Episode 19 - Life in Plastic

Despite what you might have heard, our life in plastic is less than fantastic. Plastic is everywhere and enables our modern standard of living, but it turns out that this comes at a cost. Recent discoveries have found plastic in the oceans, in our soil, in the food we eat, and even the air we breathe. The health and environmental effects of all this plastic are just beginning to be understood - and it's not looking good.

Join us this week as explore the world of plastics and microplastics and speak with environmental attorney John Parker about this growing threat.

Full Transcript Available

Subscribe now on: iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher | Soundcloud | RSS | or search "Ashes Ashes" on your favorite podcast app.

John Parker

You can find john on LinkedIn and LEAFHudsonValley.org (coming soon).

Chapters

  • 4:48 Where Does it All Go?
  • 5:11 Great Pacific Garbage Patch
  • 6:12 What are Microplastics
  • 7:23 Where do Microplastics Come From?
  • 12:04 What Are the Environmental and Health Implications?
  • 12:30 In our Water?
  • 15:04 In our Bodies
  • 15:59 Marine Food Chain Impacts
  • 18:02 We Breathe Plastic?
  • 18:54 Affects of Plastic on Health and Environment
  • 23:43 Chemicals In Our World
  • 28:53 Externalities and Pofitibility
  • 36:09 There is no Profit?
  • 43:04 Local Politics and Business
  • 43:15 Ban on Bans
  • 44:01 John
  • 44:42 JOHN: Experience
  • 45:29 JOHN: Why is it Hard to Get Clean Water?
  • 46:12 JOHN: New York Doing Enough?
  • 47:31 JOHN: Proactive or Reactive?
  • 49:38 JOHN: Where Does Responsibility Lie?
  • 52:16 JOHN: Importance of Awareness
  • 54:04 JOHN: Who is Leading Awareness?
  • 55:33 JOHN: Groups Doing Good
  • 57:09 What Can We Do?
  • 1:03:20 Gavin

Sources

@Misc{williams_2018, author = {Williams, Rebecca}, title = {Food packaging chemical BPA 'found in digestive system of 86% of teenagers'}, month = {Feb}, year = {2018}, journal = {Sky News}, url = {https://news.sky.com/story/food-packaging-chemical-bpa-found-in-digestive-system-of-86-of-teenagers-11236098}, }

@Article{Wilcox11899, author = {Wilcox, Chris and Van Sebille, Erik and Hardesty, Britta Denise}, title = {Threat of plastic pollution to seabirds is global, pervasive, and increasing}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, year = {2015}, volume = {112}, number = {38}, pages = {11899--11904}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1502108112}, eprint = {http://www.pnas.org/content/112/38/11899.full.pdf}, publisher = {National Academy of Sciences}, url = {http://www.pnas.org/content/112/38/11899}, }

@Misc{urbina_2013, author = {Urbina, Ian}, title = {Opinion | Think Those Chemicals Have Been Tested?}, month = {Apr}, year = {2013}, journal = {The New York Times}, publisher = {The New York Times}, url = {https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/sunday-review/think-those-chemicals-have-been-tested.html?_r=0}, }

@Misc{unnikrishnan_2017, author = {Unnikrishnan, Kesavan}, title = {Microfibers from clothes contaminating marine environment}, month = {Mar}, year = {2017}, journal = {Top - Digital Journal}, url = {http://m.digitaljournal.com/news/environment/microfibers-from-clothes-contaminating-marine-environment/article/488763}, }

@Misc{taylor_2018, author = {Taylor, Matthew}, title = {Rubbish already building up at UK recycling plants due to China import ban}, month = {Jan}, year = {2018}, journal = {The Guardian}, publisher = {Guardian News and Media}, url = {https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/02/rubbish-already-building-up-at-uk-recycling-plants-due-to-china-import-ban}, }

@Misc{taylor_2017, author = {Taylor, Matthew}, title = {Plastics found in stomachs of deepest sea creatures}, month = {Nov}, year = {2017}, journal = {The Guardian}, publisher = {Guardian News and Media}, url = {https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/15/plastics-found-in-stomachs-of-deepest-sea-creatures}, }

@Misc{economiststaff_2018, author = {Economist Staff}, title = {The known unknowns of plastic pollution}, month = {Mar}, year = {2018}, journal = {The Economist}, publisher = {The Economist Newspaper}, url = {https://www.economist.com/news/international/21737498-so-far-it-seems-less-bad-other-kinds-pollution-about-which-less-fuss-made}, }

@Article{siddiqi_laessig_reed_2003, author = {Siddiqi, M. A. and Laessig, R. H. and Reed, K. D.}, title = {Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs): New Pollutants-Old Diseases}, journal = {Clinical Medicine \& Research}, year = {2003}, volume = {1}, number = {4}, pages = {281–290}, month = {Oct}, doi = {10.3121/cmr.1.4.281}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1069057/}, }

