Green Chemistry, Pollution Prevention, and Plastics
DTSC’s Pollution Prevention Program is involved in:
Researching safer substitutes for chemicals in consumer products, including plastics.
Developing new sustainable “bioplastics” that are non-toxic, and degrade within a short time, to replace current plastics.
Testing which bioplastic breaks down in ocean water.
Studying how chemicals found in consumer products get into the ocean (and how or if) these chemicals break down.
Investigating other chemicals of concern, such as nanomaterials, that could potentially affect the ocean.