Welcome to Higginson Strategy’s weekly round-up of international news relating to plastic pollution.
This week, an investigation by ToxFREE Project has found that headphones from market-leading brands contain substances hazardous to human health. The University of New Mexico has confirmed that microplastics can pass the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in deep brain regions, noting that dementia patients’ brains contained three to five times more plastic pieces than other samples. Plastic debris that appear to have originated in Canada and date back to the 1960s and 70s have washed up on an Orkney beach. South Korea has confirmed all bottled drinking water in the domestic market must be produced and sold without traditional plastic labels. Finally, the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic in Scotland will be banned next year.
Hazardous substances found in headphones tested by ToxFREE project
ToxFREE Project has found that headphones from market-leading brands, such as Bose, Panasonic, Samsung, contain substances hazardous to human health. Researchers bought and tested 81 pairs of in-ear and over-ear headphones in which Bisphenol A (BPA) appeared in 98% of samples, and its substitute, bisphenol S (BPS), was found in more than three-quarters.
These synthetic chemicals are used to stiffen plastic as BPA and BPS mimic the action of oestrogen inside organisms, causing a range of adverse effects including the feminisation of males, early onset puberty in girls, and cancer. Previous studies have shown that bisphenols can migrate from synthetic materials into sweat, and that they can be absorbed through the skin.
Read more here.
Study finds microplastic accumulation in human brains, primarily in dementia patients
A University of New Mexico study of 52 donated human brains has confirmed that these microplastics can pass the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in deep brain regions.
Researchers noted a group of dementia patients whose brains contained three to five times more plastic pieces than other samples. People with dementia often have compromised filtering systems in the brain, making it unclear if higher plastic counts contribute to such conditions or arise because the brain cannot clear them effectively.
Read more here.
Plastic from 1960s Canada washes up on Orkney beach
Plastic bottles and debris that appear to have originated in Canada and date back to the 1960s and 70s have washed up on an Orkney beach. David Warner, who organises beach cleans, said he gathered 42 plastic bottles from the shore last year – yet already this year he has found hundreds.
The Marine Conservation Society said historic litter often washes up at this time of year due to the seasonal storms and that eroding coastal landfill sites are releasing a lot of “retro” rubbish too.
Read more here.
South Korea moves to label-free water packaging
South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has confirmed that all bottled drinking water in the domestic market must be produced and sold without traditional plastic labels.
The new rule shifts the display of crucial product details to digital QR codes printed directly on bottle caps or external packaging, marking a significant change in beverage packaging practices. The regulation aims to cut plastic use and support better recycling outcomes across supply chains.
Read more here.
Wet wipes containing plastic to be banned in Scotland
The Scottish Government has announced that the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic in Scotland will be banned next year. Wet wipes containing plastic are a common source of marine litter and can break down into microplastics over time.
There will be a transition period for businesses to prepare for the ban, with exemptions for medical and industrial uses, as well as business-to-business sales.
Read more here.