#pcb manufacture Florida

[pncinc]

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Experience top-tier PCB assembly services tailored to your needs in Florida. Our advanced solutions, coupled with expert guidance, ensure precision, efficiency, and reliability. Trust us as your dedicated partner for seamless PCB assembly, delivering innovation and quality every step of the way. Collaborate with us for comprehensive support and turnkey solutions, backed by our commitment to delivering excellence in every circuit board assembly project

[snehapatnesblog-blog]

Global Mobile Phone Antenna Market 2018 Growth Rate by Players: Amphenol, Pulse, Molex, Skycross, Galtronics, Sunway, Speed

Market Research Store Exposed a new deep Industry research report focuses on Mobile Phone Antenna Market, delivers detailed analysis of market and future prospects of Mobile Phone Antenna market. The critical and significant data in the study makes the research a very important tool for experts, analysts and managers to get ready-to-access analysis by the industry professionals. The Mobile Phone Antenna Market report provides the complete analysis of Mobile Phone Antenna Market Size Data and development forecast from 2018-2025.

This reports also include complete information of main Manufacturers/Suppliers of Mobile Phone Antenna around the world and market share by various regions, with the company and product introduction and their position in the Mobile Phone Antenna market.This report also includes the cost and profit status of Mobile Phone Antenna and marketing status, Market growth drivers and challenges in this Market.

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Top Companies in Worldwide Mobile Phone Antenna Market are as follows:- Amphenol, Pulse, Molex, Skycross, Galtronics, Sunway, Speed, JESONcom, Auden, Deman, Ethertronics, Sky-wave, 3gtx, Southstar

The leading competitors among the global Mobile Phone Antenna market are applying various techniques for creating an entry further as developing within the Mobile Phone Antenna market. On a worldwide basis, the count of recognized firms is elevating and therefore it is necessary for each market company to urge an ardent edge on others. The first techniques accepted by the well- known firms for grapple among the Mobile Phone Antenna market embrace melioration of recent product, partnerships, mergers, agreements, and acquisition.

REGIONAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE in :- United States, Europe, China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia.

If you have any customized requirement regarding to Mobile Phone Antenna, we will be happy to include this to enrich the final study and We will offer Competitors shares, Regional Analysis, Product Analysis as per your choice also.

The global Mobile Phone Antenna market report shed light on the latest technological developments, upcoming business opportunities, market restraining factors, threats to offer a perfect acumen for an in-depth market study. It also deals with the region-wise industrial environment, regulatory structure, competitive landscape, raw material resources that might influence Mobile Phone Antenna industry.

Most Applied Mobile Phone Antenna Market in World Industry includes:- Main Antenna, Bluetooth Antenna, Wifi Antenna, GPS Antenna, NFC Antenna, Others

Global Mobile Phone Antenna Market By Product includes:- PIFA(Planar Inverted F Antenna), Internal Planar Monopole, Internal PCB & FPC, LDS(Laser Direct Structuring)

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There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Mobile Phone Antenna market:-

Chapter 1: Definition, Specifications and Classification of Mobile Phone Antenna, Applications of Mobile Phone Antenna, Market Segment by Regions

Chapter 2: Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure

Chapter 3: Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Mobile Phone Antenna, Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis

Chapter 4: Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)

Chapter 5 and 6: Regional Market Analysis that includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Central America and Rest of the World, Mobile Phone Antenna Segment Market Analysis (by Type)

Chapter 7 and 8: Mobile Phone Antenna Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Major Manufacturers Analysis of Mobile Phone Antenna

Chapter 9: Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type

Chapter 10: Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis

Chapter 11: Consumers Analysis of Global Mobile Phone Antenna

Chapter 12: Mobile Phone Antenna Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;

Chapter 13, 14 and 15: Mobile Phone Antenna sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

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[floridaindependentblog]

You’ve got the perfect electronic project ready to roll.

Now all you need is the right circuit board.

Before you rush out to buy, you might want to know a little more about what you’re getting into, especially if you’re new to the game.

Asking what are circuit boards made of can help lead you in the direction of finding a quality high-end PCB for your electronic components.

Printed Circuit Boards

Before you understand what printed circuit boards are typically made of, it is essential to know what a circuit board is and what it does.

A circuit board is a series of components, including wiring, resistors, and capacitors, that work together to manage the electrical flow.

Managing electrical flow means controlling current and voltage, and this is what the printed circuit board does exclusively.

Being able to manage electrical flow means engineers, hobbyists, or designers can fashion electrical devices to do whatever they want.

From televisions to personal massage devices, you’ll find a PCB in anything that requires electricity.

Ever wonder why older electronics components were so HUGE?

In part, it’s because their circuit boards were bulky. Not only were components like the resisters, transistors, and capacitors larger, but they required entire wires to carry the current.

Decades later, components become more compact. More importantly, all that honkin’ wiring became paper-thin trails made of copper foil.

Printed circuit boards are also known as printed wiring boards. The name says it all.

With compactness came more versatility. Electronics could not have evolved to fit inside your pocket without the printed circuit board.

While there are millions of different ways to design a PCB, it is essential to know its tired and try elements.

What Are Circuit Boards Made Of?

You may be a hobbyist, inventor or designer needing a specific type of circuit board.

Whether you are looking for a highly customized PCB or something you can easily use to prototype a wide variety of projects, here are the main components of a PCB.

1. Substrate

It’s helpful to understand the structure of a PCB like a sandwich. The thickest, middle layer is the substrate.

The substrate is the solid foundation of your PCB. Everything else gets embedded into the substrate, so it should be sturdy and thick.

And, by PCB standards, thick means an average of 1.6mm for the average prototyping board.

Some hobbyist boards, like the Arduino, intended for mass production and popular use, can be as thick as 1.8 mm.

Fiberglass is the most common substrate material known in manufacturing as F4.

Laminate is the thin resin layer that holds all parts of the PCB sandwich together.

Typically made of a thermal-tolerant resin, it is every bit as important to the structural integrity of the PCB as the substrate.

2. Copper

Thin, copper foil channels carry the charge that wires in older circuit boards once did.

Cut to any desired specification; the copper wire “traces” are the road system through which electrons will travel.

Copper traces come affixed to the substrate and can exist on one or both sides of the PCB.

Most boards include copper traces on either side. Lower end electronics will likely have copper traces on just one side.

Whether it is on one or both sides of the base, copper traces can come as a single layer or as many as 16 or more, depending on the PCB’s desired function.

3. Soldermask

The soldermask is a thin lacquer layer of polymer that covers the copper traces.

Without this covering, the copper traces run the risk of damage when you solder close to them.

4. Silkscreen

Finally, the silkscreen is a thin layer of ink print that can identify different components, as well as logos and product codes.

