Microplastic pollution

A New York City bill — dubbed “Pods Are Plastic” — proposes a ban on dishwashing and laundry detergent pods coated in PVA, a type of plastic that disintegrates when submerged in water.

Richard Kirby, a marine biologist based in Plymouth, England, was looking at zooplankton wriggling under a microscope when he spotted something else: shreds of plastic pieces interlaced with the tiny creatures.

Blue whales consume up to one billion particles over a feeding season with as-yet-unknown impacts on their health.

The discovery shows the particles can travel around the body and may lodge in organs. The impact on health is as yet unknown.

New products range from washing machine filters and balls to fabrics made from kelp and orange peel.