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Eco Thrifty

by Posted in 3.5 Plastic Free People, Projects & Campaigns, 3.6 campaigner, 3.7 Other Solutions Tagged

I write a blog about slashing my spending but not my principles! In July 2011 whilst on maternity leave I decided that I didn’t want to return to work, but that I couldn’t afford not to. Among other things, I didn’t want to compromise my eco-friendly principles, so I started working out how to be genuinely eco-friendly on a budget. I found that the two go really well together and have been happily unemployed for over a year now!

I try to avoid disposable plastic items wherever possible and write about the alternatives on my blog.
Currently I am carrying out a Year of Eco Challenges (read more here ) and one of those challenges will be to go single use plastic free for July-14 (http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/).

I have been preparing for it for a while now and have a ‘going single use plastic free – to do list’ page on my blog, where I am keeping track of my progress.

Links –
@ecothrifty
https://www.facebook.com/EcoThriftyLiving
www.ecothriftyliving.com

More

This post was written by the contributor and is  a PfU.K. Directory submission.

The Pf U.K. Directory is…?

…a directory of UK-based groups, organisations businesses and individuals who are responding to the problems presented by the misuse of plastic. That does not mean anti-plastic necessarily but certainly plastic-problem aware.

The DIRECTORY is to promote their work not mine. Read more here…

Got a project?
It is very easy to get a project featured. Each contributor submits a short synopsis of their project, focussing on the plastic aware element and I post it. You can read the submission guidelines here.

Follow us on facebook here

 

 

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Dirt, pH balance and chemical cleaning

by Posted in 3.1 Cleaning Up, 3.6 Good to know, 4.9 Useful to know, More Information Tagged

In this post you cad read about

    • Soils (Dirt)
    • Alkaline
    • Acid
    • Cleaning

Dirt, stains and even rusts  are all known  as soils in the cleaning world.  That is as  in soiled rather than the brown stuff worms eat. Cleaning is the removal soil. Again forget about spades!

Soils fall into 2 categories, organic and inorganic
Organic soils such as  fat, grease, protein like blood, and carbohydrate. I dont know what carbohydrate soil is – any one else? Mold, yeast and bacteria, motor oil, axle grease, cutting oils and other petroleum soils.

Inorganic soils such rust, scale, hard water deposits and minerals such as sand, silt and clay.

They require different cleaning solutions

    • Organic soils are usually best moved using alkaline cleaners.
    • Inorganic soils prefer an acid cleaner.
    • Minerals are often cleaned with general purpose cleaners.

Alkaline & Acid Solutions

Wether a solution is acid or alkaline is down to how much how much hydrogen is in a solution.

Acidity is measured in  pH or the power of hydrogen.
It is shown in number form on the pH scale of 1 to 14.
Confusingly the lower the number the higher the hydrogen. The higher the hydrogen the more acidic the solution.
pH 1 = lots of hydrogen (H+) ions in solution
pH 14 = hydroxyl ions (OH–) in solution

PH scale featured

The image is from precision Labs

So the strength of an acid is based on the concentration of H+ ions in the solution. 

pH1 is very acidic
pH 7 is neutral. Pure water is neutral.
pH7 and above is called  basic but often  referred to as alkaline).

Soils & Cleaning 

Organic soils are usually best moved using alkaline cleaners.

Inorganic soils prefer and acid cleaner.

Generally, you use an acidic cleaner on alkaline (also known as alkalie) dirt, and an alkaline cleaner on acidic dirt.

If you know the nature of your soil you know how to clean it.

Alkaline cleaners 
Alkaline cleaners work well because they emulsify grease.  Fatty acids are normally insoluble which is why they cannot be cleaned using water alone. The alkaline breaks down fat making them dispersable in water.
They also coat the dirt with negatively charged hydroxide ions which means the dirt particles repel each other. So rather than massing together in a big greasy clump they remain suspended in solution so again can be rinsed off.
“Tthe alkali will break down the fats making the residue soluble or dispersible in water. It’s called saponification: alkalis turn fats into soap which is why a greasy floor gets as slippery as a bag of arseholes when you put an alkali on it. While we rely on thermal disinfection in dish washers the fact is the alkali in a proper machine wash turns microbial cell walls into soap.”

Examples of alkaline cleaners are

Acidic Cleaners
Do not cut through grease. Vinegar the acid much touted as a cleaning fluid will be no good on your greasy stains because Vinegar is polar, while oils are nonpolar, so they don’t interact well together. (You have seen how oil and vinegar in salad dressing separate from each other — this is because of their opposite polarity.)

Inorganic soils include grit, salt, rust and limescale.
They are best cleaned using acids

    • Hard water/mineral deposit removers
    • Toilet bowl cleaners
    • Rust stain removers
    • Tub and tile cleaners
    • Mold removers

Acidic cleaners attack and dissolve these types of stains, breaking them down and making them easier to remove.

The acid dissolves these types of materials – many are carbonates so you see the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas fizzing off. Or at least you will with a decent product. Examples are toilet cleaners and kettle or boiler descalers.

Examples of acidic cleaners are

Make Or Buy

See how to make your own chemical cleaning products and where to buy ready made.

 

Endocrine Disruptors Category 1

by Posted in 1.4 Additives Fact Sheets Tagged , 1 Comment

Copied from the

The EU list of potential endocrine disruptors

The EU strategy for endocrine disruptors includes the task of compiling a candidate list of potential endocrine disruptors. The list prioritises the substances that must be evaluated further for endocrine disrupting effects.The European Commission has prepared a strategy for endocrine disruptors.

