LingVo.club
📖+10 XP
🎧+10 XP
✅+15 XP
Cleaning plastic can release harmful chemicals — Level A1 — Aquafina bottles are made with 100% recycled plastic.

Cleaning plastic can release harmful chemicalsCEFR A1

21 Apr 2026

LevelA1
A2
B1
B2

Adapted from Dave Roepke - Iowa State, Futurity • CC BY 4.0

Photo by Zoshua Colah, Unsplash

Level A1 – Beginner
2 min
72 words
  • Researchers studied cleaning of plastic before recycling facilities today.
  • Some cleaning methods can release harmful chemicals into water.
  • The study is from Iowa State University research team.
  • It looked at polypropylene for dairy tubs and food.
  • Some methods did not release chemicals in tests here.
  • Ultrasonic and detergent methods released two chemicals in tests.
  • Reused wash water showed chemical levels that rose quickly.
  • Researchers suggest ways to reduce these chemical risks now.

Difficult words

  • researcher — person who studies and tests things
    Researchers
  • chemical — substance that can change things
    chemicals
  • recycling — process to make used items new
  • ultrasonic — uses very high sound waves
  • detergent — soap used to clean things
  • reuse — use something again instead of throwing away
    Reused

Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.

Discussion questions

  • Do you clean plastic before you recycle it?
  • Do you ever reuse wash water when you wash things?

Related articles

China's growing food waste problem — Level A1
8 Jul 2025

China's growing food waste problem

China wastes large amounts of food at restaurants, banquets and in homes. Civic campaigns and a 2021 Anti‑Food Waste Law followed, while experts and the State Council now focus on cutting production and storage losses.

Level
A1
A2
B1
B2
Read