Microplastics, tiny pieces of weathered plastic less than five millimetres in diameter, began accumulating in the oceans four decades ago and are now ubiquitous in the marine environment.Further research will be needed to identify the specific additives that make the plastic so tasty to corals and determine if the same chemicals act as feeding stimulants to other marine species, researchers said."About eight per cent of the plastic that coral polyps in our study ingested was still stuck in their guts after 24 hours," said Allen. Any one of these chemicals or a combination of them could be acting as a stimulant that makes plastic appealing to corals," said Alexander C Seymour, from Duke&PET injection molding machine Manufacturers39;s Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Center.

Researchers conducted their two-part study using corals collected from waters off the North Carolina coast.Researchers conducted their two-part study using corals collected from waters off the North Carolina coast.The biological effects of most of these compounds are still unknown, but some, such as phthalates, are confirmed environmental estrogens and androgens - hormones that affect sex determination.Scientists have long known that marine animals mistakenly eat plastic debris because the tiny bits of floating plastic might look like prey.In their first experiment, they offered small amounts of eight different types of microplastics to the corals to see if the animals would eat the bite-sized bits versus other similarly-sized items offered to them, such as clean sand. (Photo: Pixabay) Corals may have developed a preference for consuming plastic bits, putting them at risk of being choked by the indigestible materials, a study has found."Corals in our experiments ate all types of plastics but preferred unfouled microplastics by a threefold difference over microplastics covered in bacteria," said Austin S Allen, a PhD student at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.

The study of plastic ingestion by corals by researchers from Duke University in the US suggests there may be an additional reason for the potentially harmful behaviour."We found that the corals ate all of the plastic types we offered and mostly ignored sand," Allen said.Visual cues, such as a resemblance to prey, do not factor into the appeal because corals have no eyes, researchers said.

Researchers conducted their two-part study using corals collected from waters off the North Carolina coast.They pose a major threat to foraging sea animals, including many species of birds, turtles, fish, marine mammals and invertebrates.Since plastic is largely indigestible, it can lead to intestinal blockages, create a false sense of fullness or reduce energy reserves in animals that consume it."This suggests the plastic itself contains something that makes it tasty," said Allen.."When plastic comes from the # factory, it has hundreds of chemical additives on it

Those found manufacturing, storing or transport of banned polythene or plastic bag for the first time will invite imprisonment up to six months or penalty from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000.The ordinance improves upon the UP Plastic and Other Non-biodegradable Waste (use and disposal) Act of 2000 by ensuring strict enforcement of ban on polythene and thermocol imposition through stringent punishment.

The plastic ban will be imposed in phases in the state. The violation of the plastic ban for the second time will see the term of imprisonment increasing up to six months or penalty ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000. The use of banned polythene for the first time will invite a penalty of Rs 1,000 or imprisonment up to one month.

The Yogi Adityanath government, on Sunday, plastic injection molding machine Manufacturers issued an ordinance banning use and manufacture of polythene, plastic bags and thermocol.The violation of ordinance for the second time will invite imprisonment of one year or penalty up to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh.According to UP Plastic and Other Non-biodegradable Waste (use and disposal) Ordinance 2018, issued by UP governor Ram Naik, the use and manufacture of polythene of less than 50 micron would invite a penalty ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 lakh and imprisonment up to a maximum of 6 months.The violation of ordinance for the second time will invite imprisonment of one year or penalty up to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh.The violation of the plastic ban for the second time will see the term of imprisonment increasing up to six months or penalty ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000

A Dadar stall-owner selling paper flags and woolen tricolour-themed wristbands, Rohit Malliiva (30), said, “This year, we have replaced plastic with clo-th, paper, satin and wool due to the plastic ban. My mother makes festoons and the earnings help feed my family.The girl named Tulsi Hadpati, said, “I attend school in the morning and sell this stuff after school as it adds to my family’s income, PVC injection molding machine Factory however small the contribution may be.”.While small plastic flags meant for cars and office desks were a staple till last year, they have all but disappeared owing to the plastic ban.”

Tulsi, a Class five student of a Bandra civic school, mentioned that the family had a huge stock of plastic flags but ever since the plastic ban, it had been rendered useless. We have made pens from recycled material with the tricolour embossed on it.While small plastic flags meant for cars and office desks were a staple till last year, they have all but disappeared owing to the plastic ban. (Photo: PTI/File)

Like every year, big and small national flags have started selling at traffic signals, roadside stalls and shops in the city ahead of Independence Day celebrations but there is a marked difference this time around – plastic flags have been replaced by paper ones in the wake of the state plastic ban. Ahead of India’s 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday, this reporter chanced upon a schoolgirl selling several articles with the tricolour as theme at a Bandra traffic signal. Indian national flag