/oss/taxonomy/term/358/all en /oss/article/environment-general-science/breaking-down-bioplastics-benefits-and-problems <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/the-right-chemistry-breaking-down-bioplastics-benefits-and-problems">The Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>What chemical reaction developed in a lab has had the greatest impact on the world? I think I can make a case for polymerization, the process by which small molecules are linked together to make long chains. Specifically, I have in mind the polymerization that produces plastics, a group of materials that can be shaped when soft and then hardened to retain a given shape.</p> Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:57:45 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 10078 at /oss /oss/article/medical-you-asked/bottled-water-bad-your-health <hr /> <p><em>This article was originally posted in the</em> <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-is-bottled-water-bad-for-your-health"><em>Montreal Gazette.</em></a></p> <hr /> <p>Tap water or bottled water? The point has been debated for years, but a new study has added another dimension to the discussion. A recent study in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300582121">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a> has created a bit of a panic with the suggestion that high levels of microplastics can be found in bottled water.</p> Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:27:47 +0000 Christopher Labos MD, MSc 9807 at /oss /oss/article/environment-did-you-know/dark-side-black-plastics <p>I’m sitting here looking around my office for anything made of black plastic. The casing of my computer is in that category, so is my coffee machine, my printer, my cell phone stand, my stapler, a bunch of pens that clutter my desk, my electronic car key, an electric heater, a flower pot, the carbon atoms in my molecular models, the armrest on my chair and a garbage can as well as the garbage bag inside it. Even some of the ducks that adorn my shelves are made of black plastic! No, I am not bored or mentally disturbed.</p> Thu, 17 Aug 2023 20:17:21 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9603 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/can-plastic-caps-water-or-soda-bottles-be-recycled <p>Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on what equipment local recyclers have available. The bottle caps and the bottle are made of different materials which presents a problem when it comes to recycling. The cap is a hard plastic, either high density polyethylene (HDPE), or polypropylene, while the bottle is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These plastics have very different melting points, 260<sup>o</sup>C for PET and 140-150<sup>o</sup>C for HDPE and polypropylene.</p> Fri, 14 Oct 2022 16:25:12 +0000 Joe Schwarcz Phd 9266 at /oss /oss/article/environment-climate-change/polyethylene-furanoate-coming-dont-be-scared <p>If you are scared of chemical terminology, you may think you are in for a bumpy ride. But fear not, you do not need a degree in chemistry to follow this discussion. Buckle up, and let’s go. </p> Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:38:23 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9211 at /oss /oss/article/you-asked/why-does-plastic-stay-wet-dishwasher-whereas-glass-comes-out-dry <p>Obviously, the rate of evaporation depends on the temperature. Put a drop of water in a hot frying pan and it will sizzle and change into a vapour almost immediately. Place that drop on your countertop and it will stay there for a while.</p> Fri, 12 Nov 2021 21:16:23 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8922 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/plexiglass-protection-pieta-and-us <p>Some companies have benefitted from COVID-19. Like those that manufacture plexiglass. Banks, stores, automobile dealers all feature plexiglass panels to reduce the chance of viral transmission. The prevalence of this rather remarkable plastic conjures up memories for me of my first trip to New York in 1964. A couple of buddies and I decided we had to see the World’s Fair. When we finally made it to Flushing Meadows, we had to decide what to see first. The longest line was in front of, all things, the Vatican pavilion. We joined it. All these people, we figured, must know something.</p> Sat, 11 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8839 at /oss /oss/article/history/bugs-plastics <p>During the first years of the twentieth century, the demand for shellac outstripped the supply. It wasn’t because people developed a sudden penchant for shiny furniture. Electricity was starting to take the world by storm and electrification required the use of insulating materials and shellac was a very effective insulator! The problem was that it was hard to come by. Shellac is the resinous secretion deposited on some species of Asian trees by Laccifer lacca beetles. Workers scrape off the resin, heat it, and filter it to produce the commercial product.</p> Fri, 20 Aug 2021 20:38:31 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8813 at /oss /oss/article/health/are-we-risk-wearing-clothing-detectable-amounts-pfass-or-phthalates <p>Much ink has recently been spilled about our environment, and potentially our bodies, being contaminated by some of the estimated 60,000 chemicals being industrially produced today. That ink itself contains the likes of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates, chemicals of concern because of their hormone disruptive properties, and in the case of PFAS, also because of their environmental persistence. That has earned the latter the nickname “forever chemicals.” Both these classes of substances are found in numerous consumer products.</p> Fri, 20 Aug 2021 20:00:29 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8811 at /oss /oss/article/history-videos-general-science/history-and-wonders-lego <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-phe6iwpmyqc" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on LEGO" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/PhE6IWPMYqc?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-phe6iwpmyqc&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on LEGO" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on LEGO</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:03:01 +0000 OSS 8346 at /oss /oss/article/videos-environment/right-chemistry-how-use-plastics-wisely <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-t9ieru-ajuw" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on how to use plastics wisely" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/t9IERU-AJUw?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-t9ieru-ajuw&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on how to use plastics wisely" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on how to use plastics wisely</iframe> </div> </p> Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:10:41 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8185 at /oss /oss/article/videos-environment/right-chemistry-recycling-polystyrene <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-3"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-llj4hjbmxt8" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe: Recycling polystyrene" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/llJ4HJbmXt8?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-llj4hjbmxt8&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe: Recycling polystyrene" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe: Recycling polystyrene</iframe> </div> </p> Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:32:13 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8100 at /oss /oss/article/videos/right-chemistry-chemistry-saran-wrap <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-4"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-do18a9o-czo" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the chemistry of Saran wrap" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/do18A9O-Czo?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-do18a9o-czo&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the chemistry of Saran wrap" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz on the chemistry of Saran wrap</iframe> </div> </p> Fri, 24 May 2019 18:22:18 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7782 at /oss /oss/article/videos-environment/right-chemistry-ups-and-downs-plastics <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-5"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-npg8n0dve9i" width="640" height="390" title="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: The ups and downs of plastics" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Npg8N0DVE9I?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-npg8n0dve9i&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Dr. Joe Schwarcz: The ups and downs of plastics" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Dr. Joe Schwarcz: The ups and downs of plastics</iframe> </div> </p> Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:38:51 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7732 at /oss /oss/article/technology-environment/rethinking-your-garbage <p>Do you ever wonder what happens to your garbage after you throw it out? While we hope that the recyclable materials we painstakingly sort out ends up being recycled, the garbage usually piles up in the landfill. Although the landfill may be a solution for our “throwaway” society, it isn't quite a permanent one. Think about how the increasing population on the planet will directly increase the amount of garbage produced, and how land is a precious commodity. As time increases, the amount of land available will decrease, and 2/3 of the Earth is covered by water.</p> Wed, 15 Aug 2018 15:13:18 +0000 Sierra Delarosa, MSc, MMus 7307 at /oss