PCB Components

Board components vary by functionality. You may need more of some of the essential elements, like capacitors. Some, like relay switches, you may not need at all.

Here is a list of of the major PCB components:

Resisters

These are small, cylindrical components, usually covered in colored stripes. Resisters limit the circuit’s flow of current.

Potentiometers

Sometimes called “variable resistors,” potentiometers can alter how they limit the current flow.

Capacitors

Usually marked with a “C,” capacitors come in the form of thick cylinders or small discs. They store electricity to distribute it more evenly throughout the circuit.

Connectors

Connect your PCB to devices as well as to other boards.

Diodes

Small components that direct the electrical current.

Other Components

Other standard PCB components include relays, transistors, inductors, crystals and oscillators, and integrated circuits (ICs).

With so much functionality to choose from, how do you find the best circuit board for your project?

How To Find The Best Circuit Board

Some of the most important questions to ask when choosing a circuit board are:

What do you need your circuit board to do?

Are you building a board for a computer? Do you need something small enough to fit into a portable device? How “smart” do you want it to be?

Electrical functionality is the biggest factor you’ll want to consider when choosing a circuit board.

The more functionality you want, the more layers of copper traces you’ll likely need, and the more intricate the component structure will be required.

You may even need a multi-board structure if your project requires a higher level of functionality.

Many companies will help you draw up schematics and manufacture your PCB for you.

Visit this page for detailed schematics of typical PCBs, and for more information on manufacturing your customized boards.

How hot is it going to get?

The amount of functionality, power, and the amount of time you’ll expect the device to be in work mode all translate to one thing: current.

How much current will your board need to accommodate? More current typically means more heat, so your components will need to take heat tolerance into account.

For example: while typical substrates consist of F4, which is versatile and moderately heat tolerant for most types of devices, you may need more.

Ceramic PCB substrates that include aluminum or beryllium oxide are some of the most heat tolerant substances around.

Plan It Then Build It

What are circuit boards made of? Now you know the essential components.

Drawing up a schematic is the vital next step to making your project a reality. Whatever you can dream up, there’s a circuit board for that!

Read more valuable information on our website.

The post What Are Circuit Boards Made Of and How to Find the Best One appeared first on Florida Independent.

[bharatiyamedia-blog]

Floribama Shore: MTV Reveals New Location For Season 3!

http://tinyurl.com/yxl32hl9 It is puke and rally time, y’all. The Floribama Shore crew is again!  MTV introduced on Tuesday that it has renewed the hit actuality present for a 3rd season. And whereas the total forged is about to return, they’re switching up the location! The crew is bored of Panama Metropolis Seashore, okay?  They want new surroundings, new sandy seashores and naturally, new bars.   So now, they’re transferring the celebration to the streets of St. Petersburg, FL!   The show premiered on MTV in 2017 and was dubbed the Jersey Shore for the south. Contemplating their quantity of alcohol-induced fights, hug-it-out apologies, and sexual encounters filmed in evening imaginative and prescient — yeah it is a tad nostalgic of the OG collection in Jersey.  However viewers members appear to really benefit from the revamped iteration and are prepared for extra. “Viewers’s favourite southerners will reunite and head to St. Petersburg, FL, bringing the drama, the romance, the friendship, and enjoyable together with them for the most well liked time but,” the press launch learn.  Including that the original boisterous bunch will all be there bringing the warmth to the brand new season.  Together with Jeremiah Buoni, Codi Butts, Kortni Gilson, Aimee Corridor, Kirk Medas, Nilsa Prowant, Candace Rice, and Gus Smyrnios. “After a dramatic wrap up in Panama Metropolis Seashore final season, the gloves are off,” the press launch continued.  “From hookups and breakups to laughs and tears, they have been by means of all of it collectively.” “Now, in a brand new metropolis, there are recent tales to inform because the crew events it up and places actual life on maintain for one more summer time.” MTV has but to disclose why they’re transferring the present’s filming from the Florida panhandle to the St. Petersburg space — nevertheless, a number of media shops had been completely satisfied to supply explanations.  In response to the Pensacola Information Journal, many PCB locals haven’t loved the forged filming on the town. (Think about that?)  They felt as if it gave them “a nasty status.”  However the Bay County movie commissioner Julie Gordan advised the Tampa Bay Instances that the present “had an incredible financial impression” and the locals “barely observed they had been there.” “In fact, you’ll be able to ask native officers, they usually’ll say it is probably the most god-awful factor they ever noticed,” she stated of the truth present.  However she’s received one thing for the haters: “Properly, it is not for you, it is for the 25-year-olds.” “I’ve talked to many Uber drivers who say folks wish to see the shore home, or the bars they hang around at… The present just isn’t all pure nasty.” One more reason the present could have relocated is because of the important harm the town suffered from Hurricane Michael again in October 2018.  A number of of the present’s foremost filming places sustained damages, whereas some had been utterly destroyed.  In response to the Pinella County movie commissioner Tony Armer, the forged started filming season Three earlier this week. The present’s official “Shore Home” is someplace within the southern a part of the county and Tony additionally added that they are going to be filming in and round city.  “It may very well be [filmed] wherever from downtown St. Petersburg to the Clearwater seashores,” he stated.  “I am guessing they’re going to have some outings in Tampa as nicely.” The Tampa Bay Instances additionally reported that the manufacturing firm, 495 Productions, utilized for and was granted permits to shoot in public places by means of July 15. The identical manufacturing firm additionally shot the present Social gathering Down South on this location just a few years in the past.  MTV has but to launch a premiere date for season 3, however as acknowledged within the press launch, followers can count on it to air someday this fall.  Edit Delete Source link

[gigglesndimples]

Weekly Legislative Roundup 2/15/18

Welcome to the latest edition of NORML’s Weekly Legislative Roundup!

This was a big week for marijuana in Congress. The House Financial Services subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions held a hearing Wednesday to address the lack of access to basic banking services by state-legal marijuana businesses.

Also this week Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced legislation, The Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act, to expand and facilitate medical cannabis access to military veterans suffering from chronic pain, PTSD, and other serious medical conditions.

At the state level, John Fetterman, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania began his listening tour in central Pennsylvania to get feedback from the public on marijuana legalization. You can submit your own feedback here.

The Arkansas House Rules Committee killed a bill that would have expanded the list of qualifying medical conditions eligible for medical cannabis. On the same day, the Department of Health, Surgeon General, and Drug Director issued a public health advisory regarding “the risks of harm associated with use of products derived from Cannabis, including marijuana and hemp, that claim to benefit health.”

At a more local level, the decriminalization policy in Dayton, Ohio went into effect this week. And Denver, Colorado’s mayor and district attorney launched a new program seeking to help those convicted of certain marijuana offenses expunge their records.