The proposals were compared and a collective EU list of over 432 candidate substances established, which are to be studied further for endocrine-disrupting properties. In order to prioritise efforts, the substances have been subdivided into a number of categories:

Category 1: Substances for which endocrine activity have been documented in at least one study of a living organism. These substances are given the highest priority for further studies. Contains 194 substances. This does not necessarily mean that there is final proof that the substance is an endocrine disruptor, but there is more or less comprehensive evidence of endocrine-disrupting effects in live animals. The substance should therefore be prioritised for further evaluation of endocrine disrupting properties.

Category 2: Substances without sufficient evidence of endocrine activity, but with evidence of biological activity relating to endocrine disruption.

Category 3a and 3b: Substances for which there are no indications of endocrine-disrupting properties or which cannot be evaluated due to a lack of data.

The plan is to convert these lists into a dynamic working list, where substances can be added or removed as more evidence of their endocrine-disrupting properties becomes available.

Category 1

CAS nr. Name
12789-03-6 Chlordane
57-74-9 Chlordane, – cis- og trans-
143-50-0 Kepone (Chlordecone)
2385-85-5 Mirex
8001-35-2 Toxaphene (Camphechlor)
50-29-3 DDT (technical) (Clofenotane)
50-29-3 p,p’-DDT
3563-45-9 Tetrachloro-DDT
50471-44-8 Vinclozolin
12427-38-2 Maneb
137-42-8 Metam Natrium
137-26-8 Thiram
12122-67-7 Zineb
58-89-9 Gamma-HCH (Lindane)
330-55-2 Linuron
1912-24-9 Atrazine
34256-82-1 Acetochlor
15972-60-8 Alachlor
100-42-5 Styrene
118-74-1 Hexachlorobenzene ( HCB)
85-68-7 Butylbenzylphthalate ( BBP)
117-81-7 DEHP (Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate)
84-74-2 DBP (Di-n-butylphthalate)
80-05-7 Bisphenol A(4,4’-isopropylidendiphenol)
1336-36-3 PCB
35065-27-1 PCB 153
32774-16-6 PCB 169
2437-79-8 PCB 47
32598-13-3 PCB 77
53469-21-9 PCB Arochlor 1242
12672-29-6 PCB Arochlor 1248
11097-69-1 PCB Arochlor1254
11096-82-5 PCB Arochlor 1260 (clophen A60)
59536-65-1 PBBs = polybromerede biphenyler
(209 congenere)
40321-76-4 1,2,3,7,8 Pentachloro-dibenzodioxin
(1,2,3,7,8-PCDD)
1746-01-6 2,3,7,8-Tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin
( 2,3,7,8-TCDD)
107555-93-1 1,2,3,7,8-Pentabromo-dibenzofuran
No CAS Tributyltin compounds
688-73-3 Tributyltin hydride
56-35-9 Tributyl Oxide (bis(tributyltin)oxide)
26354-18-7 Stannane, tributylmecrylate
(Stannane, tributylmethacrylate)
No CAS Methoxyacrylate tributyltin copolymer
4342-30-7 Phenol, 2-(tributylstannyl)oxy)carbonyl-
4342-36-3 Stannane, benzoyloxytributyl-
4782-29-0 Stannane, (1,2- phenylenebis (carbonyloxy))bis(tributyl-
36631-23-9 Stannane, tributyl(naphthalenyloxy)-
(Tributyltin naphtalate)
85409-17-2 Stannane, tributyl- , mono(naphthenoyloxy)-
24124-25-2 Stannane, tributyl (1-oxo-9,12-octadecadienyl)oxy)-
3090-35-5 Stannane, tributyl((1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)oxy)-
26239-64-5 Stannane, (1R-(1alpha,4abeta,4b alpha,10a alpha))-
Tributyl(((1,2,3,4,4a,4b,5,6,10,10a-decahydro-7-isopropyl-
1,4a-dimethyl-1-phenanthryl)carbonyl)oxy)-
1983-10-4 Stannane, tributylfluoro-
2155-70-6 Stannane, tributyl ((2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propenyl)oxy)-
No CAS Tributyltincarboxylate
26636-32-8 Tributyltin naphthalate *
No CAS Tributyltinpolyethoxylate
2279-76-7 Tri-n-propyltin chloride (TPrT chloride)
Flere CAS-numre Triphenyltin
900-95-8 Fentin acetate
95-76-1 3,4-Dichloroaniline
108-46-3 Resorcinol
61-82-5 Amitrol (Aminotriazol)
1836-75-5 Nitrofen
140-66-9 4-tert-octylphenol
25154-52-3 Phenol, nonyl-
1461-25-2 Tetrabutyltin (TTBT)
99-99-0 4-Nitrotoluene
63-25-2 Carbaryl
5103-73-1 Cis-Nonachlor
39765-80-5 Trans-Nonachlor
2971-22-4 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chloro-phenyl)ethane
65148-80-3 3-MeO-o,p’-DDE
43216-70-2 3-OH-o,p’-DDT
65148-81-4 4-MeO-o,p’-DDE
65148-72-3 4-MeO-o,p’-DDT
65148-75-6 5-MeO-o,p’-DDD
65148-82-5 5-MeO-o,p’-DDE
65148-74-5 5-MeO-o,p’-DDT
65148-73-4 5-OH-o,p’-DDT
4329-12-8 m,p’-DDD
65148-83-6 o,p’-DDA-glycinat
(N-[(2-chlorophenyl)4-chlorophenyl)acetyl]glycin)
53-19-0 o,p’-DDD
3424-82-6 o,p’-DDE
14835-94-0 o,p’-DDMU
789-02-6 o,p’-DDT
72-54-8 p,p’-DDD
1022-22-6 p,p’-DDMU
72-55-9 p,p’-DDE
32809-16-8 Procymidon
8018-01-7 Mancozeb
9006-42-2 Metiram(Metiram-complex
319-85-7 Beta-HCH(isomer til gamma-HCH = Lindan)
608-73-1 Hexachlorocyclo-hexane= HCH mixed (inkluderer gamma-HCH = Lindan)
1689-83-4 Ioxynil
2971-36-0 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-Hydroxyphenyl)ethane(HPTE)
30668-06-5 1,3-Dichloro-2,2-bis(4-methoxy-3- methylphenyl)propane
2971-36-0 Bis-OH-Methoxychlor(1,1,1- trichloro-2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane (HTPE))
