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TEPCO and the Japanese Government plan to release 1.25 million tonnes of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear reactor into the Pacific Ocean. : Leslie Mabon, Open University via 360info CCBY4.0

Releasing treated wastewater directly into the ocean from the Fukushima nuclear plant sounds dangerous, but going below the surface reveals the full story.

Fukushima wastewater

It’s time to stop worrying about Fukushima’s wastewater

Releasing treated wastewater directly into the ocean from the Fukushima nuclear plant sounds dangerous, but going below the surface reveals the full story.

Environment
We’re not just swallowing water from plastic bottles but microplastics which do not degrade easily and remain in our bodies. : Girl drinks water from a plastic bottle by Wuestenigel is available at https://bit.ly/3H0F7PH CC BY 2.0

Whether microplastic particles cause long-term damage is uncertain but reducing our exposure to them will be wise.

Microplastics time-bomb

Why we should not reuse plastic water bottles

Whether microplastic particles cause long-term damage is uncertain but reducing our exposure to them will be wise.

Environment
Microplastics may be able to enter our bodies through skin contact but we breathe in confirmed amounts daily. : Microplastic by 5Gyres is available at https://bit.ly/3WVwL1O CC BY-SA 2.0

There is no escape from them as they are in the air we breathe and in the everyday products we use.

Microplastics time-bomb

We ingest plastics every minute of the day

There is no escape from them as they are in the air we breathe and in the everyday products we use.

Environment
Microplastics enter our bodies in various ways with the top contributor being bottled drinking water. : Microbeads plastic particles by MN Pollution Control Agency is available at https://bit.ly/40lIjhC CC BY-NC 2.0

Measuring microplastics in humans is challenging but researchers already have preliminary figures.

Microplastics time-bomb

How much plastic are we ingesting?

Environment
While there is no direct evidence yet, researchers are increasingly worried about the link between microplastics and serious diseases. : ‘Eating a plastic syringe’ by Quinn Dombrowski is available at https://bit.ly/4054rNk CC BY-SA 2.0

To reduce the threat of microplastics in our bodies, we need to reduce the use of plastics in the environment.

Microplastics time-bomb

Plastics in bowels a sign we need to change

Environment
Human eat microplastic through fish : “Plastic linked to disease in coral” by ARC CoE Coral Reef Studies Australia is availabe in https://bit.ly/3HySaIF ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Kathryn Berry

More Indonesians are eating fish as part of their regular diet but microplastics do make it risky. There are ways to mitigate that risk.

Microplastics time-bomb

The plastics and fish dilemma: to eat or not to eat

Environment
We are eating, drinking and breathing in increasingly higher amounts of plastic particles which can poison us. : Michael Joiner, 360info CC BY 4.0

Scientists are warning against grave long-term consequences.

6 perspectives
Special Report

The microplastics time-bomb in our bodies

Environment
Countries such as Ecuador are starting to see on-ground results from the rights of nature movement. : Maarten van den Heuvel Unsplash license

Half a century since it was conceived, rights of nature is a movement with momentum. The next test? Making its impact felt the world over.

Rights of nature

Time is now for the next rights of nature phase

Environment
Victoria’s law protecting the Yarra River (Birrarung) offers valuable lessons for legislators. : Bernard Spragg. NZ, Flickr Public domain

Although it lacks the teeth of legislation overseas, Victoria’s Yarra River (Birrarung) laws provide a foundation for rights of nature to build on in Australia.

Rights of nature

Australia’s rights of nature push flows from the Yarra River

Environment