Following are the bills that we’ve tracked this week and as always, check NORML’s Action Center for legislation pending in your state.

Don’t forget to sign up for our email list, and we will keep you posted as these bills and more move through your home state legislature and U.S. Congress. Another great way to stay up to date is Marijuana Moment’s daily newsletter, which you can subscribe to HERE.

Your Highness, Carly

Actions to Take

Federal

Regulate Nationally: The Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2019 (HR 420) seeks to deschedule cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, thus permitting state governments to regulate these activities as they see fit.

Click here to email your Representative and urge them to support this important legislation

Colorado

Senate Bill 19-013 would permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy for any condition for which an opiate would otherwise be prescribed.

Update: SB 19-013 was approved by the full Senate on 2/14, and now awaits action from the House Health & Insurance Committee.

CO resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of cannabis as an alternative to opioids

Florida

Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 372, Senate Bill 182, and House Bill 7015, and another House version PCB HHS 19-01, to re-legalize the inhalation of herbal cannabis formulations for medical purposes.

Update: The House Health and Human Services Committee approved PCB HHS 19-01 which would allow smoking in the form of pre-rolled, filtered medical cannabis cigarettes. The provision to require patients to get approval from a review panel before being permitted to smoke was removed. The bill now goes to the Appropriations Committee.

Update #2: The Senate Innovation, Industry, and Technology Committee approved S372, removing the provision to require patients to get approval from two doctors before being permitted to smoke. The bill is on the agenda for hearings (if the bill is received) in the Rules Committee for 2/20/19, 4:00 pm, 110 Senate Building, and then the Appropriations Committee for 2/21/19, 10:00 am, 412 Knott Building

FL resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of allowing patients to smoke medical cannabis

Georgia

House Bill 324 seeks to expand and facilitate patients’ access to medical cannabidiol (CBD) products.

The bill would establish a regulatory framework to permit the retail sale of medical CBD products to registered patients.

GA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical CBD access

Hawaii

Legislation is pending, House Bill 131 / Senate Bill 1335, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.

Update: The House Committee on Judiciary approved HB 131 with amendments. Meanwhile, The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment killed SB 1335.

HI resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production

House Bill 673 / Senate Bill 1430, to expand medical cannabis access.

The proposed changes:

Expands the pool of medical professionals who are eligible to recommend medical cannabis by permitting physician assistants to issue recommendations to their patients;

Allows licensed dispensaries to possess up to two additional manufacturing or processing facilities separate from their production facilities; and

Allows licensed dispensaries to sell edible cannabis and cannabidiol products

Update: The House Committee on Judiciary approved HB 673 on 2/15 after holding a hearing on the bill earlier in the week.

HI resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion

Idaho

House Bill 140, which seeks to reduce marijuana possession penalties penalties for first time offenders.

If passed, the bill would reduce the penalty for first time offenders convicted of possessing one half ounce or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to one year in jail and/or $1,000 fine, to an infraction, punishable by a mandatory drug abuse education course, a $250 fine, and/or community service.

ID resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of penalty reductions

Maine

Legislation is pending, LD 846 / HP 620, to mandate that state agencies review and expunge prior marijuana convictions.

Under the plan, those convicted of marijuana-related activities that are no longer defined as criminal will have their records automatically sealed and no longer disseminated.

ME resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement

Minnesota

Legislation is pending to expand access to medical cannabis in the state.

HF 766 would:

Authorize each dispensary to open four additional locations in specified areas throughout the state

Allow specific formulations of medical cannabis to be administered to qualified patients on school grounds

MN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical expansion

Missouri

House Bill 341 would allow registered medical marijuana patients to have their records expunged if they were convicted of a possession offense that occurred prior to their participation in the state’s cannabis access program.

Update: The Special Committee on Criminal Justice approved HB 341 on 2/14. The bill now goes to the Rules Committee.

MO resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expungement

Montana

Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 176, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.

MT resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production

New Hampshire

House Bill 335 would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to authorize additional dispensary licenses in certain geographic areas of the state. Under existing law, only a handful of licensed dispensaries are permitted in the state. This means that some patients must travel long distances and pay exorbitant prices to obtain their medicine.

Update: The Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee approved HB 335 on 2/12

NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of additional dispensary locations

HB 350 would expand the pool of medical professionals who are eligible to recommend medical cannabis by permitting physician assistants to issue recommendations to their patients.

Update: The Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee approved HB 350 on 2/12

NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical cannabis expansion

House Bill 481 would allow for the use, possession, and retail sale of marijuana by adults.

The pending measure permits adults 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and/or up to five grams of concentrate, and to grow up to six marijuana plants.

Update: The Criminal Justice and Public Safety is scheduled to hold an executive session on HB 481 on 2/21 at 11:00am in LOB 204.

NH resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization

New Mexico

Legislation is pending, House Bill 356, to permit the use, possession, and retail sale of cannabis for adults 21 and over.

Update: HB 356 was approved by the Health & Human Services Committee on 2/11.

NM resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of legalization

Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 204, to allow medical cannabis to be administered to patients at school.

The measure permits children with serious conditions for which medical marijuana has been recommended to have their medicine administered to them while on school property.

Update: SB 204 was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 2/14 after holding a hearing on the bill the day before.

NM resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of allowing medical cannabis in schools

Senate Bill 477 states that an individual’s status as a medical cannabis patient “shall not in itself constitute grounds for intervention, removal or placement into state custody of a child in that individual’s care.”

Update: SB 477 was heard by the Senate Public Affairs Committee on 2/15.

NM resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of parental protections

North Carolina

Legislation is pending, S. 58, to expand upon the state’s decriminalization law and also to provide for the expungement of certain prior cannabis convictions.

Under current law, the possession of 1.5 ounces of cannabis is classified as a misdemeanor. This proposal raises that threshold to three ounces.

The bill would also allow those with past marijuana possession convictions to petition the court to expunge their record.

NC resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of expanded amounts

North Dakota

House Bill 1417 seeks to expand patients’ access to medical cannabis in North Dakota.

The original proposed changes:

Expands the pool of eligible patients by permitting providers to recommend medical cannabis to those diagnosed with neuropathy; opioid use disorder; opioid withdrawal; migraine; rheumatoid arthritis; and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome;

Allows physicians to explicitly authorize select patients to legally possess greater quantities of cannabis than are generally allowed under the law.

Update: HB 1417 was amended by the Human Services Committee, removing the provision adding new qualifying conditions, and only allowing doctors to authorize those with cancer to legally possess greater quantities of cannabis.

Separately, House Bill 1519 would permit providers to recommend medical cannabis to those diagnosed with 13 additional conditions, including anorexia nervosa, anxiety, opioid use disorder or withdrawal, and autism.