72-43-5 Methoxychlor
72-43-5 p,p’-Methoxychlor
122-14-5 Fenitrothion
82657-04-3 Bifenthrin (@Talstar)
91465-08-6 Cyhalothrin, lambda-
52918-63-5 Deltamethrin
10453-86-8 Resmethrin
60168-88-9 Fenarimol
1918-02-1 Picloram
65277-42-1 Ketoconazol
1087-64-9 Metribuzin
86-50-0 Terbutryn
106-93-4 Ethylene Dibromid (1,2-dibromethan or EDB)
12002-48-1 Trichlorobenzene
608-93-5 Pentachlorobenzene
87-86-5 Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
1806-26-4 4-octylphenol
11081-15-5 4-isooctylphenol
9016-45-9 Nonylphenolethoxylat
85535-85-9 Intermediate chain chlorinated paraffins
85535-84-8 Short chain chlorinated paraffins
84-61-7 Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)
84-66-2 Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
101-53-1 Phenyl-4-hydroxy-phenylmethane
(4-Benzylphenol eller p-Benzylphenol)
25036-25-3 2,2′-bis(2-(2,3-epoxypropoxy) phenyl)propane
(2,2-BPPP) (isomer til BADGE)
106-89-8 Epichlorohydrin (3-Chloro-1,2-epoxypropane)
35693-92-6 2,4-6-Trichlorobiphenyl
53555-66-1 3,4′,5-Trichlorobiphenyl
67651-37-0 3-Hydroxy-2′,3′,4′,5′- tetrachlorobiphenyl
100702-98-5 4,4′-Dihydroxy-2,3,5,6-tetrachlorobiphenyl
13049-13-3 4,4′-Dihydroxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl
67651-34-7 4-Hydroxy-2′,3′,4′,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl
14962-28-8 4-Hydroxy-2′,4′,6′-trichlorobiphenyl
53905-33-2 4-Hydroxy-2,2’, 5′-trichlorobiphenyl
111810-41-4 4-Hydroxy-3,3′,4′,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl
4400-06-0 4-Hydroxy-3,4’, 5-trichlorobiphenyl
37680-73-2 4-OH-2,2′,4′,5,5′-pentachlorobiphenyl
54991-93-4 Clophen A30
8068-44-8 Clophen A50
No CAS Blanding af 2,3,4,5-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 61), 2,2’, 4,5,5′-Octachlorobiphenyl (PCB 101) og 2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-Octachlorobiphenyl (PCB 194)
56558-16-8 PCB 104(2,2′,4,6,6′-Penta-chlorobiphenyl)
74472-37-0 PCB 114 (2,3,4,4′,5-Penta-chlorobiphenyl)
76842-07-4 PCB 122 (2,3,3′,4,5-Penta-chlorobiphenyl)
57465-28-8 PCB 126(3,3′,4,4′,5-Penta-chlorobiphenyl)
38380-07-3 PCB 128(2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-Hexachloro-biphenyl)
37680-65-2 PCB 18 (2,2′,5-Tri-chlorobiphenyl)
55702-46-0 PCB 21 (2,3,4-Trichloro-biphenyl)
No CAS PCB Aroclor 1016
32598-14-4 PCB 105 (2,3,3′,4,4′ -Penta-chlorobiphenyl)
7012-37-5 PCB 28 (2,4,4′-Tri-chlorobiphenyl)
35693-99-3 PCB 52 (2,2′;5,5′-Tetra-chlorobiphenyl)
35065-28-2 PCB 138(2,2′,3,4,4′,5′- Hexachlorobiphenyl)
35065-29-3 PCB180(2,2′,3,4,4′,5,5′- Heptachlorobiphenyl)
31508-00-6 PCB 118(2,3′,4,4′,5-Penta-chlorobiphenyl)
12642-23-8 PCT Aroclor 5442
56614-97-2 3,9-Dihydroxy-benz(a)anthracene (3,9-DBA)
7099-43-6 5,6-Cyclopento-1,2-benzanthracene
(3,5-CPBA)
56-49-5 3-Methylcholanthrene (3-MC)
57-97-6 7,12-Dimethyl-1,2-benz(a)anthracene
(DMBA)
50-32-8 Benzo[a]pyrene (BAP)
50585-41-6 2,3,7,8-TeBDD
(tetrabrominated dibenzodioxin)
118174-38-2 6-Methyl-1,3,8-trichloro-dibenzofuran
94-82-6 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-butyric acid ( 2,4-DB)
72-33-3 Mestranol
10043-35-3 Boric Acid
104-40-5 Nonylphenol (4-NP)
1113-02-6 Omethoate
1131-60-8 4-Cyclohexylphenol
120-47-8 Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (Ethylparaben)
131-18-0 Di-n-pentylphthalate (DPP)
131-55-5 Benzophenone-2
( 2,2’,4,4’ tetra-hydroxybenzophenon)
131-56-6 2,4-Dihydroxybenzophenon
(Benzophenone-1)
131-70-4 Mono-n-butylphthalate
13593-03-8 Quinalphos (Chinalphos)
15087-24-8 3-Benzylidene camphor (3-BC)
1582-09-8 Trifluralin
1634-04-4 Methyl-tert-butylether (MTBE)
25013-16-5 tert. Butylhydroxyanisol (BHA)
27193-28-8 Phenol, (1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-
(Octylphenol)
33204-76-1 2,6-cis-Diphenylhexamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane
36861-47-9 3-(4-methyl-benzylidene)camphor
4376-20-9 Mono-2-ethylhexylphthalate (MEHP)
50-18-0 Cyclophosphamide
611-99-4 4,4’-Dihydroxy-benzophenone
6164-98-3 Chlordimeform
7400-08-0 p-Coumaric acid (PCA)
77-09-8 3,3’Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) phthalid
(Phenolphthaleine)
77-40-7 2,2-Bis(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-n-butan
(Bisphenol B)
92-69-3 4-Hydroxybiphenyl (4-Phenylphenol)
92-88-6 4,4’Dihydroxy-biphenyl
94-13-3 n-Propyl p-hydroxybenzoate (Propylparaben)
94-26-8 n-Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate (Butylparaben)
96-12-8 Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)
96-45-7 Ethylene Thiourea (ETU)
99-76-3 Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (Methylparaben)
99-96-7 p-Hydroxybenzoic acid
____________
* The original report to the EU contained this CAS number, which the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has noted is erroneous. Tributyltin naphthalate is already listed under CAS no. 36631-23-9.
Category 1

