4 ms·
If plastics absorb PCBs and pesticides, couldn't we use big (so they can't be swallowed), porous (to increase the surface) pieces of plastic to clean the water?
by yread 13y ago
If plastics absorb PCBs and pesticides, couldn't we use big (so they can't be swallowed), porous (to increase the surface) pieces of plastic to clean the water?
- eksith 13y agoI think maybe this idea has floated around (no pun intended). There's a nice demo for teachers here : http://www.cmu.edu/gelfand/k12-teachers/polymers/polymer-and-absorption/oil-spill-cleanup.html http://www.cmu.edu/gelfand/k12-teachers/polymers/polymer-and... Ironically the plastic was polypropylene there too.
- astrodust 13y agoDon't use one toxin to clean up another.
- Houshalter 13y agoWhy not? The things can be removed from the water, and even if they weren't, there could still be a net benefit in having one toxin over another.
- astrodust 13y agoHistory is filled with examples of well-intentioned solutions like this going horribly awry. Talk to an Australian about cane toads, for example. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toads_in_Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toads_in_Australia).
- Houshalter 13y agoMaybe so, however that is a fully general counterargument that applies to any attempt to solve any problem ever.
- astrodust 13y agoLet's say you run a barber shop. You could always set the hair on the floor on fire, right? That'll clean it up! What could possibly go wrong? ...or maybe you could just sweep it up.