Update: The Human Services Committee approved HB 1519 on 2/14.

ND resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of medical cannabis expansion

South Dakota

Legislation is pending, House Bill 1191, to establish an industrial hemp pilot program that will operate in compliance with newly enacted federal hemp regulations.

Update: HB 1191 was approved by the full House on 2/11. The bill now awaits action from the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

SD resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production

Tennessee

Legislation is pending, SB 357 / HB 844, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.

Update: SB 357 was placed on Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee calendar for 2/20/2019

TN resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production

Washington

Legislation is pending, SB 5605 / HB 1500, to allow individuals with prior misdemeanor cannabis convictions to apply to the sentencing court to have their record vacated.

WA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of vacating records

Legislation is pending, Senate Bill 5276, to amend the state’s existing industrial hemp law to be in compliance with the new federal hemp regulations.

Update: SB 5276 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on 2/18 at 3:30 PM

WA resident? Click here to email your lawmakers in support of industrial hemp production

That’s all for this week!

Source: https://blog.norml.org/2019/02/15/weekly-legislation-roundup-2-15-18/

Weekly Legislative Roundup 2/15/18 Find more on: gigglesndimples.com

from Giggles N Dimples - Feed https://gigglesndimples.com/2019/02/15/weekly-legislative-roundup-2-15-18/

[printedcircuitboardus]

PCB Contract Manufacturing consist with assembly of printed circuit boards (PCB’s), design, fabrication and top manufacturing technologies.

[pncinc]

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[pcb-power-usa]

Top PCB Manufacturers You Must Know About

PCBs are the fundamental component of several electronics products. Yet, their manufacturing value chains are not as popular as those of other industries. 

Why Should You Know More About the Top PCB Manufacturers?

Having an idea about the top PCB manufacturers can help you in:

1. Discovering best practices by following their work.

2. Performing supply chain risk analysis by examining their presence geographically.

3. Understanding industry-themes that are usually reflected in the operations of the giant incumbents.

Here are the Top PCB Manufacturers You Must Know About.

Jabil, Inc.

Jabil is one of the largest PCB manufacturers globally, with a nearly $6 billion market cap. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, and employs more than 260,00 people across 30 countries. 

2. Plexus Corp

Plexus is an industry generalist which was founded in 1979 and is currently headquartered in Wisconsin. The company has a market cap of over $2.3 billion and has a wide range of services, including hardware & software design, PCB design, and PCB manufacturing.

3. TTM Technologies

TTM works mainly with other original equipment manufacturers and is known to deliver time-sensitive printed circuit boards. As one of the largest companies in the segment, it is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, and has a $1.5 billion market cap. 

4.Benchmark Electronics

Benchmark was founded as a subsidiary of a medical equipment manufacturer and later sold to a strategic buyer. The company was founded in 1987 and is currently valued at a little over $1 billion. It provides contract manufacturing services with its vast network of facilities across the globe. 

5. PCB Power Market

PCB Power Market has a legacy of over 35 years and operates in both the Indian-subcontinent and North America. It works as a unified platform providing both layout and manufacturing services. It is one of the very few scale-agnostic platforms in the industry, serving small, medium, and large scale PCB consumers with uncompromised quality.

[getmarketresearch]

Dry film is a polyester film coated with a polymer which is sensitive to ultraviolet light (Photoresist). Scope of the Report: This report focuses on the Dry Film in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application. Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Hitachi Chemical (JP) Asahi Kasei (JP) Eternal (TW) KOLON Industries (KR) DuPont (US) Changchun Group (TW) Mitsubishi (JP) Elga Japan (IT) FIRST (CN) EMS (US) Market Segment by States, covering California Texas New York Florida Illinois Market Segment by Type, covers Thickness ?20?m Thickness: 21-29?m Thickness: 30-39?m Thickness ?40?m Market Segment by Applications, can be divided into PCB Semiconductor Packaging Other There are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Dry Film market. Chapter 1, to describe Dry Film Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by States, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Dry Film, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017; Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017; Chapter 4, to show the United States market by States, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Dry Film, for each state, from 2012 to 2017; Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017; Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key States by Type and Application, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, revenue and market share by types and applications; Chapter 12, Dry Film market forecast, by States, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022; Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process etc. Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers); Chapter 15, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers etc. Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Dry Film Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.

[sherristockman]

