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Which plastic plates are microwave safe?

Can you believe that we are swallowing plastic along with the food and drink we consume every day? But how do microplastics infiltrate our food? Read on to fund out..

Did you know that microplastics, tiny bits of plastic invisible to the naked eye are taken up by the roots of plants and eventually end up in the fruits and vegetables we eat?

Microplastics are everywhere. They have been found in Antarctica. buried in the sea ice and in the stomachs of creatures living in the deepest ocean trenches According to a recent study, there are around 24 trillion fragments of microplastics adrift in the world’s oceans.

 

Food front

The unpalatable truth is that not only are microplastics present in Earth’s water bodies they are on land too. in the soil in which we grow our food. In fact, we are swallowing plastic along with the food and drink we consume every day, including tra salt milk honey, sugar, vegetables fruits drut soft strides Tap water contains plastic and bottled water oven m The main reason why food crops airsorb microplastics is the use of sewage sludge as an alternative to chemical fertilizers by farmers. Sewage Since sludge contains sludge is left behind after a number of nutrients beneficial to soil it is used as organic fertilizer. wastewater is cleaned. Since it is costly to dispose of sludge and it contains a number of nutrients beneficial to soil, the sludge is used as organic fertilizer

From soil to food

Microplastics can remain in the soil for a long time. leaching harmful chemicals into it Ploughing also enables the plastic to reach areas where sludge is not applied in fact. scientists say that the amount of microplastic particles in agricultural soil is equal to what is found in surface ocean waters. Rainwater run-off containing topsoil and irrigation run-off also contribute in a big way to microplastic pollution in rivers, seas and in groundwater.

Research shows that crops absorb the particles from surrounding water and soil through tiny cracks in their roots. Most of the plastic collects in the roots with only a tiny amount travelling up to the shoots and leaves. Root vegetables such as carrots, radishes and turips may thus pose a bigger health risk when consumed. In leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage, the concentrations are very low.

A surprising finding is that microplastics can stunt the growth of and lead to weight loss in earthworms! Microplastics may clog up the earthworms digestive tracts, hampering their ability to absorb nutrients. It is a well-known fact that earthworms are important for soil health.

Though the impact is not fully understood yet, studies show that the chemicals added during the manufacture of plastics can disrupt the hormone-producing endocrine system and cause other health problems and diseases.

Some European countries have banned sludge on farmland, but that may not be the best solution. It may force farmers to use synthetic fertilizers. Depositing it in landfills or burning it also poses environmental hazards.

Worth of sludge

Also called biosolids, treated sewage sludge has elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are essential for plant health. The U.S. and countries in Europe have used sludge for decades on farmland.

In Europe, it is part of an EU (European Union) directive to promote a circular waste economy. Around 10 million tonnes of sludge is produced annually, of which 40 per cent is spread on fields. Researchers estimate that due to this practice, 31.000-42.000 tonnes of microplastics could be contaminating European farmland every year. This works out to 86 million to 720 million particles of microplastics! About 650 million microplastic particles, measuring 1 mm to 5 mm in size. entered one wastewater treatment plant in the UK on a single day and almost all of these ended up in the sewage sludge. forming one per cent of its total weight

In the US, an analysis by an environmental non-profit group in 2022 found that sewage sludge had contaminated 20 million acres of cropland. The contaminants were PFAS in plastic products that don’t break down easily. They are termed forever chemicals

*PFAS is short for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances which are a group of man-made chemicals.

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How can clothes be recycled sustainably?

When the word waste’ is mentioned, people immediately think of plastic, electronic or food waste. There is another type of waste that pollutes the environment almost as much. This is waste produced from clothing.

Globally, 13 million tons of discarded or used clothes are generated every year. Almost all of this waste can be reused or recycled.

Used clothing can be donated or repurposed to make mattresses, furniture, coarse yarn, paper, and clothes. Clothes that cannot be repurposed usually end up in landfills. The best way to manage this waste is by textile recycling.