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Natracare Menstrual and Personal Care Products

by Posted in 3.1 Disposables & Reusables, 3.6 Businesses & social enterprises Tagged ,

Are you aware that most sanitary pads are made from approximately 90% plastic? An average pack of sanitary pads contains the same amount of plastics as 4 carrier bags! Natracare offers a range of feminine hygiene products that are made from organic cotton and natural, sustainably sourced materials without compromising on the performance.

Conventional sanitary pads are made from over 90% plastic, they are bleached with chlorine, contain petroleum-derived superabsorbent gels and often contain dyes, perfumes and latex. With the average woman using 17,000 pads in a life-time the effects of this polluting industry are enormous, and yet most of us barely consider what we are using every month.
The founder of Natracare, Susie Hewson, set up the brand 25 years ago as a direct response to this polluting industry. She researched and created a viable alternative made from certified organic cotton, FSC wood pulp and biodegradable plant starches. The brand offers a full range of tampons, pads, panty liners and even wipes which are all totally chlorine free, plastic free and biodegradable making them lighter on the environment and also kinder on your skin.

Further to this Natracare actively campaigns against plastic. With the help of local girl guides groups the Natracare team organised a Coastal Clean Up on Rottingdean beach near Brighton and the company has supported various awareness raising projects about plastic in the ocean such as the ‘Making Waves’ art exhibition in Bristol and the Midway Film Project.

Find out more on www.natracare.com

Follow up on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Natracare

Or Twitter: http://twitter.com/natracare

Please note

This post was written by the contributor. It is not a Plastic Is Rubbish review, does not represent my personal opinions and I have not used this product or service. Instead it is  a PfU.K. Directory submission.

The Pf U.K. Directory is…?

…a directory of UK-based groups, organisations businesses and individuals who are responding to the problems presented by the misuse of plastic. That does not mean anti-plastic necessarily but certainly plastic-problem aware.

The DIRECTORY is to promote their work not mine. Read more here…

Got a project?
It is very easy to get a project featured. Each contributor submits a short synopsis of their project, focussing on the plastic aware element and I post it. You can read the submission guidelines here.

Follow us on facebook here

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Dirty Danube

by Posted in 2.1 reports, stats and studies Tagged

“Based on the ambient population data and the local runoff, the researchers estimated that the Danube carries about 4.2 tons of plastic litter into the Black Sea on a daily basis. On an annual basis this means 1,533 tons of litter; more than the estimated mass of the infamous litter islands in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean.

So far the growing quantity of litter has been studied almost only in oceans and seas, however, plastic particles can cause similar harms in rivers as well. Fish may swallow the small plastic items which can make them die. Toxic materials can be absorbed by the plastic items, possibly entering humans who eat fish.”

New research – read more

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Micro-plastics & pollution

by Posted in 2 BAD PLASTIC Tagged , 1 Comment

Micro plastics are microscopic or very small pieces of plastic that can be found in soil, water even in the air. They are too small to collect or clean up so there they stay. We have now  changed the ecosphere irreversibly – with as yet unknown results.

“The scale of global microplastic contamination is only starting to become clear, with studies in Germany finding fibres and fragments in all of the 24 beer brands they tested, as well as in honey and sugar. In Paris in 2015, researchers discovered microplastic falling from the air, which they estimated deposits three to 10 tonnes of fibres on the city each year, and that it was also present in the air in people’s homes.”

And in the tap water too

Scores of tap water samples from more than a dozen nations were analysed by scientists for an investigation by Orb Media, who shared the findings with the Guardian. Overall, 83% of the samples were contaminated with plastic fibres.
The US had the highest contamination rate, at 94%, with plastic fibres found in tap water sampled at sites including Congress buildings, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters, and Trump Tower in New York. Lebanon and India had the next highest rates.