Flame Retardants Damaging Kids' Brains Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Flame retardant chemicals are found in everything from furniture and mattresses to electronics and baby toys. Notorious neurotoxins, these widespread chemicals have been linked to serious health risks like infertility, birth defects, neurodevelopmental delays, hormone disruptions, various forms of cancer and reduced IQ scores and behavioral problems in children. One variety of flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), resembles the molecular structure of PCBs, which have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and impaired fetal brain development. As 1 in 6 U.S. children now suffers from neurodevelopmental disorders, research into possible environmental culprits is ongoing, and a recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives revealed PBDEs are likely playing a role in the increasing rates of these disorders. In fact, the researchers concluded, "Preventing developmental exposure to PBDEs could help prevent loss of human intelligence."1 Developmental Exposure to Flame Retardants Reduces IQ A systematic review and meta-analysis looked into exposures to PBDEs that occurred near conception or during in utero, perinatal or childhood time periods. Children experience greater exposure to chemicals pound-for-pound than adults,2 and though the blood-brain barrier is fully formed at birth, its function may be immature, which may allow greater chemical exposures to reach their developing brains. Children also have lower levels of some chemical-binding proteins, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which allows more of a chemical to reach their organs, while systems that detoxify and excrete chemicals in adults are not fully developed in the children. These factors, coupled with the fact that a child will be around for 80 years or more, allowing more than enough time for chemicals to do their damage, signals a major challenge for kids born today. Exposure that occurs in utero may be even more problematic, as EWG reported: "The pace and complexity of growth and development in the womb are unmatched later in life. Three weeks after conception, an embryo, still only 1/100th the size of a water droplet, has nevertheless grown at such an explosive rate that were it not to slow down, it would be born literally the size of a million Earths. … At no other time in life does a person create so much from so little in so short a time. Industrial chemicals that interrupt this intricate process can, at high levels, wreak havoc in the form of severe birth defects, or at lower levels cause subtle but important changes in development that surface later in childhood as learning or behavioral problems, or in adulthood in the form of certain cancers or perhaps neurodegenerative disease." The featured study revealed, in fact, that greater exposures to flame retardants during pregnancy are associated with lower intelligence in the child. Specifically, for every tenfold increase in prenatal exposure to PBDEs, there was a 3.7-point decline in IQ test scores in children.3 According to Newsweek:4 "Exactly how PBDEs cause a decline in intelligence is unknown. However, research increasingly suggests they impair the activity of the endocrine system, the body's delicate system of hormone-producing glands that controls everything from daily sleep-wake cycles to sexual development. And during pregnancy, the endocrine system has an enormous effect on the development of the fetus's brain." Past research has also demonstrated that children born to mothers with higher levels of flame retardant chemicals in their body had a 4.5-point average decrease in IQ,5 while exposure in childhood is strongly associated with poor attention span, reduced fine motor coordination and a decrease in cognitive ability.6 'Millions of IQ Points Lost' While a few points' reduction in IQ may seem small, the widespread exposure to flame retardants makes the decrease especially serious. Study co-author Tracey Woodruff told Medicine Net, "Even the loss of a few IQ points on a population-wide level means more children who need early interventions, and families who may face personal and economic burdens for the rest of their lives."7 She continued to SF Gate, "Despite a series of bans and phaseouts, nearly everyone is still exposed to PBDE flame retardants, and children are at the most risk … Our findings should be a strong wake-up call to those policymakers currently working to weaken or eliminate environmental health protections."8 PBDE usage was phased out of new products in 2004, but it still exists widely in old furniture and other products. You can be exposed to the chemicals via food and household dust, for example. In a U.S. study conducted by EWG, flame retardants were detected in every sample of household dust, at concerning levels. "The average level of brominated fire retardants measured in dust from nine homes was more than 4,600 parts per billion (ppb)," EWG reported, continuing:9 "A tenth sample, collected in a home where products with fire retardants were recently removed, contained more than 41,000 ppb of brominated fire retardants — twice as high as the maximum level previously reported by any dust study worldwide. Like PCBs, their long-banned chemical relatives, the brominated fire retardants known as PBDEs … are persistent in the environment and bioaccumulative, building up in people's bodies over a lifetime. In minute doses they and other brominated fire retardants impair attention, learning, memory and behavior in laboratory animals. EWG's test results indicate that consumer products, not industrial releases, are the most likely sources of the rapid buildup of PBDEs in people, animals and the environment … Our findings raise concerns that children may ingest significant amounts of toxic fire retardants via dust." Flame Retardants Alter Thyroid Hormones, Which Could Affect Children's IQ One way that exposure to flame retardants during pregnancy may harm children's IQ could be via their influence on thyroid hormones. How do flame retardants harm your thyroid? Estrogen levels regulate thyroid hormones, and PBDEs are known to disrupt estrogenic activity as well as thyroid levels. Past research has suggested, for instance, that PBDEs can lead to decreases in TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).10 In another study, researchers found women with the highest concentrations of PBDEs in their blood had an increased risk of thyroid disease compared to those with lower concentrations.11 That link was particularly strong among postmenopausal women. Duke University environmental chemist Heather Stapleton, Ph.D., explained that the chemical structure of one class of flame retardants is very similar to human thyroid hormones. "There are a number of different pathways by which these chemicals can interfere with thyroid hormone regulation," she said. "And we know that their use, and our exposure to these chemicals, has increased tremendously over the past several decades."12 Exposures that occur during pregnancy could be problematic, especially if they cause thyroid deficiency, because even a mild, symptom-free case of thyroid deficiency in a pregnant woman can affect her child's IQ scores years later. