Tag: University of Portsmouth

Science at the heart of global action to tackle plastic pollution

Stuart Mitchell

A holistic approach backed by science is vital to a successful UN Global Plastics Treaty, explained Professor Steve Fletcher, Director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth in an editorial published in Science.  Professor Fletcher, who is also the NERC Agenda Setting Fellow for Plastic Pollution, attended the latest round of plastic treaty negotiations in December, which ended without a resolution. He believes that independent evidence is the key to bringing about a final agreement.   Professor Fletcher proposes the setting up of a standing science-policy panel to…

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Failure to agree a plastics treaty could lead to a human health crisis

Stuart Mitchell

The warning was made in an article published by the British Medical Journal by leading plastic pollution researchers from the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth.   Professor Steve Fletcher and Dr Cressida Bowyer were both at what was expected to be the final round of plastics treaty negotiations in Busan in December, which concluded without an agreement, pushing discussions into 2025.  With the world’s annual plastic production at 400 million tonnes and projected to double by 2040, the article stresses the crucial role that healthcare professionals now have.…

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Study calls for recognition of tyre particles as a distinct environmental threat

Stuart Mitchell

A new study led by an international team of scientists highlights tyre (or tire) particles (TPs) as the leading contributor to microplastics and calls for urgent, targeted research to address their unique environmental and health risks.  Accounting for nearly one-third of all microplastics, TPs differ significantly from conventional microplastics in size, chemical complexity, and behaviour in ecosystems. Researchers are now advocating for the reclassification of TPs as a standalone category of environmental concern. Henry Obanya, from the Institute of Marine Science and member of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the…

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Plant-based plastic releases nine times less microplastics than conventional plastic

Stuart Mitchell

A newly developed plant-based plastic material releases nine times less microplastics than conventional plastic when exposed to sunlight and seawater, a new study has found. The research, led by experts from the University of Portsmouth and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), in Belgium, looked at how two different types of plastic break down when tested in extreme conditions.  A bio-based plastic material made from natural feedstocks held up better when exposed to intense UV light and seawater for 76 days – the equivalent of 24 months of sun exposure in…

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New project to help young women deal with social media body image pressures

Stuart Mitchell

Young women navigating the complex world of body image on social media are the focus of a new project launched this week.  Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and The Girls’ Network (Portsmouth) will work together with local young women to create a ‘toolkit’, to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to cope with potentially harmful social media content. As part of the project researchers will introduce girls to historic media content, including 19th and 20th century magazines and adverts, to show them that beauty ideals and body image…

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