@Misc{shukman_2018, author = {Shukman, David}, title = {Plastic particles found in bottled water}, month = {Mar}, year = {2018}, journal = {BBC News}, publisher = {BBC}, url = {http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43388870}, }

@Misc{shukman_2018, author = {Shukman, David}, title = {Plastic: WHO launches health review}, month = {Mar}, year = {2018}, journal = {BBC News}, publisher = {BBC}, url = {http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43389031}, }

@Misc{scialla_2016, author = {Scialla, Mark}, title = {It could take centuries for EPA to test all the unregulated chemicals under a new landmark bill}, month = {Jun}, year = {2016}, journal = {PBS}, publisher = {Public Broadcasting Service}, url = {https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/it-could-take-centuries-for-epa-to-test-all-the-unregulated-chemicals-under-a-new-landmark-bill}, }

@Misc{prakash_2018, author = {Prakash, Asha}, title = {''Wild elephants in Sabarimala are dying of plastic consumption, why are we ignoring it?'' - Times of India}, month = {Feb}, year = {2018}, journal = {The Times of India}, publisher = {City}, url = {https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/wild-elephants-in-sabarimala-are-dying-of-plastic-consumption-why-are-we-ignoring-it/articleshow/62756908.cms?from=mdr}, }

@Misc{parker_2017, author = {Parker, Laura}, title = {A Whopping 91% of Plastic Isn't Recycled}, month = {Jul}, year = {2017}, journal = {National Geographic}, publisher = {National Geographic Society}, url = {https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-debris-environment/}, }

@Misc{bloombergnews_2017, author = {Bloomberg News}, title = {Wrapped in Plastic, China's Farmland Is Suffering: QuickTake Q\&A}, month = {Sep}, year = {2017}, journal = {Bloomberg.com}, publisher = {Bloomberg}, url = {https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-06/wrapped-in-plastic-china-s-farmland-is-suffering-quicktake-q-a}, }

@Article{neltner_alger_leonard_maffini_2013, author = {Neltner, Thomas G. and Alger, Heather M. and Leonard, Jack E. and Maffini, Maricel V.}, title = {Data gaps in toxicity testing of chemicals allowed in food in the United States}, journal = {Reproductive Toxicology}, year = {2013}, volume = {42}, pages = {85–94}, month = {Aug}, doi = {10.1016/j.reprotox.2013.07.023}, }

@Misc{musaddique_gabbatiss_2017, author = {Musaddique , Shafi and Gabbatiss, Josh}, title = {China's ban on imported plastic leads to 'impending crisis' for UK waste recycling}, month = {Dec}, year = {2017}, journal = {The Independent}, publisher = {Independent Digital News and Media}, url = {https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/china-plastic-import-ban-uk-recycling-landfill-options-waste-crisis-disposal-a8097166.html}, }

@Article{lebreton_slat_ferrari_sainte-rose_aitken_marthouse_hajbane_cunsolo_schwarz_levivier_etal._2018, author = {Lebreton, L. and Slat, B. and Ferrari, F. and Sainte-Rose, B. and Aitken, J. and Marthouse, R. and Hajbane, S. and Cunsolo, S. and Schwarz, A. and Levivier, A. and et al.}, title = {Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, year = {2018}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, month = {Mar}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-018-22939-w}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-22939-w}, }

@Misc{layton_2010, author = {Layton, Lyndsey}, title = {US: Use of potentially harmful chemicals kept secret under law}, month = {Jan}, year = {2010}, journal = {Washington Post}, publisher = {Washington Post}, url = {http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/03/AR2010010302110_pf.html}, }

@Misc{laville_2017, author = {Laville, Sandra}, title = {Coca-Cola increased its production of plastic bottles by a billion last year, says Greenpeace}, month = {Oct}, year = {2017}, journal = {The Guardian}, publisher = {Guardian News and Media}, url = {https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/oct/02/coca-cola-increased-its-production-of-plastic-bottles-by-a-billion-last-year-say-greenpeace}, }

@Misc{knapton_2017, author = {Knapton, Sarah}, title = {Seafood eaters ingest up to 11,000 tiny pieces of plastic every year, study shows}, month = {Jan}, year = {2017}, journal = {The Telegraph}, publisher = {Telegraph Media Group}, url = {https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/01/24/seafood-eaters-ingest-11000-tiny-pieces-plastic-every-year-study/}, }

@Misc{kinver_2017, author = {Kinver, Mark}, title = {Video captures moment plastic enters food chain}, month = {Mar}, year = {2017}, journal = {BBC News}, publisher = {BBC}, url = {http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-39217985}, }

@Misc{kindy_2014, author = {Kindy, Kimberly}, title = {Food additives on the rise as FDA scrutiny wanes}, month = {Aug}, year = {2014}, journal = {The Washington Post}, publisher = {WP Company}, url = {https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/food-additives-on-the-rise-as-fda-scrutiny-wanes/2014/08/17/828e9bf8-1cb2-11e4-ab7b-696c295ddfd1_story.html?utm_term=.392c9c6ba3c9}, }

