ASK A SCIENTIST
Do you ever wonder about various aspects of plastics and plastic pollution? Our science director, Trisha Vaidyanathan, PhD is here to shed some light on these questions in her monthly column, “Ask a Scientist.”
Got a question? If you would like to ask a question for Trisha’s consideration, please submit it using this form. Please note that we cannot guarantee an answer to every question we receive.
Does Plastic Impact Our Hearts?
Some microplastics are tiny enough to pass through the lungs or gut and enter the bloodstream, where they can travel throughout the body and accumulate around the heart. An 2024 study in the New England Journal of Medicine provided the first evidence in humans that directly linked microplastics to heart damage. Learn more
How Does Plastic Affect Our Hormones?
Plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental problem, it’s also a human health issue. One of the most well-studied concerns involves chemicals that disrupt the body’s hormone system, known as the endocrine system. Learn more.
Can I Recycle Wrapping Paper?
With the holidays approaching, you may be wondering if you can recycle used wrapping paper. Find out!
Why Should We Avoid Heating Plastic?
You may have heard that you should not heat food up in plastic in your microwave. Why is it a bad idea to heat plastics? Find out!
Why & How Are Chemicals Used in Plastic?
Plastics are made from a combination of fossil fuels (or another feedstock) and a mixture of more than 16,000 chemical additives. Learn more about what these chemicals are, why they’re added, and what their impacts are.