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Scientists develop plastic that dissolves in seawater (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

This is the most frustrating article I've read in a while.

Experts say the new material breaks down quickly in around two to three hours, depending on its thickness and size.

Okay? What does it break down into?

But it's hoped that the new non-toxic material could offer a future solution as it disappears completely.

What material is it and how did you determine it's non-toxic?

Researchers say it is made by combining two small molecules which form a strong bond that allows the new material to stay tough and flexible.

Which two small molecules? Methyl mercury and cyanide are small molecules.

When placed in a mixture which had the same amount of salt as seawater, they found the new plastic dissolved "quickly in about two to three hours, depending on its thickness and size."

What does it dissolve into?!

Takuzo Aida, lead researcher at CEMS, explained: "Similarly, when tested in soil..a piece of plastic about 5 centimetres in size, it completely disappears after a little over 200 hours."

No it doesn't fucking "disappear." That's not how any of this works. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Did a child without object permanence write this?

Recent studies have shown the damage microplastics cause as they pollute the environment and create health problems for animals, because they can be easily eaten.

Dissolved chemicals don't even have to be eaten, they can be inhaled by water breathing animals. They can also potentially bioaccumulate and pose a hazard to people eating seafood which a lot of people do in Japan.

He added: "In Japan, almost all packaging is made of plastic, and if we can really manage to reduce that, we can expect less environmental damage."

Then pass single use plastic regulations. Switch to recycled paper. Switch to bamboo. Switch to hemp. Switch to banana leaves. Use less packaging in general. Normalize having people bring their own containers. Pay people better so they actually have time to cook at home instead of having to buy fast food while working overtime. A new type of plastic doesn't solve the root societal problems that led to this. This is so blatantly a status quo enforcing non-solution.

Fuck this article. It tells you nothing other than useless fluff. Which makes me think this product is definitely a scam like every other "eco friendly plastic." Either that or BBC couldn't be bothered to translate any of the technical information they gave them.