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) revealed that children aged 7 to 9 who had mothers with untreated hypothyroidism in pregnancy had IQ scores about 7 points lower than youngsters of women without such a deficiency.13 Not to mention, research presented at the Endocrine Society's 2017 99th annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, revealed that exposure to flame retardants in the home is associated with the most common type of thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).14 Maine Passes First US Law to Phase Out All Flame Retardants In August 2017, after overriding a veto from the governor, Maine lawmakers passed a law to phase out all flame retardant chemicals in home furniture. While existing inventories of furniture will be allowed to be sold, this ends after January 1, 2019 — the date which furniture containing flame retardants may no longer be sold in the state of Maine. While the chemical industry claims such chemicals save lives in fires, firefighters are among their leading opponents. Ironically, the chemicals may make entering a burning home even more dangerous for firefighters than it would be otherwise. Unbeknownst to many, furniture and other objects doused in flame retardant chemicals can still catch fire. Worse, they may release higher levels of toxic chemicals upon burning than untreated objects. California female firefighters aged 40 to 50 are six times more likely to develop breast cancer than the national average. Why California? Likely because in 1975 California Technical Bulletin 117 (TB117) was passed, which required furniture sold in California to withstand a 12-second exposure to a small flame without igniting — a requirement manufacturers met by loading up furniture with flame retardants. On a positive note, California revised TB117 so that an open flame test is no longer required. As of January 1, 2015, compliance with the updated TB117-2013 became mandatory, which requires upholstered furniture sold in the state to no longer smolder 45 minutes after a lit cigarette is placed on it. This requirement can be met without the use of flame retardant chemicals (although the law does not ban their use). Firefighters of both genders also have higher rates of cancer, in part because of the high levels of dioxins and furans they're exposed to when flame retardant chemicals burn. A study from the American Chemical Society (ACS) even found certain flame retardant chemicals increased the amount of toxic carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide gas in a fire.15 Inhaling these gasses is the leading cause of death in fires, not burns. It's no wonder, then, why firefighters are among those seeking bans on these toxic chemicals. Ronnie Green, of the Professional Firefighters of Maine, told WABI 5 News:16 "There's no need for those chemicals. There are safer alternatives. There's fabrics we can use that are actually made right here in the state of Maine that can do a better job at flame spread. Smoke detectors and sprinklers save lives, chemicals don't … The older guys, like myself so to speak, that have been in the business for a long time, we're not going to see the benefit of this, but for the younger generation moving forward, the less we can expose those guys to the chemicals, the more we can do to mitigating anything." Chemical Ban Causes Flame Retardants in Women's Breast Milk to Drop Removing these toxic chemicals from household goods is essential to protecting future generations. American mothers have levels of flame retardants in their breast milk that are about two orders of magnitude greater than in European countries where these chemicals are not permitted,17 and children have been found to have levels of flame retardants that are as much as five times higher than their mothers.18 However, a study conducted by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) revealed that levels of the chemicals in breast milk dropped 39 percent from the first sampling period — conducted between 2003 and 2005 — and the second sampling period conducted between 2009 and 2012, after flame retardant chemicals were phased out.19 That being said, there's still room for much improvement. An EWG analysis of blood samples from mothers and their infants' umbilical cords revealed five types of PBDEs, three of which were detected at higher levels in the infants than their mothers. An EWG press released reported:20 "'Considering, that these chemicals have been banned for more than a decade now, I was expecting to see lower exposure levels,' said the lead author of the study, Indiana University research scientist Amina Salamova … The findings underscore the fact that these and other chemicals just don't disappear from our environment once they've been banned. They remain in us years later, and babies and children are often the ones most exposed." How to Protect Yourself and Your Children From Flame Retardant Chemicals If you have older furniture in your home but aren't ready to replace it, consider replacing the foam cushions with flame-retardant-free foam. If you're not sure whether your furniture's foam contains these chemicals, Duke University scientists will test it for you. All you need to remove is a sample the size of a marble and it will be tested for the presence of seven common flame retardants. The research lab only has the capacity to analyze 50 samples per month, and they close submissions once the quota is reached. Before sending in your sample, check with the Duke University Superfund Submit a Sample website to see if they're still accepting submissions (for best results, check in on the first of the month). In addition, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure, including these tips from the Green Science Policy Institute:21 Avoid upholstered furniture with the TB117 label. If the label states, "This article meets the flammability requirements of California Bureau of Home Furnishings Technical Bulletin 117 … " it most likely contains flame retardants. However, even upholstered furniture that's unlabeled may contain flame retardants. Furniture products filled with cotton, wool or polyester tend to be safer than chemical-treated foam; some products also state that they are "flame retardant free." Organic wool (100 percent) is naturally flame-resistant. Avoid baby products with foam. Nursing pillows, high chairs, strollers and other products containing polyurethane foam most likely contain flame retardants. Avoid foam carpet padding. If possible, minimize the use of foam carpet padding, which often contains flame retardants. If removing carpeting, take precautions to avoid exposures. You'll want to isolate your work area from the rest of your house to avoid spreading it around, and use a HEPA filter vacuum to clean up. PBDEs are often found in household dust, so clean up with a HEPA-filter vacuum and/or a wet mop often. Washing your hands regularly can also help.