All from the Guardian

But there are ways to combat this! Read on…..

Sources of micro plastics are

  • Degraded plastic – larger plastic products breaking down into smaller pieces
  • Cosmetic products that  contain tiny plastic beads which are washed off and washed out to sea.
  • Synthetic clothing.

Degraded Plastic

Traditional plastics degrade rather than biodegrade, which means they simply break up and fall apart into smaller pieces. The plastic has not changed its structure as such – merely fragmented. And it seems the process can continue indefinitely. Particles of plastic of 20 microns in diameter (a width thinner than a human hair) have been identified.

These particles are called micro plastics. And  they are being found in increasing amounts in seawater and rivers.  Professor Richard Thompson from the University of Plymouth have found particles smaller than a grain of sand and  estimate there are 300,000 items of plastic per sq km of sea surface, and 100,000 per sq km of seabed. There is more on Professor Richard Thompsons work here

What to do?

Cosmetics  

Tiny plastic beads are added to some product for texture or colour. Some exfoliating scrubs and toothpastes contain them. These beads are washed down the plughole after use, are too small to be filtered out of waste water and so end up in the water ways. A ridiculous form of pollution and

What to do?

Synthetic Fabrics

Washing synthetic fabrics and clothing also releases millions of microscopic plastic fibers. These are then discharge into sewage system and ultimately out to sea.

By sampling wastewater from domestic washing machines, Dr Browne estimated that around 1,900 individual fibers can be rinsed off a single synthetic garment – ending up in our oceans. And that, 85% of synthetic  material found on the shoreline were nylon and acrylic microfibers, and matched the types of material used in clothing.

“We were quite surprised. Some polyester garments released more than 1,900 fibres per garment, per wash,” Dr Browne observed. “It may not sound like an awful lot, but if that is from a single item from a single wash”

You can read the full report here and the clothing industries response here in the the guardian, and about Dr Browne here.

What to do ?

  • wear mostly natural compostable fibres with limited synthetic fibres, (used only for specialist clothing that doesnt need washing often).

Toxic Plastic?

plastic planktonAs we already know from this blog,tiny sea creatures, the bedrock of the food chain, ingest these micro plastics. You can see plankton hoovering up plastic here.  There is increasing evidence that this is not a healthy diet.

Why?

While some plastics are toxic (you can read up on poisons in synthetic fabric here) others are said to be non toxic. So the should pass through the digestive system without doing any damage?

Eating “non toxic” plastic is obviously unhealthy. It  has no nutritional value at all and a plastic based diet is  not good for general well being. But there are other, more insidious dangers.  These tiny plastic particles attract unpleasant chemicals called  persistent organic Pollutants (POPs). POPs are a small set of toxic chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods and bio- accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals.

They “stick” to the plastic. Bottom feeders eat the plastic pellets and so the POPs enter the food chain. So even if the plastic particle is in itself non toxic the chemical attached are not.

A Dialogue ( from Green Plastics)

Achilles: As far as we know, it’s not toxic…

Tortoise: Aha!

Achilles: …but it can attract toxic materials. There was a study2 that showed that degraded plastic residues can attract and hold toxins like PCB and DDT up to one million times normal levels. The PCB’s and DDT’s are already in the environment, but are usually so diluted that they are not a significant risk. However, plastic residues concentrate these chemicals, until they can build up to toxic levels.

More

You can see all posts, reports and studies on micro plastics here

And read more about the problems with plastic here

Phthalates.

by Posted in 1.4 Additives Fact Sheets Tagged , ,
  • are used as a plasticiser  used to make a material like PVC softer and more flexible.
  • But they are also used in a wide range of other products.
  • They are small molecules that can dissolve into liquids that come into contact with them.
  • they  are endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Phthalate plasticizers are colorless liquids like vegetable oil with a faint odor, and they are insoluble in water. They are however, miscible in mineral oil, hexane, and most organic solvents. This makes them readily soluble in bodily fluids, such as plasma and saliva (1).

Two good examples of phthalate plasticizers are DEHP ( Di-Ethylhexyl Phthalate), and DINP (Di-Isononyl Phthalate).DEHP has been the most commonly used, and is still the plasticizer of choice for all PVC medical and surgical products.However due to evidence of the toxicity of DEHP in laboratory animal studies it was replaced in childrens products with DINP.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and potential EDCs are mostly man-made, found in various materials such as pesticides, metals, additives or contaminants in food, and personal care products. EDCs have been suspected to be associated with altered reproductive function in males and females; increased incidence of breast cancer, abnormal growth patterns and neurodevelopmental delays in children, as well as changes in immune function. World Health Organisation

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is widely used as a plasticizer in flexible vinyl products. Plastics may contain from 1 to 40% di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate by weight and are used in consumer products such as
  • imitation leather,
  • rainwear,
  • footwear,
  • upholstery,
  • flooring,
  • wire and cabels,
  • tablecloths,
  • shower curtains,
  • food packaging materials,
  • children’toys.
  • tubing and containers for blood products and transfusions.
It is also found in
  • rubbing alcohol,
  • liquid detergents,
  • decorative inks,
  • munitions,
  • industrial and lubricating oils and defoaming agents during paper and paperboard manufacture (Environmental Protection Agency, 1998)
  • hydraulic fluid and as a dielectric fluid (a non-conductor of electric current) in electrical capacitors (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1989).

Phthalates & Cosmetics.

Non-classified phthalates, DMP and DEP are the most widely used in cosmetics in the EU. They have not been classified or restricted because they do not pose any risks for our health or the environment.

