plastic

What Happens to the Plastic in Dishwasher Pods?

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Plastic is everywhere in most kitchens: cling wrap seals food instantly; disposable utensils require no washing; and dishwasher pods skip the hassle of measuring powders or liquids. All of that convenience involves a major downside, though. After plastics are used, they often break down into tiny pieces, called microplastics, that wind up in the environment … Read more

LeBron James is plastic, it’s fantastic: Mattel unveils Ken doll modeled after Lakers star

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Basketball icon LeBron James is bringing big Ken-ergy to the toy world. Barbie maker Mattel on Wednesday announced that the influential Lakers star would be the first professional male athlete to have a Ken doll modeled in his likeness. The newly introduced doll will be the first product in Mattel’s new line of “Kenbassador” toys. … Read more

Plastic chemicals linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide

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Plastic food packaging can expose people to chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) Shutterstock/Trong Nguyen Hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of cases of heart disease worldwide may be linked to chemicals in common plastic products, suggesting that more stringent regulations on such toxins could benefit public health. Maureen Cropper at the University of … Read more

Is recycled plastic in utensils and toys really a big health concern?

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Chemicals can leach from black plastic utensils into food during cooking Big Joe/Shutterstock I recently threw away my trusty black plastic spatula after a scientific paper claimed that such utensils may contain dangerous levels of flame-retardant chemicals. It turns out the researchers had a misplaced decimal point, and the concentration of chemicals wasn’t nearly as … Read more