GOLF CLUB’S ECO DRIVE SEES PLASTIC TEES BANNED
ONE of the oldest golf clubs in the country has become the first to ban the use of plastic golf tees.
The Royal North Devon will, from the New Year, only allow wooden tees.
The club is located on common land that is grazed by sheep and horses.
A spokesman said:
“Plastic tees are more likely to harm the birds and animals we share our wonderful course with.”
Meanwhile, a damning report says supermarkets are stocking more non-recyclable plastic than ever – more than 900,000 tons last year.
Retailers are failing to make good public commitments to cut down on single-use packaging, according to Greenpeace and the Environmental Investigation Agency.
Seven out of the 10 major UK supermarkets increased their plastic footprint over the past year. Only Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s achieved “marginal” reductions.
AIR pollution can cause blood poisoning and kidney failure in older adults at levels previously thought to be harmless, a study has found.
Researchers said their findings add to evidence there is no safe amount of tiny particles called PM2.5s which are pumped out by traffic and industry.
Particulates are inhaled deep into the lungs where they enter the bloodstream.
Analysis of 95 million US insurance claims from over-65s found hospital admissions for new conditions including sepsis, kidney failure and urinary tract and skin infections were linked to minute increases in particulate matter.
This was on top of established causes like heart and lung conditions, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.
Rises in admissions, between 2000 and 2012, happened even when daily PM2.5 levels – measured by the US Environmental Protection Agency – were below World Health Organisation guideline.
Lead author Yaguang Wei, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, said: “The study shows the health dangers and economic impacts of air pollution are significantly larger than previously understood.”