Scientists first found microplastics, those tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters, on British beaches in 2004. In the 20 years since, the world has watched on in horror as microplastics began turning up in virtually every nook and cranny on the planet.
It seems that nobody—and no body part—is safe from microplastics. In a recent study, researchers found traces of plastic in the testicles of both dogs and humans. The potential health impacts of this discovery are not yet clear, but the team suggests it may help explain why men’s sperm counts have declined over time.
Climbing gyms might be teeming with toxic rubber particles, recent research suggests. The study found high levels of rubber additives in the air and dust of two climbing gyms, likely coming from the soles of specialized climbing shoes worn by gym goers. The authors say that customers and workers might be getting…
With bamboo-based products on the rise, we wanted to see how they compared to their plastic and paper counterparts.
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This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here.
Senior correspondent Katie Notopoulos breaks down why toy prices are at an all-time low, and how cheaper toys are making millennial parents so miserable.