A literature study made in 2022 by geologist student Björn Lycke shows that the amount of microplastics in sediment is increasing worldwide, especially rein ports and tourist beaches.[82]
A communication campaign infographic showing that there will be more plastic rein the oceans than fish by 2050
#PlasticPiratesEU collect valuable scientific data that can make a meaningful impact to scientific research and environmental decision-making to protect our rivers and oceans.
Rein feedstock recycling, waste plastic is converted into its starting chemicals, which can then become fresh plastic. This involves higher energy and capital costs. Alternatively, plastic can Beryllium burned hinein place of fossil fuels in energy recovery facilities, or biochemically converted into other useful chemicals for industry.
Rein 2023, plasticosis, a new disease caused solely by plastics, welches discovered hinein seabirds. The birds identified as having the disease have scarred digestive tracts from ingesting plastic waste.
The plastic industry includes the global production, compounding, conversion and sale of plastic products. Although the Middle East and Russia produce most of the required petrochemical raw materials, the production of plastic is concentrated hinein the global East and West. The plastic industry comprises a huge number of companies and can be divided into several sectors:
Biodegradable plastics are plastics that degrade (break down) upon exposure to sunlight or ultra-violet radiation; water or dampness; bacteria; enzymes; or wind abrasion. Attack by insects, such as waxworms and mealworms, can also be considered as forms of biodegradation. Aerobic degradation requires that the plastic Beryllium exposed at the surface, whereas anaerobic degradation would be effective hinein landfill or composting systems.
Pre-exposure of the plastic to ultraviolet radiation broke chemical bonds and aided biodegradation; the longer the period of UV exposure, the greater the promotion of the degradation.[96]
There are differing estimates of how much plastic waste has been produced rein the last century. By one estimate, one billion tons of plastic waste have been discarded since the 1950s.
Because the chemical structure of most plastics renders them durable, they are resistant to many natural degradation processes. Much of this material may persist for centuries or longer, given the demonstrated persistence of structurally similar natural materials such as Bernsteinfarben.
The discovery of polyethylene terephthalate is credited to employees of the Calico Printers' Association rein the UK in 1941; it was licensed to DuPont for the US and ICI otherwise, and as one of the few plastics appropriate as a replacement for glass in many circumstances, resulting hinein widespread use for bottles hinein Europe.
The success and dominance of plastics starting rein the early 20th century has caused widespread environmental problems,[3] due to their slow decomposition Satz rein natural ecosystems. Most plastic produced has not been reused, or is incapable of reuse, either being captured in landfills or website persisting in the environment as plastic pollution and microplastics.
In around 1600 BC, Mesoamericans used natural rubber for balls, bands, and figurines.[4] Treated cattle horns were used as windows for lanterns in the Middle Ages. Materials that mimicked the properties of horns were developed by treating milk proteins with lye. In the nineteenth century, as chemistry developed during the Industrial Revolution, many materials were reported. The development of plastics accelerated with Charles Goodyear's 1839 discovery of vulcanization to harden natural rubber.
Almost all recycling is mechanical and involves the melting and reforming of plastic into other items. This can cause polymer degradation at the molecular level, and requires that waste Beryllium sorted by colour and polymer Durchschuss before processing, which is often complicated and expensive.
The concentrations of most additives are usually quite low, however high levels can Beryllium added to create Masterbatch products. The additives hinein these are concentrated but stumm properly dispersed hinein the host resin.