Plastic recycling results in rare metals.

Plastic recycling results in rare metals being found in children's toys and food packaging.

Some of the planet's rarest metals -- used in the manufacture of smartphones and other electrical equipment -- are increasingly being found in everyday consumer plastics, according to new research. Scientists from the University of Plymouth and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tested a range of new and used products including children's toys, office equipment and cosmetic containers.

Through a number of detailed assessments, they examined levels of rare earth elements (REEs) but also quantities of bromine and antimony, used as flame retardants in electrical equipment and a sign of the presence of recycled electronic plastic. The results showed one or more REEs were found in 24 of the 31 products tested, including items where unregulated recycling is prohibited such as single-use food packaging.

塑料回收利用會在兒童玩具和食品包裝中發現稀有金屬。根據新的研究，用於製造智能手機和其他電氣設備的地球上最稀有的金屬越來越多地出現在日常消費塑料中。 普利茅斯大學和伊利諾伊大學厄本那香檳分校的科學家測試了一系列新舊產品，包括兒童玩具，辦公設備和化妝品容器。

通過大量的詳細評估，他們檢查了稀土元素（REE）的含量，以及溴和銻的含量，這些溴和銻在電氣設備中用作阻燃劑，並且表明存在回收的電子塑料。 結果表明，在測試的31種產品中，有24種發現了一種或多種稀土元素，包括禁止無限制回收的物品，例如一次性食品包裝。

Source: sciencedaily.com