Clothes can be recycled using machines. Warehouses first separate the clothes according to material and colour. Then the fabric is shredded and broken down into smaller fibres. The waste fibres are spun again along with bits of new fibre to make fabric. Usually clothes made of natural fibres like cotton and linen can be recycled this way.

Chemical processing

Clothes made of synthetic fabric require chemical processing. The materials are broken down using chemicals and then the fibres are rewoven into yarn and fabric. This process of recycling creates new fabric of the same quality as the original cloth. Many countries around the world, including India, have started producing recycled clothes using these methods.

Though reusing and recycling clothes are the best ways to reduce textile waste, it’s important to ensure that the processes are environmentally friendly. Recycling is better for the environment as it uses fewer resources and less energy, but it still relies on fossil fuels for Er powering the machinery.

The good news is that the textile recycling industry is planning to shift to greener energy alternatives. This will make the entire process more sustainable.

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Why medicinal plants are disappearing?

The history of medicine can be traced to prehistoric times. Among the earliest sources of medicines were herbs and various plant parts such as roots, flowers, etc. Across several regions of the world, medicinal plants are in use even today. In fact, research seems to suggest that the demand for these plants could be increasing with people wanting to embrace what are seen as “natural” remedies for ailments. But, how are the populations of medicinal plants faring? Come, let’s find out.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “between 65% and 80% of the populations of developing countries currently use medicinal plants as remedies”. Apparently, among the few lakh plant species in the world today, “only 15% have been evaluated to determine their pharmacological potential” So, researchers are at work for “demonstrating the efficacy and importance of medicinal plants”. But the truth is that medicinal plants across the globe are facing extinction. An expert has said that “Earth is losing one potential medicinal plant every two years at an extinction rate that is hundred times faster than the natural process.” The situation is no different in our country.

India is among the many countries with known use of medicinal plants. Our country is home to nearly 45,000 plant species, and at least 7,000 of them are medicinal aromatic plants. However, a recent piece of news from experts has become a cause for concern- as much as 10% of 900 major medicinal plant species found in the country fall under the “threatened” category, and “are facing the threat of extinction” What is causing this? The usual suspects – overexploitation, habitat destruction, urbanisation, etc. Another worrisome aspect is that “only 15 per cent of medicinal plants are cultivated while the remaining 85 per cent are collected by the industry from forest ecosystems and other natural habitats”

Conservation strategies such as “field studies, proper documentation, mitigation measures, enactment of special laws…” and recovery programmes are suggested to save the medicinal plants. This is vital because such plants play a crucial role not just in traditional practices but also in treating illnesses such as cancer. It is important to note that “cancer has a long history of depending on natural products for drugs” When medicinal plants disappear, along with them could disappear several chances to better human life.

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What is Bokashi composting?

Bokashi composting provides an effective method of disposing kitchen waste. How is it done? Read on to find out.

Composting is the process of converting organic waste into fertilizer. Bokashi composting is one of the many techniques employed to achieve this.

Bokashi is Japanese for fermented organic matter. This fermenting process needs to be anaerobic, which means there should be no oxygen present during the fermentation.

Organic waste from the kitchen-leftover food, eggs, vegetable peels, even meat- is kept in an airtight container which has a tap at the bottom. A layer of waste is sprinkled with bokashi bran, a dry mixture containing beneficial microbes, and then covered with a plastic/steel plate. Another layer of waste is laid out over it, sprinkled and sealed. The same process is followed until the container is full.

Then the container’s lid is closed and it is set aside for a few days for the fermentation to take place. The liquid released during fermentation is drained through the tap at the base.

Once the week is up, the contents of the container can be emptied in the garden. But the mixture shouldn’t touch the roots of any plant yet. To become an effective fertilizer, the fermented matter needs to mix well with the soil for a couple of days..

Bokashi composting is popular because it takes up less space and provides an effective method of disposing kitchen waste. Also, during fermentation, the mulch in the container does not give out a bad odour.

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What plants purify the air we breathe in at our homes?

With concerns about air pollution on the rise, what can we do to purify the air we breathe in at our homes? Let’s learn about some indoor plants that can clean up the air considerably.

