Studies find red, blue and green plastic decomposes into microplastic particles faster than plainer colours due to the way their colourants interact with UV radiation.
Environmental experts are praising Montreal's decision to ban some kinds of single-use plastics, but they say Canada is still a long way from being plastic-free despite government promises.
Canada's cornerstone environmental protection law hasn't been updated since 1999, and modern-day exposures, including those in some workplaces, are inadequately addressed under the legislation in its current form, write Atanu Sarkar and Jane McArthur of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
Nova Scotia says it will spend $19 million to clean up sludge in Boat Harbour created by effluent from the Northern Pulp mill, after the company missed deadlines to submit a plan for its portion of the remediation.
Exposure to air pollution significantly increases the risk of infertility, according to the first study to examine the danger to the general population.