April 1, 2023 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

California Legislature Gets Serious About Addressing Plastic Pollution: Bill Addresses Alarming Environmental and Public Health Issue

Assemblymember Richard Bloom introduced legislation that begins confronting the most pervasive, but least talked about, type of plastic pollution: plastic microfibers. Plastic microfibers shed from synthetic fabrics during regular washing, and because these tiny plastic fibers are small enough to get past filters, they’re ending up in waterways and the ocean. AB 2379 requires that all clothing made primarily of polyester include a label that warns of plastic microfiber shedding and recommends handwashing the item in order to reduce the impact.

“This issue cannot wait,” said Bloom, author of the 2015 landmark California plastic microbead ban that was eventually applied nationally a year later through federal legislation signed by President Obama.  “Plastic microfibers are making their way from washing machines into our seafood and even into the water we drink.”

According to research from University of California, Davis which sampled fish and shellfish sold at local California fish markets, a quarter of fish and a third of shellfish contained plastic debris, with the majority of the plastic debris being microfibers. In a survey that compared 150 tap water samples from locations in five continents, microscopic plastic fibers were found in nearly every sample, with 94% of the United States water samples containing plastic microfibers. This raises an important question about the human health consequences that plastic microfibers can have on people who unknowingly consume them.

“Manufacturers can’t continue to stick the public with the economic and health costs of cleaning up the products they produce, and consumers shouldn’t have to worry about eating or drinking plastic,” said Melissa Romero, Policy Associate at Californians Against Waste. “Handwashing is the best first step to reduce the amount of microfibers that make their way into our water until manufacturers find a way to prevent this problem.”

“We banned plastic microbeads because of the pollution they cause. Microfibers account for almost twenty times more pollution than microbeads, it’s a crisis. What’s at issue is that because of their size, microfibers are bioavailable to even the smallest creatures in the food chain and if they don’t survive, nothing will”, said Stiv Wilson, Campaigns Director for The Story of Stuff Project.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s 2014 report on the future of plastics estimated that the world’s oceans will contain more plastic than fish by 2050.

Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) and Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley) are coauthoring the bill.

“This bill will educate the public so that they can do their part in stemming this alarming environmental and public health discovery,” added Bloom.

Related Posts

Innovative Trash Interceptor System Withstands Damage During Southern California Storms

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

Dutch nonprofit the Ocean Cleanup’s Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor 007 catches thousands of pounds of garbage during recent storms that...

Child Abuse Prosecutor Jonathan Hatami Challenges Incumbent Gascón for LA District Attorney Position

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Hatami, a prosecutor in the Complex Child Abuse Unit at the Hall of Justice in downtown LA, has been vocal...

Firefighters Quickly Extinguish Blaze at Baldwin Hills Apartment Building

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Los Angeles Fire Department responds to three-story structure fire Monday A structure fire broke out on March 28th, 2023, at...

Kroger-Albertsons Mega-Merger Sparks Concerns About Competition and Jobs

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Critics say the proposed merger, which is currently under review by the FTC, would create a monopoly in many areas...

Los Angeles Restaurants, Including Palms Eatery, in Contention for James Beard Foundation Awards

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Niki Nakayama’s n/naka only Westside’s restaurant among the finalists Los Angeles restaurants – including an acclaimed eatery in Palms –...

Readers Overwhelmingly Support Outdoor Dining Survey Shows

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Survey results reveal positive feedback for outdoor dining setups amid municipal ordinance changes Last week we asked readers for their...

Nigerian Chef Tolu “Eros” Erogbogbo Brings Ilé Bistro to Culver City

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Chef Tolu “Eros” Erogbogbo brings his popular underground Nigerian pop-up to Citizen Public Market in Culver City with a new...

Sage Plant Based Bistro & Brewery Closes Culver City Location After 10 Years

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Rising costs and government restrictions prompt shift to pickup and to-go model By Dolores Quintana Sage Plant-Based Bistro & Brewery...

Local Teens Get Hands-On Medical Training at Cedars-Sinai’s Women’s Guild Simulation Center

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Students gain hands-on experience with virtual reality tools, CPR training, and surgical equipment at Cedars-Sinai’s Women’s Guild Simulation Center For...

CCHS Robotics Team Wins LA Regional, Seeks Funds on Way to World Championship

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Team will be headed to an international championship tournament in Houston where their 125-pound inventions will compete for robotics glory...

Elaine Gerety Warner Appointed as Culver City’s New Economic Development Director

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Warner to lead economic recovery and business development efforts for Culver City The City of Culver City has recently announced...

Culver City Council Votes to Reopen Main Street on Weekends

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Council members split over concerns for local businesses and environmental impact During a recent City Council meeting on March 13th,...

Westside Food Bank Struggles to Meet Increased Demand as CalFresh Benefits Expire

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Local food banks urge community support as Southern Californians face heightened food insecurity Local food banks in Southern California are...

Valuations for Office Buildings in L.A. Drop 39%

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Transfer tax and low interest rates contributing to decline in L.A. office sales By Dolores Quintana In the city of...

Erewhon Joins Tenants in Fully Leased $150M Culver Steps Development

March 26, 2023

March 26, 2023

Amazon Studios and a ground-floor retail center, including the celebrity and influencer-favorite Erewhon, anchor the 122,000-square-foot complex By Dolores Quintana...