Here you will find a wide variety of resources that will help you and others learn more about a broad range of environmental issues. These include air pollution, water pollution, hazardous household products, the production of plastic, climate change, human health and well-being, environmental injustice issues, recent rulings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), new technology, and so much more. We hope you enjoy your read!
Petrochemicals – Plastic
Plastics are ubiquitous, and the sector that produces them is thriving. The widespread presence of plastics and other petrochemicals has significant detrimental effects on human well-being, particularly for individuals residing near manufacturing and processing plants. Petrochemicals are chemicals derived from fossil fuels, the remains of plants and animals from hundreds of millions of years ago. By definition, these are not renewable. Plastics, detergents, fertilizers, explosives, synthetic fabrics, paints, and flooring are among the many products made out of petrochemicals.
Read More Here – Mom’s Clean Air Force
Why the production of plastic is a danger to our health?
The ubiquity of plastic and other petrochemicals comes at a steep cost to our health, especially for those living near production and processing facilities. The petrochemical industry creates extraordinary amounts of pollution. Some of the most harmful pollutants include benzene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, chloroprene, PFAS, vinyl chloride, and trichloroethylene.
Health impacts of petrochemical pollution include:
- Higher risk of cancer
- Adverse birth outcomes
- Asthma and respiratory illness
- Kidney disease
Read More Here – Mom’s Clean Air Force
Plastic Production and Environmental Injustice
Plastics harm our health, and people of color are disproportionately affected. Petrochemical facilities, incinerators, landfills, and other polluting businesses are often located in polluted areas. Racial discrimination in housing and banking services and the categorization of low-income Black and Latino neighborhoods as mixed residential-industrial zones are major factors. Southern states with weaker environmental monitoring have several of the worst air pollution hotspots. Black census tracts have twice the cancer risk from harmful air pollution as white tracts. These communities often receive new petrochemical processing plants.
Read More Here – Mom’s Clean Air Force
“Chemical Recycling” 101
The terms “chemical recycling” and “advanced recycling” refer to the methods that break down plastic into its chemical components. Most facilities burn plastic waste in “pyrolysis and gasification” units, polluting the air and releasing chemicals. Incineration of “chemical recycling” plant outputs as hazardous waste or highly contaminated industrial fuels contributes to toxic air pollution. This is NOT recycling?
Read More Here – Mom’s Clean Air Force