Classified low orthophthalates such as  DBP and DIBP are no longer found in products manufactured and sold in the European Union due to provisions of the European Cosmetics legislation, which prohibits the use of substances classified for carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) hazards.

This EU legislation does not apply in other regions of the world, such as the US, where classified low orthophthalates are still permitted, although some companies have voluntarily stopped using them.

Historically, the phthalates used in cosmetic products have been dibutyl phthalate (DBP), used as a plasticizer in products such as nail polishes to reduce cracking by making them less brittle; dimethyl phthalate (DMP), used in hair sprays to help avoid stiffness by allowing them to form a flexible film on the hair; and diethyl phthalate (DEP), used as a solvent and fixative in fragrances. DEP can also function as an alcohol denaturant , rendering alcoholic products unfit for oral consumption.    DEP is the only phthalate still periodically used in cosmetics

Phthalates Leaching From Plastic.

Because phthalate plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC, they can easily leach and evaporate into food or the atmosphere. Phthalate exposure can be through direct use or by indirect means through leaching and general environmental contamination. Diet is believed to be the main source of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and other phthalates in the general population. Fatty foods such as milk, butter, and meats are a major source.  Wikkipedia

“ A 2011 study demonstrated that just a three-day period of limiting intake of packaged foods decreased by half the concentrations of DEHP found in urine (Rudel, 2011)”

Some studies also claim that phthalates are readily absorbed through the skin (Janjua, 2008) and can also enter the body through inhalation or medical injection procedures (Schettler, 2005).

When plastic toys are chewed by a child the plasticiser may be dissolved by the saliva of the child and possibly ingested.

Phthalates have been found in indoor air and dust (Rudel, 2001) and in human urine and blood samples from children, adolescents and adults (Calafat, 2011; Frederiksen, 2011; Kato, 2003; Rudel, 2011).

They are also found in breast milk.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate released into air can be carried for long distances in the troposphere and it has been detected over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; wash-out by rain appears to be a significant removal process (Atlas & Giam, 1981; Giam

Are they dangerous?

In a National Institutes of Health (NIH) report published in 2000, di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC plastics, was found reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.

The breast cancer fund have no doubts that it causes cancer and the reports they quote all reinforce that view

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified DEHP as non-carcinogenic to humans.

How much is out there?

Production of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in the United States increased during the 1980s, from approximately 114 000 tonnes in 1982 to over 130 000 tonnes in 1986 (Environmental Protection Agency, 1998).
In 1994, production of di(2- ethylhexyl) phthalate in the United States was 117 500 tonnes; production in Japan in 1995 was 298 000 tonnes; production in Taiwan in 1995 was 207 000 tonnes, down from 241 000 tonnes in 1994 (Anon., 1996).

Most Common Phthalates In Use

Name Abbreviation Structural formula Molecular weight (g/mol) CAS No.
Dimethyl phthalate DMP C6H4(COOCH3)2 194.18 131-11-3
Diethyl phthalate DEP C6H4(COOC2H5)2 222.24 84-66-2
Diallyl phthalate DAP C6H4(COOCH2CH=CH2)2 246.26 131-17-9
Di-n-propyl phthalate DPP C6H4[COO(CH2)2CH3]2 250.29 131-16-8
Di-n-butyl phthalate DBP C6H4[COO(CH2)3CH3]2 278.34 84-74-2
Diisobutyl phthalate DIBP C6H4[COOCH2CH(CH3)2]2 278.34 84-69-5
Butyl cyclohexyl phthalate BCP CH3(CH2)3OOCC6H4COOC6H11 304.38 84-64-0
Di-n-pentyl phthalate DNPP C6H4[COO(CH2)4CH3]2 306.40 131-18-0
Dicyclohexyl phthalate DCP C6H4[COOC6H11]2 330.42 84-61-7
Butyl benzyl phthalate BBP CH3(CH2)3OOCC6H4COOCH2C6H5 312.36 85-68-7
Di-n-hexyl phthalate DNHP C6H4[COO(CH2)5CH3]2 334.45 84-75-3
Diisohexyl phthalate DIHxP C6H4[COO(CH2)3CH(CH3)2]2 334.45 146-50-9
Diisoheptyl phthalate DIHpP C6H4[COO(CH2)4CH(CH3)2]2 362.50 41451-28-9
Butyl decyl phthalate BDP CH3(CH2)3OOCC6H4COO(CH2)9CH3 362.50 89-19-0
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP, DOP C6H4[COOCH2CH(C2H5)(CH2)3CH3]2 390.56 117-81-7
Di(n-octyl) phthalate DNOP C6H4[COO(CH2)7CH3]2 390.56 117-84-0
Diisooctyl phthalate DIOP C6H4[COO(CH2)5CH(CH3)2]2 390.56 27554-26-3
n-Octyl n-decyl phthalate ODP CH3(CH2)7OOCC6H4COO(CH2)9CH3 418.61 119-07-3
Diisononyl phthalate DINP C6H4[COO(CH2)6CH(CH3)2]2 418.61 28553-12-0
Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate DPHP C6H4[COOCH2CH(CH2CH2CH3)(CH2)4CH3]2 446.66 53306-54-0
Diisodecyl phthalate DIDP C6H4[COO(CH2)7CH(CH3)2]2 446.66 26761-40-0
Diundecyl phthalate DUP C6H4[COO(CH2)10CH3]2 474.72 3648-20-2
Diisoundecyl phthalate DIUP C6H4[COO(CH2)8CH(CH3)2]2 474.72 85507-79-5
Ditridecyl phthalate DTDP C6H4[COO(CH2)12CH3]2 530.82 119-06-2
Diisotridecyl phthalate DIUP C6H4[COO(CH2)10CH(CH3)2]2 530.82 68515-47-9
Sources
Interesting links

