had a total nitrogen limitation and only one had a phosphorus limitation. Phosphorus is a nutrient that can cause toxic algae blooms and “dead zones” that damage waterways.
The analysis found that in 2023, 70 power plants released about 10 million pounds of nitrogen and about 2 million pounds of phosphorus into rivers, lakes and streams across the country.
The report states that 1,4-dioxane, a chemical classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a possible carcinogen, is produced when plants make plastic for water bottles; It pointed out that there are no federal wastewater limits for dioxins, which the report calls a “hazardous substance.” Some of the most toxic chemicals known to science. ” Some factory permits included limits for these chemicals set by the state, but most did not.
The report said eight plastic factories released more than 74,000 pounds of 1,4-dioxane into waterways in 2022, and 10 PVC factories released 1,374 grams of dioxins and similar compounds in the same year. Reported.
“All of this data comes from the industry itself,” James Hyatt, executive director of the nonprofit For a Better Bayou, said at a news conference. “The reality is that the numbers we have are probably lower than they really are.”
Petrochemical plants are also potential sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are so-called “forever chemicals” found in rivers across the United States and linked to certain cancers, hormonal disorders, and other health problems. However, there is little data on PFAS released from these plants because there are no EPA limits or monitoring requirements, the report notes.
In April 2023, EIP and other environmental organizations lawsuit We filed a lawsuit against the EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit over the agency’s outdated limits on toxic chemicals in wastewater from plastic plants, oil refineries, fertilizer plants, and other industrial facilities.
EIP’s lawyers said the two groups are scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case on Dec. 5.
Despite the changing political tide following Donald Trump’s recent presidential victory, Duggan said he expects the court to uphold the standards set by the Clean Water Act.
“No matter what President Trump’s plan is, he cannot unilaterally waive these types of mandatory legal requirements,” she said. “The Clean Water Act has a clear mandate for the EPA to update water pollution standards to keep pace with technological advances. Even the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, one of the most conservative courts in the country, has I have made a judgment to that effect.”
“This is a mandatory obligation imposed by law,” Duggan added. “It has to be done. No matter who’s in the White House, EPA can’t ignore that.”
