3rd. Thursday 10:00 a.m.    Convenor: Mary Daniels

Enjoy this virtual interest group from your own comfortable environment. We meet online via ZOOM, so weather will never get in the way of your taking part. You can even bring your favourite beverage. 

Our monthly meetings address environmental concerns and feature specific topics each month. We will have active discussion groups within the meeting. Our goal is to create awareness of everyone’s responsibility to take environmental stewardship personally, to share practical tips and strategies for fulfilling those responsibilities, and to take action wherever possible.

Contact the convenor to put your name on the mailing list.

We depend on our environment: Our environment depends on us.

Here are a couple of interesting links from recent news sources that we might use to begin our meeting.  (Many thanks to Alison Hobbs for these links)

• It’s Not Just Seafood: New Study Finds Microplastics in Nearly 90% of Proteins Sampled, Including Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

Researchers at Ocean Conservancy and University of Toronto estimate that American adults could be consuming up to 3.8 million microplastics per year from protein alone 

• How to Reduce Your Exposure to Plastic in Food (and Everywhere Else)
• Ottawa River Keeper - How to Deal with Microfibres

Results from Loraine's research into microplastics in our food:

* BPA-free does not necessarily mean safe. 
BPA, an endocrine disruptor, has been substituted by  BPS and BPF which just like BPA, can possibly induce toxicity in human placental cells and trigger preeclampsia. 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066465/

* The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Food
Consumer Reports tested popular fast foods and supermarket staples for bisphenols and phthalates, which can be harmful to your health. By Lauren F. Friedman
Published January 4, 2024 | Updated February 8, 2024

* It’s Not Just Seafood: New Study Finds Microplastics in Nearly 90% of Proteins Sampled, Including Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
Researchers at Ocean Conservancy and University of Toronto estimate that American adults could be consuming up to 3.8 million microplastics per year from protein alone   January 8, 2024
https://oceanconservancy.org/news/its-not-just-seafood-new-study-finds-microplastics-in-nearly-90-of-proteins-sampled-including-plant-based-meat-alternatives/

* Health Effects of Microplastic Exposures: Current Issues and Perspectives in South Korea
Yongjin Lee,1 Jaelim Cho,1,2,3 Jungwoo Sohn,4 and Changsoo Kim, corresponding author1,2,3;  
Yonsei Med J. 2023 May; 64(5): 301–308
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10151227/

* Nova Scotia
Researchers used Hurricane Larry to prove ocean microplastics can be swept inland as air pollution
Storm's path meant the particles it carried to land originated in the ocean
Kayla Hounsell · CBC News · Posted: Dec 07, 2023 4:00 AM EST
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/hurricanes-microplastics-hurricane-larry-newfoundland-fiona-1.7049927

* The Big (Tiny) Problem   
Microplastics in our waters may threaten ecosystems and accelerate the melting of Arctic sea ice. But are we ignoring the greater danger at the heart of this climate conundrum?
By Sean Moore
https://news.umanitoba.ca/the-big-tiny-problem/

SOLUTIONS

* Government of Canada funding research on the health risks of microplastics
From: Health Canada
News release    January 22, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2024/01/government-of-canada-funding-research-on-the-health-risks-of-microplastics.html

* Two new UBC startups fight plastic pollution
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ubc-ventures-plastic-pollution

* Microplastics, health  & the Environment
May 29, 2023
https://mp.ubc.ca/news/may-05-2023/ubc-microplastics-cluster-symposium-highlights-groundbreaking-research-and
UBC microplastics cluster symposium highlights groundbreaking research and discussions on microplastic pollution

* Microplastic pollution: Plants could be the answer
Science, Health & Technology        Aug 16, 2023
https://news.ubc.ca/2023/08/16/microplastic-pollution-plants-could-be-the-answer/

Tackling the Environmental Crisis - Together We can

(This is an archived version of the CFUW webinars from April 2022)
Three webinars developed in collaboration with CFUW Ottawa, CFUW Nepean, and CFUW Kanata (April 2022)