As my summer vacation started, my mother wasted no time and began giving me chores right and left. One task was to repot a gorgeous philodendron she just purchased, which I was happy to oblige. While digging up the soil, I noticed that polystyrene (PS) foam bits are being used as a substitute for Perlites (amorphous volcanic glass). Polystyrene foam bits can really deceive your eyes. You wouldn't be able to tell them apart from perlite until you touch them! While PS is a versatile plastic used in a wide variety of plastic products and applications, the accumulation of PS in different organs of organisms leads to a variety of adverse effects, including reduced body weight, premature deaths, pulmonary diseases, neurotoxicity, transgenerational issues, oxidative stress, metabolic changes, ecotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and other dysfunctions.

Back to my story... Initially, I tried removing PS foam bits one by one, but I quickly realized that it was impossible. I then submerged the soil in water overnight, hoping the foam would separate, but it didn't work. Eventually, I used a vacuum, which was highly effective. All I had to do was to hold the vacuum head approximately 7 inches away while raking the surface of the soil. Did I get them completely? No. But a good amount was successfully removed.

Unfortunately, recycling facilities that accept polystyrene foam are extremely limited in the U.S. due to the cost, technology, and logistic issues. As a result, these foam bits will end up in landfills. This small planter with contaminated soil illustrates a larger issue facing our ecosystem. Removing contaminants from one area and dumping them in other locations would not solve any problem.

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37268142/....

https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/chemicals/polystyrene/

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