What plastic should you feed your turtle

by Posted in 2.1 reports, stats and studies Tagged

Plastic bags have been found in stomachs of the following marine species. several of which are classified as endangered

2013 Loggerhead turtle  with links to earlier reports by  Plotkin and Amos 1990; Bjorndal and Bolten. 1994)

2001  Marine Debris and Human Impacts on Sea Turtles  

*Green turtle (Uchida. 1990; Balazs 1985; Meylan 1978)

*Hawksbill turtle (Teas and Witzell. 1994; Hartog 1980)

Leatherback turtle (Balazs. 1985; Sadove and Morreale. 1990) *

The leatherback sea turtle, sometimes called the lute turtle, is the largest of all living turtles and is the fourth largest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys. Wikipedia

It is  the most commonly seen turtles in UK waters. and is especially at risk from plastic bag ingestion. as these bags. especially white or clear shopping bags closely resemble jellyfish. their primary prey. when suspended in the water column.

Plastic bags along with sheeting and plastic pieces are the predominant synthetic items found in the stomachs of turtles. An autopsy of a dead leatherback turtle washed up in Scotland in December 1994 reported that it had died as a result of starvation. caused by primary obstruction of the digestive tract by ingested plastic and metal litter. There was also a plastic bag lodged 40cm down the oesophagus (Godley et al. 1998).

A leatherback. washed ashore in Galloway in December 1998. was found in very poor condition with plastic bags obstructing its alimentary tract. The blockage included 1 white plastic bag. 1 black plastic bin liner. 3 transparent plastic bags. 1 green plastic bag. and 1 transparent plastic bag for chicken meat packaged by a US company.

Another leatherback found dead on Harlech beach in Wales in September 1988 had a piece of plastic blocking the entrance to the small intestine. and an autopsy established this could have contributed to the animal’s death (Eckert and Luginbuhl. 1988).

A study of dead stranded sea turtles on the coast of Brazil from 1997 to 1998 found the main items ingested were plastic bags. Of the 30 green turtles examined. white/transparent plastic bags were recorded in 14 (47%) of the green turtles found. Ingestion of anthropogenic debris accounted for the death of 4 (13.2%) of the green turtles examined (Bugoni et al. 2001).

Taken from adopt a beach

Pictures

For lots of photos of turtles impacted by plastic bags, go to sea turtles and plastic

Heres a film of a baby turtle eating plastic

And here’s a film of a deformed turtle – 6 pack plastic holders are responsible here

Other Ways Plastic Might Affect Turtles

Small pieces of latex and plastic sheeting were offered to sea turtles on different occasions and the turtles’ feeding behavior was noted,……………..blood glucose declined for 9 days following ingestion,indicating a possible interference in energy metabolism or gut function.

Read More

Turtle In The News

More

More reports on other animal deaths can be found here

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Projects & Links

by Posted in 5 Blog Social Media & Map 3 Comments

There is no doubt a plastic free lifestyle leads to all manner of new challenges. Plastic is so ubiquitous you have to question all aspects of your lifestyle; what you wear, what you eat, what you will give up and what you won’t. You a get to develop a whole new skill set. If you want fake tan you have to learn how to make it.
But giving up plastic also makes you question other more political issues. If you give up on plastic how are you going to provide cheap clothing for 7 billion for example? Can we really go back to growing everything we need and mining all our resources?

My projects include 

The Fair Share Fabric Project  using only my global share of fibres & fabrics. More below
Homesteading – making home-made products and plastic free clothes
Composting – the only way to deal with trash. Which means all trash should be compostable. I compost like a demon.
The Campaign For Real Litter

The Fair Share Fabric Project  using only my global share of fibres & fabrics.
As an experiment I have pledged to use no more than my fair global share of fibres Whats a global share? Currently the global consumption of clothing works out (roughly) at 11.74 kg per person of which 3.8 kg is natural fibres. As I don’t like synthetics I try to stick to 3.8 kg of natural fibres.
Why not just use 11 .74 kg of natural fibres? Fabric production like everything has an environmental impact and carbon footprint, a rather large one actually. I would argue that it is not sustainable for us all to have 11.74 kg of natural fibres a year. This is one of the promoted benefits of plastic, that it takes the pressure off natural resources. Synthetic fabrics mean less land grab to grow cotton. But synthetic fabrics like any other plastic are massively polluting.
So if we cannot produce more, we have to consume less.  This is how the equation works for me:
We cannot exceed current levels of production:
We cannot expect others to want less than we have:
We cannot swamp the market with synthetics:
Therefore I have to live with my global share of natural fibres.
But can it be done? Cautious reply after 2and a half years is yes it can.

Archived

#Plastic picking – where we pick up plastic rubbish where ever we find it

Trash Reduction & minimalism and what to do with your rubbish

Save Our Bottles

 

 

Historical Links

Bear in mind that this blog started before Facebook and twitter when plastic awareness was limited. So back then I knew all fellow bloggers by name and had watched every plastic related film. I used to report on every one of them

Since then things have changed. There is a plethora of information and an army of bloggers. All easily accessed via search engines and social media.

Check out my Facebook page

You can check out my historical links here if you really want to know who was who in the early days. But they will be very out of date. Ditto reports.

