The Tuesday letter

One plastic story, every week.

• Glass bottles: most plastic came at cappingA study followed water from the well to the capped glass bottle, and found where the plastic got in.
• Nylon tea bags: cooling changed the resultA nylon tea bag, a 20 nanometre filter, and what the billions-per-cup count really counted.
• The box was not empty before the foodA lab rinsed 354 unused takeout boxes and counted the specks that came off before any food.
• Plastic in the air of all 30 homesAir pumps ran 24 hours in 30 homes and 30 workplaces, and the homes came out higher.
• 26 million specks. 230 confirmed plasticA lab counted 26 million specks per litre from microwaved plastic tubs, then rinsed the filters with alcohol.
• The plastic in the chicken matched the boardShop staff cut chicken and fish on plastic boards, and the particles left behind had a colour.

The 60-second plastic audit →