@Misc{kay_2012, author = {Kay, Jane}, title = {U.S. Government Has Little Authority to Stop Unsafe Cosmetics}, month = {Oct}, year = {2012}, journal = {Scientific American}, url = {https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/us-government-has-little-authority-to-stop-unsafe-cosmetics/}, }

@Article{jovanović_2017, author = {Jovanović, Boris}, title = {Ingestion of microplastics by fish and its potential consequences from a physical perspective}, journal = {Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management}, year = {2017}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, pages = {510–515}, month = {May}, doi = {10.1002/ieam.1913}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28440941}, }

@Article{hurley_woodward_rothwell_2018, author = {Hurley, Rachel and Woodward, Jamie and Rothwell, James J.}, title = {Microplastic contamination of river beds significantly reduced by catchment-wide flooding}, journal = {Nature Geoscience}, year = {2018}, month = {Mar}, doi = {10.1038/s41561-018-0080-1}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-018-0080-1}, }

@Misc{henry_laitala_klepp_2008, author = {Henry, Beverley and Laitala, Kirsi and Klepp, G. Ingun}, title = {Microplastic pollution from textiles: A literature review}, year = {2018}, journal = {Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences}, url = {https://www.hioa.no/eng/About-HiOA/Centre-for-Welfare-and-Labour-Research/SIFO/Publications-from-SIFO/Microplastic-pollution-from-textiles-A-literature-review}, }

@Misc{harvey_2016, author = {Harvey, Chelsea}, title = {Yes, this is real: Michigan just banned banning plastic bags}, month = {Dec}, year = {2016}, journal = {The Washington Post}, publisher = {WP Company}, url = {https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/30/yes-this-is-real-michigan-just-banned-banning-plastic-bags/?utm_term=.da26037e07ed}, }

@Misc{glenza_2017, author = {Glenza, Jessica}, title = {Sea salt around the world is contaminated by plastic, studies show}, month = {Sep}, year = {2017}, journal = {The Guardian}, publisher = {Guardian News and Media}, url = {https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/08/sea-salt-around-world-contaminated-by-plastic-studies}, }

@Article{geyer_jambeck_law_2017, author = {Geyer, Roland and Jambeck, Jenna R. and Law, Kara Lavender}, title = {Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made}, journal = {Science Advances}, year = {2017}, volume = {3}, number = {7}, month = {Jul}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.1700782}, url = {http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782.full}, }

@Article{galloway_baglin_lee_kocur_shepherd_steele_harries_2018, author = {Galloway, Tamara S and Baglin, Nigel and Lee, Benjamin P and Kocur, Anna L and Shepherd, Maggie H and Steele, Anna M and Harries, Lorna W}, title = {An engaged research study to assess the effect of a ‘real-world’ dietary intervention on urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels in teenagers}, journal = {BMJ Open}, year = {2018}, volume = {8}, number = {2}, month = {Feb}, doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018742}, }

@Misc{universityofexter_2018, author = {University of Exter}, title = {Exposure to chemical found in plastics ‘hard to avoid’ in everyday life}, month = {Feb}, year = {2018}, journal = {University of Exter}, publisher = {University of Exter}, url = {https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_638539_en.html}, }

@Misc{dalton_2018, author = {Dalton, Jane}, title = {Seafood giants 'let thousands of whales, dolphins and seals die in agony each year from discarded fishing equipment'}, month = {Mar}, year = {2018}, journal = {The Independent}, publisher = {Independent Digital News and Media}, url = {https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/seafood-firms-discarded-lost-fishing-equipment-thousands-whales-dolphins-seals-die-plastic-pollution-a8244181.html}, }

@Misc{carrington_2018, author = {Carrington, Damian}, title = {Microplastic pollution in oceans is far worse than feared, say scientists}, month = {Mar}, year = {2018}, journal = {The Guardian}, publisher = {Guardian News and Media}, url = {https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/12/microplastic-pollution-in-oceans-is-far-greater-than-thought-say-scientists}, }

@Misc{carrington_2017, author = {Carrington, Damian}, title = {Plastic fibres found in tap water around the world, study reveals}, month = {Sep}, year = {2017}, journal = {The Guardian}, publisher = {Guardian News and Media}, url = {https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/06/plastic-fibres-found-tap-water-around-world-study-reveals}, }

@Misc{carrington_2018, author = {Carrington, Damian}, title = {Plastic microbeads ban enters force in UK}, month = {Jan}, year = {2018}, journal = {The Guardian}, publisher = {Guardian News and Media}, url = {https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/09/plastic-microbeads-ban-enters-force-in-uk}, }

@Misc{bourguet_balaguer_2015, author = {Bourguet, William and Balaguer , Patrick}, title = {Light shed on the underside of the 'cocktail effect' of endocrine disruptors}, month = {Sep}, year = {2015}, journal = {EurekAlert!}, url = {https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/ind-lso090815.php}, }

Published