Air pollution is not merely an outdoor menace. The air we breathe in at home also contains high levels of pollutants. Besides biological pollutants like dust, fungi and allergens, solvents and chemicals in perfumes, hair sprays, air fresheners and furniture polish are also potential hazards. They release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxides in the air lead to allergies, headache, dizziness and other health disorders. Here are some indoor plants that can clean up the air considerably.

Aloe vera

It is a succulent and perennial plant which belongs to the lily family though it looks like a cactus, with its thick fleshy leaves and thorns.

This common plant which people often hang outside their doors to ward off evil has the ability to filter benzene and formaldehyde. It requires ample sunlight but it is easy to grow and there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. Besides cleaning up the air, it has immense medicinal properties. The aloevera gel helps treat sunburn and tanning, and is good for treating pimples, too. It heals burns and several skin diseases like psoriasis, scabies, rashes and itches. Extracts from the juice are mixed with other herbs to make a drink that helps deal with gas and other stomach ailments.

Snake plant

It is so called because certain varieties have geometrically patterned scales like snakes. This indoor plant has sharp and pointed tongue-like leaves and so it is also called Mother-in-law’s tongue! It removes toxins like formaldehyde, benzene and nitrogen dioxide from the air. An ideal bedroom plant, it requires little sunlight and water and is easy to maintain. There are more than 50 species of this evergreen plant.

Bamboo palm

This slow-growing plant which originated in Central and South America helps to eliminate carbon monoxide, xylene, benzene and formaldehyde.

It needs to be kept in a shaded area which gets indirect or filtered sunlight. It does not need much water. It is enough if the soil is kept moist. It produces small yellow flowers which have a nice aroma. It is not only beneficial but can also serve as an ornate plant with its attractive upright stalks and elegant fronds.

Money plant

This long-wandering plant is an effective air purifier, removing VOCS. Native to Asia and Australia, it is so called as it symbolises wealth and prosperity in the Chinese system of Feng Shui. This creeper grows well indoors, is durable and adapts to any condition.

Rubber plant, Peace Lily and Dracena are also suitable to fight pollution.

Spider plant

It cleans up the air of benzene, carbon monoxide and xylene. This tough plant has arching grass-like leaves. It has tiny white flowers and it is so called because baby plantlets dangle from the mother plant resembling spiders on the web.

It is a no-fuss plant and adapts to any environment.

Chrysanthemum

This seasonal plant has countless varieties. It brightens up the place with its colourful flowers. Chrysanthemums remove benzene and contain a natural insecticide called pyrethrum. The flower heads are harvested and ground into a powder for use as insecticide.

Ecological balance

Different plants thrive in different seasons. For instance, while one species flowers in May, another could come into bloom as late as September. Scientists say that this time lag is crucial. This is because a huge variety of plant species are all competing for the same resources like air, sunlight and soil. The fact that plants bloom at different times ensures that each plant gets adequate resources to grow well.

However, ecologists point out that pollution is changing world climate and could disrupt this fine ecological balance in the future. For instance, increased levels of carbon dioxide could stimulate grasses and wildflowers to flower at the same time although currently they flower at different times. Tests indicate that in the presence of higher levels of carbon dioxide, grasses flower later while wildflowers flower earlier, resulting in an overlap!

This means animals that munch on grass may have to wait longer for grazing while this sudden profusion of flowering plants could well deplete natural resources, perhaps even leading to the extinction of certain plant species that aren’t tough enough to survive.

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HOW DO YOU SEPARATE A MIXTURE OF THE TWO?

My friend put a little salt (the coarse variety) on the table, and then mixed some pepper in it. He asked me if I could separate the two.

I said it was impossible. He rubbed a plastic spoon with a piece of woollen cloth, and held it an inch or so above the mixture. The pepper jumped up to the spoon and stuck to it. In this way, he separated the pepper from the mixture.

Why did this happen?

The spoon had got negatively charged when he rubbed it with the wool. When my friend held it above the mixture, both the pepper and the salt were attracted to it, as they were uncharged bodies. The pepper being lighter flew up and got stuck to the spoon. If he had further lowered the spoon the salt too would have been pulled up to it.

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