Ted Schettler

Jun 17 2024 What’s new, Guest commentary Plastics: Multiple problems in urgent need of solutions Oceanic currents deposit enormous amounts of debris into an expansive area of the Northern Pacific Ocean sometimes called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Sailing through that gyre in 1975 was like wandering through a poorly-curated community yard sale with few treasures and lots of trash — mostly plastic. Thick then, it is worse now.

Schettler is an advisor for well being and local weather organizations, and a former emergency doctor. Sirois is the director of a world non-governmental group (NGO) working to scale back the environmental footprint of healthcare.

by Ted Schettler, Science Director If you are among those who assume that chemicals in your consumer products must first be tested for safety before being put on the market you have plenty of company. But you are wrong. Except for pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and some food additives, no Federal or state law requires safety testing of thousands of chemicals in consumer products that people come into contact with every day. It’s easy to understand your assumption.