Films & Images

The best way to make people plastic aware is to show the damage that plastic is doing. Photos of plastic trash polluting the planet and hurting animals illustrate the real effects better than anything. Of course they need to backed up with information about plastic. Case studies about plastic free living show what can be done to tackle the problem. Support groups on social media where plastic free tips can shared are hugely useful in encouraging people to make small changes that all add up. Campaigns  and bloggers are a great way to make an impact and there are some good ones out there.

Back in the early days I used to list them here. I no longer do that.

Films & Images
scary movies here documentaries about plastic
dirty pictures galleries of plastic pollution.

Planet Trash – A page of images showing  plastic pollution the world over plus one of the biggest list of liked anti plastic groups on Facebook.
(You can find a list of the places featured here on the blog).

Bloggers

Blimey could it be that the battle is over? Not the battle against plastic but the battle to raise awareness. When I started my boycott, Envirowoman was the only anti-plastic voice out there in the blogosphere. The first of the plastic boycotters, she inspired me to change my ways. Now there re hundreds of great plastic free bloggers out there who have done sterling work in promoting a life less plastic. See if you can find one blogging in your country or even town. They will be a fund of local plastic free resources.

U.K. based bloggers can be found here
Here is a list of people blogging about plastic-free the world over.

Campaigns, Arts, Media and Education
Can be found here

Reports

See what plastics doing to world over.
Wasting Away how much rubbish do we create globally
Definitions You can find definitions, clarifications and explanations here
Number Crunching – for nasty stats go to  Statistics

 

Social Media

Plastic Is Rubbish Facebook group where folks can share, rant and post about living plastic free. A resource for plastic less living.
As the interest in plastic free living grows we need a space to pool resources  – especially in the U.K. where we don’t have bulk stores and finding unpackaged produce is so much harder. It’s great to see people using it to share plastic free info and lifestyle hacks. Join us here.

PlasticSrubbish is our Twitter account

We have just started with Instagram

And have a Pinterest page With loads of plastic free pins.

Partnered

Plastic Free July
Waste Less Live More Week
Zero Waste Week

As Seen In

I have written for, and been featured in, various publications. You can see them here.

 

 

 

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Isopropyl Alcohol

by Posted in 3.6 Good to know, 4.9 Useful to know, More Information

Isopropyl alcohol, or isopropanol (also known as rubbing alchohol or surgical spirit) is made from propene derived from fossil fuels and water.

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is the stuff that makes you drunk and is made by fermenting

Isopropyl alcohol, or isopropanol

In 1920, Standard Oil Company (later Exxon) scientists in Linden, New Jersey, were trying to invent useful products from gasoline by-products. They produced isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol was the first commercial petrochemical (chemicals made from oil) ever made and became the new ExxonMobil Chemical Company’ first product.

It is also known as rubbing alchohol and surgical spirit

Isopropyl alcohol is made from propene (which is derived from fossil fuels) and water. They are combined using a process called hydration.

During hydration, the component substances of water, which are hydrogen and oxygen (H20), react with those that compose propene—carbon and hydrogen (C3H6). The reactions form new chemical bonds and create isopropyl alcohol (C3H7OH). Read more here.

It has a wide range of uses

  • in disinfecting pads,
  • When used properly, it kills a significant number of bacteria and other potential contaminants, which is why it’s also used as a hand sanitizer in labs and hospitals.
  • as an antiseptic for cuts and scrapes.
  • to clean dirt from computer and electronic equipment. ” Since it evaporates almost immediately, there is little risk of shock or damage to electrical components, and it can even be used to clean the lasers in CD and DVD drives.”
  • removes  glue residue and dried ink,
  • remove stains from most natural fibers, including cotton, silk, and wool.
  • can be used as a de-icer.
  • to clean the glass.
  • removes wax or polish residue.

All the above was taken from Wise Geek. You can read more here.

It is a very useful multitasking product and you might want to consider keeping a bottle handy. You can buy it on line. I have never done so cannot tell you what the bottle is made from.

Or you may wish to explore the alternatives which are not petroleum based.

 

 

 

 

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Body Butter

by Posted in 3.1 Personal Tagged , , ,

One of the joys of living plastic free is that you have all kinds of useful base ingredients in the cupboards so should you OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAever forget anything, like a birthday say, you can easily remedy the situation with this fantastic bodybutter / intensive repair cream, any old guff to suit cream…. in minutes!

Here’s my recipe for super-fast, super-creamy body butter

60 grams coconut oil – hard
60 grams shea butter

5 grams oil – any oil

Mash it up with a spoon then whisk with a hand whisk to make lovely,fluffy body butter.

I Never Forgot Essential Terry’s Chocolate Orange Love Mousse.

Add some Cocoa and some Sweet Orange essential oil to the body butter

Because this is meant to be used fast, I put it in a hand decorated, compostable, paper/PLA pot from Vegware. Being paper, these are easy peasy to draw on so you can quickly personalise your pot. Few hearts and kisses later, pop the lid on, top with a card and tie up with hairy string. For sure the drawings could have been better but I only had a Sharpy, a fluero highlighter and time was against me.

NB go steady on the cocoa, too much and there is a chance you will end up looking like a politically incorrect, 70’s song and dance troupe. This can work against you in the romance department.

I Never Forgot Rose Essential Hand Repair.

Something for Mum? Here I added some colour and rose essential oil to make. I put this is one of my posh pots – glass with a metal lid….classy!

Base ingredients

I love aromantics and buy most of my stuff from them but there are loads of good guys out there

You can get Coconut oil locally

Containers

Pots, bottles and closures