[marketreports3]

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Table of Contents - Snapshot 1 Overview 2 United States Competition by Manufacturers 3 United States Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by States (2011-2016) 4 United States Sales (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2011-2016) 5 United States Sales (Volume) by Application (2011-2016) 6 United States Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis 7 Manufacturing Cost Analysis 8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers 9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders 10 Market Effect Factors Analysis 11 United States Market Forecast (2016-2021) 12 Research Findings and Conclusion 13 Appendix

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[sherristockman]

Thyroid Cancer Rates Are Skyrocketing From Flame Retardants Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola It’s estimated that nearly 57,000 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2017, a far lower number than many other adult cancers, like colorectal, lung, breast and prostate.1 However, the number is noteworthy because it has risen significantly in recent years. Rates of thyroid cancer have tripled in the last decade, making it — papillary thyroid cancer in particular — the most rapidly increasing cancer in the U.S.2 While part of this rise is blamed on the increased use of thyroid ultrasound detecting small thyroid nodules that may otherwise have gone undiagnosed, environmental factors may also be playing a role. In fact, a study published in JAMA in March 2017 revealed that the overall incidence of thyroid cancer increased 3 percent annually in the U.S. from 1974 to 2013, representing a true increase.3 Dr. Julie Ann Sosa, chief of endocrine surgery at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, led a recent study on the topic, which suggests flame retardant chemicals may be involved. She said at a press briefing:4 “There is a pandemic of thyroid cancer around the world … For too long, we've ascribed this to [sic] entirely to overdiagnosis, so we are restricting screening … [Studies like this] suggest we should be redirected to understanding what additional causative factors are at play." Exposure to Flame Retardants Linked to Thyroid Cancer Research presented at the Endocrine Society's 2017 99th annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, revealed that exposure to flame retardants in the home is associated with the most common type of thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The researchers analyzed house dust to determine levels of exposure to the chemicals, as personal exposure correlates with levels of flame retardants in house dust. Two types of flame retardants — decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), belonging to the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) class, and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), an organophosphate flame retardant — were linked to papillary thyroid cancer diagnosis and severity.5 For BDE-209, those living in homes with elevated levels in their household dust were more than twice as likely to have been diagnosed with PTC. Further, a press release by the Endocrine Society explained:6 “Participants with high levels of TCEP in their house dust were more than four times as likely to have larger, more aggressive tumors that extended beyond the thyroid … In contrast, participants with the highest dust levels of BDE-209 were 14 times as likely to be a PTC patient that did not have a common gene mutation (BRAF V600E). This mutation has been linked to PTC that tends to behave more aggressively.” How Do Flame Retardants Harm Your Thyroid? Estrogen levels regulate thyroid hormones, and PBDEs are known to disrupt estrogenic activity as well as thyroid levels. Past research has suggested, for instance, that PBDEs can lead to decreases in TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).7 In another study, researchers found women with the highest concentrations of PBDEs in their blood had an increased risk of thyroid disease compared to those with lower concentrations.8 That link was particularly strong among post-menopausal women. Duke University environmental chemist Heather Stapleton, Ph.D., who was also involved in the featured flame-retardant/thyroid cancer study, explained that the chemical structure of one class of flame retardants is very similar to human thyroid hormones. “There are a number of different pathways by which these chemicals can interfere with thyroid hormone regulation,” she said. “And we know that their use, and our exposure to these chemicals, has increased tremendously over the past several decades.”9 Yale epidemiologist Dr. Yawei Zhang, associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, who has also researched the potential link between flame retardants and thyroid cancer explained, “PBDEs seem to mimic the thyroid hormone and disrupt thyroid homeostasis. That can cause tumors.”10 Flame Retardants Linked to Other Types of Cancer as Well PBDEs resemble the molecular structure of PCBs, which have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and impaired fetal brain development. Ironically, the chemicals may make entering a burning home even more dangerous for firefighters than it would be otherwise. Unbeknownst to many, furniture and other objects doused in flame-retardant chemicals can still catch on fire. Worse, they may release higher levels of toxic chemicals upon burning than untreated objects. California female firefighters aged 40 to 50 aresix times more likely to develop breast cancer than the national average. Why California? Likely because in 1975 California Technical Bulletin 117 (TB117) was passed. It required furniture sold in California to withstand a 12-second exposure to a small flame without igniting — a requirement manufacturers met by loading up furniture with flame retardants. Firefighters of both genders also have higher rates of cancer, in part because of the high levels of dioxins and furans they're exposed to when flame-retardant chemicals burn. A study from the American Chemical Society (ACS) even found certain flame retardant chemicals increased the amount of toxic carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide gas in a fire.11 Inhaling these gasses is the leading cause of death in fires, not burns. It’s no wonder, then, why firefighters are among those seeking bans on these toxic chemicals. Children Are at Serious Risk From Flame Retardants Thyroid cancer is only one potential risk from exposure to flame retardants, and it’s not only adults who are affected. In fact, children are among those most at risk. These chemicals, which are used in your furniture, electronics and baby toys, have been found to have both prenatal and childhood neurodevelopmental consequences. Researchers have demonstrated that exposure in childhood is strongly associated with poor attention span, reduced fine motor coordination and a decrease in cognitive ability.12 In addition, flame retardants are linked to neurodevelopmental delays and hyperactivity in children. These toxic chemicals also accumulate in breast milk. Research has demonstrated that children born to mothers with higher levels of flame retardant chemicals in their body had a 4.5-point average decrease in IQ.13 Flame retardant chemicals also affect your unborn baby. At a public hearing in California, Gretchen Lee Salter, senior program and policy manager for the Breast Cancer Fund, testified, "Toxic flame retardants cross the placental barrier and can alter normal breast development setting that child on a path for increased breast cancer risk."14 Remember, pound for pound, children have a greater exposure to toxic chemicals, in the air, food, household dust and from other sources. Children and pets, who are closer to the ground, are also more likely to ingest them. Do You Want to Know What Types of Flame Retardants Are Lurking in Your Furniture? Duke University scientists will test a sample of your polyurethane foam, which is commonly used in upholstered furniture, padded chairs, car seats and more. All you need to remove is a sample the size of a marble and it will be tested for the presence of seven common flame retardants. Here's how it works: 1. Complete an electronic sample request to generate your Sample ID Number 2. Prepare your sample • Cut a piece of foam, 1 cubic centimeter in size (a little bigger than the size of a marble). • Wrap the foam in aluminum foil. • Place each foam sample in its own re-sealable sandwich bag; be sure to completely seal the bag. • Attach or write the Sample ID Number on the re-sealable sandwich bag. 3. Mail it in Enclose the following in a box or envelope: • Foam sample with Sample ID Number written on bag (Step 2) • Copy of confirmation email (Step 1) Mail to: Duke Superfund Foam Project Box 90328 - LSRC Duke University Durham, NC 27708 The research lab only has the capacity to analyze 50 samples per month, and they close submissions once the quota is reached. Before sending in your sample, check with the Duke University Superfund Submit a Sample website to see if they're still accepting submissions (for best results, check in on the first of the month). How to Reduce Your Exposure to Flame Retardants Flame retardants are so widely used that it's difficult to avoid them completely. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure, including these tips from the Green Science Policy Institute: Avoid upholstered furniture with the TB117 label. If the label states, "This article meets the flammability requirements of California Bureau of Home Furnishings Technical Bulletin 117 … " it most likely contains flame retardants. However, even upholstered furniture that's unlabeled may contain flame retardants. Furniture products filled with cotton, wool or polyester tend to be safer than chemical-treated foam; some products also state that they are "flame-retardant free." Organic wool (100 percent) is naturally flame-resistant. Avoid baby products with foam. Nursing pillows, high chairs, strollers and other products containing polyurethane foam most likely contain flame retardants. Avoid foam carpet padding. If possible, minimize the use of foam carpet padding, which often contains flame retardants. If removing carpeting, take precautions to avoid exposures. You'll want to isolate your work area from the rest of your house to avoid spreading it around, and use a HEPA filter vacuum to clean up. PBDEs are often found in household dust, so clean up with a HEPA-filter vacuum and/or a wet mop often. Be especially careful with polyurethane foam products manufactured prior to 2005, such as upholstered furniture, mattresses and pillows, as these are most likely to contain PBDEs. If you have any of these in your home, inspect them carefully and replace ripped covers and/or any foam that appears to be breaking down. Also avoid reupholstering furniture by yourself as the reupholstering process increases your risk of exposure.

