LEARNING ABOUT FTALATES

We have been working on plastics during the last lessons. After seeing this video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay-y3tSYGYw ) about how a bacteria can disintegrate a plastic, concretly a part of them called ftalates, there are some questions to answer:

FTALATES' STRUCTURE

1.-What are ftalates?

Basically, ftalates are substances added to plastics with the finality of increase some of their characteristics, as flexibility, durability and transparency. It is important to know that it is not a part of the plastics' structure. Due to this, they pollute our enviroment when they escape from them.

2.-Where can we find them?

Almost everywhere. 

-In rivers, nature with human influence

-In daily objects that we are using constantly.

 For example: baby toys, cosmetics, bottles, even food wrappers.

-In domestic dust

-In our skin, keeping in mind that it absorbs products that contain them.

3.-Are they dangerous?

Yes, very dangerous! They pollute the enviroment and ourself. Ptalates are considered toxic for people because it contributes to the development of cancer, it causes malformations on the foetus during pregnacy, and it affects the hormones.

4.-What are the two young scientists trying to do?

They are trying to show that bateria can be the solution to plastic biodegradation problems, and also that being open to answering outcomes creates oportunities for unexpected discoveries.

5.-Personal opinion.

Their work and achievements are admirable! I love the fact that they discover all of this due to certain accidents, advantages of being clumsy. Also, they explained all the process in a way that it looks super simple. The use of technicisms do not afect the general compehension, and they add a professional point.

6.- What is an accident? Is always a bad thing? Give some examples of positive results from accidents.

An accident is the result of an action that was not expected to happen, usually in a bad way. But it is not always a bad thing! Due to accidents, great discoveries were discovered; an example is this investigation. Other example can be the biologist Alexander Flemming, thanks to an accident he discovered a way to fight against bacterian infections.