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Worldwide, 18.5 billion tons of often still edible bread, or one-tenth of total production, is wasted every year. Photo: shoehorn99 Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC 2.0 Deedshoehorn99 Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC 2.0 Deed

Solid state fermentation turns waste bread into new protein food

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Scientists at Aberystwyth University have proposed a circular solution for recovering the discarded but still edible bread. With fermentation, nutritional content increases
Microplastics are a dangerous and widespread factor in soil pollution. Photo: Marco Verch CC-BY 2.0Marco Verch CC-BY 2.0

EU 2030 target at risk as microplastics dispersion grows in Europe

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According to the European Environment Agency, between 2016 and 2022, microplastic emissions increased by between 7.5 and 8.6 percent. The targeted 30 percent reduction by the end of the decade appears “unlikely”
PFAS are found in many products such as firefighting foams, paints, pesticides, coatings, and food packaging. Photo: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 DeedDefense Visual Information Distribution Service Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 Deed

Cleaning up Europe from PFAS would cost 2 trillion over 20 years

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The estimate is included in an investigation coordinated by the French newspaper Le Monde into the spread of PFAS in the Continent. Producers' lobby under attack
Industrial plastic granules on a beach on the Aquitaine coast. In France, 76 percent of soils surveyed are contaminated with microplastics. Photo: Maldeseine Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedMaldeseine Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Three quarters of soils in France contaminated with microplastics

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A study by the Agency for Ecological Transition reveals that 76 percent of soils examined contain microplastics between 0.3 and 5 millimeters in size. Polyethylene is the most prevalent polymer
Tra i bioprodotti, i teli pacciamanti sono tra quelli i cui vantaggi sono più tangibili: diversamente da quelli prodotti in plastica fossile, a fine coltura si possono incorporare nel terreno con una semplice trinciatura e non hanno costi di lavaggio, rimozione e smaltimento.

‘Biodegradable plastics do not impact ecosystems’

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A study in US shows how bioplastics can degrade in an acceptable timeframe and without harming the environment as long as they are disposed of properly
Climate change and increasing pressure from human activities generate an increased release of metals from coasts to oceans. Pickpik Royalty-Free photo

Climate change enhances metal release in coastal areas

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Events such as rising sea levels, increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation affect metal sequestration conditions in underground estuaries, explains a Swedish study
The crystal structure of graphene. Thanks to their many properties, nanomaterials can be used in a variety of applications. Photo: AlexanderAlUS Attribution - Share Alike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedAlexanderAlUS Attribution - Share Alike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Nanomaterials offer a solution for groundwater remediation

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A group of Indian researchers used cellulose-coated nano-zerovalent iron particles to successfully clean up chromium-contaminated water
Absorption of microplastics can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis in wild service trees by almost a third. Photo: Andrew Dunn Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedPhoto: Andrew Dunn Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

Nanoplastics reduce photosynthesis capacity in trees

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A Swiss study clarifies the dynamics of nanoplastic uptake in trees. While quantifying the impact of the phenomenon on the effectiveness of photosynthesis
14% of all active ingredients in US pesticides are classified as PFAS, a compound type that poses a danger to the environment and human health. Photo: CGP Grey Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedCGP Grey Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Pesticides in the US are still full of PFAS

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The data of the first study on the presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in US pesticides. According to two US organisations, 14% of all active ingredients in US pesticides are PFAS
An estimated 29 million American households are still exposed to dangerous levels of lead. Photo: Joe Mabel ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedJoe Mabel ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

American soils are still contaminated with lead

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For one in four households, the level of lead exposure exceeds the safety threshold set by the Environmental Protection Agency, an Indiana University study has found