![]() Unlike cotton products, polyester is not biodegradable. Polyester is a synthetic petroleum fiber incorporated into 60% of clothing worldwide. Unless you make it a point to wear only 100% wool or cotton, you most likely have a dresser full of polyester clothing. You may also find paraffin wax in your kitchen or pantry as it is used to coat cheese, raw fruits and vegetables, in chicken nuggets to prevent foaming during preparation, and in over-the-counter drugs to prevent bloating. The Food and Drug Administration approves the use of this substance as long as it meets particular ultraviolet absorbance limits. The base of chewing gum is manufactured with petroleum wax. When compact discs were created, petroleum-based lubricants were needed to made the disk spin smoothly. Thick and Viscous: California Oil Production Among the Dirtiest in the CountryĪs most plastics made from petrochemicals, CDs and DVDs are made from polycarbonate plastics. Below is a list of common products you might be surprised to learn are derived from petroleum hydrocarbons.Īspirin, one of the most common medications used to treat pain, inflammation and fevers, consists of benzene, a hydrocarbon typically derived from petroleum. In 2017, 75% of oil was processed into motor gasoline, distillate fuel and jet fuel but the remainder was processed into chemicals, synthetic rubber and a variety of plastics used to manufacture our creature comforts. When crude oil or natural gas is processed at a refinery, it is converted into numerous petroleum products. ![]() While burning fossil fuel accounts for two-thirds of all greenhouse gases trapping heat in our atmosphere, crude oil is also incorporated into the clothing we wear, the asphalt we drive on, and even the personal hygiene goods we use all the time. Considering how deeply fossil fuels are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives is an important step in making more conscious choices. As we learn more about the environmental impact of human activities - the cars we drive, the electricity we consume and the food we eat, for example - we are faced with the challenge of reducing our contributions to climate change.
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