[sherristockman]

The Case Against Yoga Pants and Other Technical Athletic Wear Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Water pollution has many sources. Agriculture is a significant one, but clothing is another that has not received as much attention. Non-organic cotton contributes to environmental problems due to the fact that most of it is genetically engineered (GE) and sprayed with copious amounts of Roundup, the active ingredient in which is glyphosate, a likely human carcinogen. In fact, non-organic cotton is one of the most chemical-dependent crops out there. While making up only 2.4 percent of global cropland, it receives 10 percent of agricultural chemicals in total, and 25 percent of all insecticides.1 But synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon are equally destructive.2 In 2014, polyester — a plastic material made from crude oil — made up 60 percent of all fabrics produced by the textile industry.3 Unfortunately, stretchy fabrics like yoga pants and comfy, cozy fleece items have become a true bane, shedding copious amounts of microscopic plastic fibers each time they’re washed. Due to their tiny size, these microfibers4 flow straight through the wastewater treatment plant without being caught. Microfibers Account for Majority of Plastic Pollution Testing shows synthetic microfibers make up 85 percent of shoreline debris worldwide,5 and are particularly concentrated in beach sediment near waste water treatment plants.6 According to estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, up to 1.7 million tons of microfibers enter the ocean each and every year.7 Once in the water column, this plastic micro-debris blocks sunlight required for plankton and algae to thrive, and the ramifications of this reverberates throughout the entire food chain. To get an idea of just how severe the problem has become, consider this: In some ocean waters, plastic exceeds plankton by a factor of 6-to-1!8 Toxic dyes, fabric treatments such as flame retardants and stain resistant chemicals and laundry detergents further add to the growing environmental problems posed by clothing. Microplastics Are a Major Issue in the Gulf University of Florida researcher Maia McGuire, Ph.D., studies plastics in Florida waterways. At the outset, she expected to find primarily microbeads — the small plastic beads found in face and body scrubs — but she quickly realized microfibers are a far more serious concern. McGuire told ABC News:9 “The big concern is we know the amount of plastic in the ocean is increasing, and increasing somewhat exponentially at this point. It's got chemicals in it, chemicals stick to it, animals eat it. We know a lot of the larger animals have impacts from larger plastics, so we think there's an effect on smaller animals (from microplastics) … What do we do about it is the multimillion dollar question. The consensus seems to be that we need improvement in technology in washing machines and wastewater treatment plants in combination in order to try and filter out these fibers. There's just so much we don't know.” Between September 2015 and August 2016, McGuire’s Florida Microplastic Awareness Project collected and analyzed water samples from 256 sites in Florida. Eighty-nine percent contained plastic, 82 percent of which was in the form of microfibers. Only 7 percent were microbeads. As of July this year, personal care products are no longer allowed to contain microbeads.10 Beginning July 2018, microbeads will also be banned from cosmetics, and as of July 2019, they must be eliminated from over-the-counter drugs sold in the U.S. as well.11 While banning microbeads is a step in the right direction, water testing reveals they’re not nearly as prevalent in the environment as microfibers are, so banning microbeads while doing nothing about microfibers is not going to have a really significant impact. Microfibers Threaten Wildlife and End Up in Human Food Supply It stands to reason that once these fibers are in lakes, rivers and oceans, they will be consumed by wildlife, migrating further and further up the food chain, and that is precisely what researchers have found. The fibers have been found in both table salt12 and various seafood sold for human consumption.13 Microfibers have been shown to raise mortality among water fleas14 and reduce overall food intake of crabs, worms and langoustines (aka Norway lobster),15,16 thereby threatening survival rates. Testing of both freshwater and saltwater fish show 90 percent have microfiber debris in their bodies.17,18 Not only do the actual fibers pose a health hazard to the sea life that consume them, since they bioaccumulate, these fibers also act like sponges, soaking up and concentrating toxins like PCBs, pesticides and oil, making the animal — which could end up on your plate — even more toxic than it normally would be. These chemicals have been shown to cause liver damage, liver tumors and signs of endocrine disruption in fish and other seafood, including lowered fertility and immune function. Last year, citing a report19 by the British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [DEFRA], the Daily Mail wrote:20 “Microplastics have been found in a wide variety of species including zooplankton, mussels, oysters, shrimp, marine worms, fish, seals and whales. Chemicals on microplastics ingested by an organism can dissociate from plastic particles and enter body tissues … [DEFRA] said there is evidence from animal studies that small plastic particles can cross membranes into cells, causing damage and inflammation. Looking at the implications for humans, [DEFRA] said: ‘Several studies show that microplastics are present in seafood sold for human consumption, including mussels in North Sea mussel farms and oysters from the Atlantic. ‘The presence of marine microplastics in seafood could pose a threat to food safety.’” According to the DEFRA report, eating six oysters could introduce about 50 plastic microbeads into your body. One-third of the fish caught in the English Channel also contain microbeads, as do 83 percent of scampi sold in the U.K.21 Factors That Worsen Microfiber Release Tests show each washing of a synthetic fleece jacket releases 1.7 to 2.7 grams of microfiber.22,23,24 For perspective, a paperclip weighs about 1.5 grams. Estimates suggest a city of 100,000 inhabitants deposit up to 240 pounds of microfibers into local waterways EACH DAY — an amount that equates to 15,000 plastic bags entering waterways on a daily basis. A number of different factors contribute to the amount of fibers shed, including: Age of the item. The older the fleece jacket, the more microfibers are released25 Quality of fabric. Lower quality generic brand fleece can shed 170 percent more over its lifespan than higher quality fleece Type of fabric. In a comparison of acrylic, polyester and a polyester-cotton blend, acrylic was the worst, shedding microfibers up to four times faster than the polyester-cotton blend26,27 Type of washing machine. Tests show top loading machines release about 530 percent more microfibers than front loading models28 Water temperature, length and agitation strength of the wash cycle and the type of detergent used. Heat, agitation and harsh detergents all promote the breakdown and shedding of microfibers Potential Solutions One of the fastest and easiest remedies is to add a filter to your washing machine that catches microfibers.29 Wexco is currently the exclusive distributor of the Filtrol 160 filter,30 designed to capture non-biodegradable fibers from your washing machine discharge. Here is a link to Google to find sources for them. Unfortunately, this solution only partially addresses the problem, since the microfibers will still end up in a landfill when you empty the filter into your trash can. From there, they may still enter the biological chain. Another novel potential solution — a waterless washing machine — was developed by TERSUS Solutions in Colorado, with funding from Patagonia. It washes clothing using pressurized carbon dioxide instead of water.31 Patagonia is also looking for mitigating solutions, including product redesign to prevent the shedding of microfibers. Perhaps the simplest way to circumvent all of these problems is also the most biologically elegant, and that is to avoid buying synthetic fiber clothing in the first place, and opt for organic cotton, hemp, silk, wool or bamboo fabrics instead. Polyester Downfalls Beyond Microfiber Pollution Beyond microfiber pollution, polyester and other man-made fabrics have many other environmental drawbacks, including the following:32 • Polyester is not only made from petroleum; the manufacturing process of polyester and other synthetic fabrics is also very energy-intensive, releasing large amounts of toxic air emissions, including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and acid gases • Byproducts of polyester production also include water pollutants such as volatile monomers and solvents • Toxic chemicals are also used during the production of many fabrics, including perfluorochemicals (PFCs), phthalates, azo dyes, dimethylformamide (DMF), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), nonylphenols (NPs) and triclosan. Swedish research estimates 10 percent of all textile-related chemicals are potentially hazardous to human health.33 According to a Greenpeace report,34 sportswear tends to contain the highest levels of toxic chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, which may have acute toxic effects if you’re susceptible. Chemicals are applied to most synthetic fabrics to improve wicking performance, provide water and/or stain resistance and decrease odors. Some clothing manufacturers are now starting to take these issues more seriously. For example, Patagonia is working on developing textile treatments using raw, natural materials and, along with Adidas, has promised to phase out PFCs. Adidas has vowed to be 99 percent PFC-free as of this year. Others, such as Ibex, Alternative Apparel, SilkAthlete and Evolve Fit Wear are using organic cotton, silk blends and merino wool for their sportswear lines.35 Toxic Garment Dyes Wreak Environmental Havoc Textile dyeing is another major environmental destroyer. Many of these facilities are located in developing countries where regulations are lax and labor costs are low. Untreated or minimally treated wastewater is typically discharged into nearby rivers, from where it spreads into seas and oceans, traveling across the globe with the currents. An estimated 40 percent of textile chemicals are discharged by China.36 Indonesia is also struggling with the chemical fallout of the garment industry. The Citarum River is now one of the most heavily polluted rivers in the world, thanks to the congregation of hundreds of textile factories along its shorelines. Tests by Greenpeace reveal the river water contains alarming amounts of lead, mercury, arsenic, nonylphenol (an endocrine disrupting chemical) and many other toxic chemicals — all of which are dumped by textile manufacturers straight into the river without even the most basic of chemical filtration or treatments. The final clothing items also contain nonylphenol, and it can take several washes before it’s all washed out. This means the chemical is also entering your local sewer system. Nonylphenol is considered so hazardous that many European Union (EU) members have banned its use in the garment industry. It’s not even allowed in imported textile goods. Notably, the U.S. has no such restrictions. Become Part of the Solution by Cleaning Up Your Wardrobe While some companies are actively investigating ways to produce more environmentally-friendly clothing, each and every one of us can contribute to the solution by curbing your consumption and giving more thought to what you buy and how you care for your items. As described in my previous article on “fast fashion,” the entire life cycle of a piece of clothing would ideally be taken into account before buying, as most of your discarded clothes actually end up in landfills, or are resold to developing countries where local clothing industries then suffer instead. Most Americans have enough clothes to outfit entire villages in some other countries. There’s little doubt that many would do well to absorb some of the life-affirming suggestions offered by the minimalism movement. As the director of environmental strategy for Patagonia told CBS in 2015:37 “People need to learn how to buy less and companies need to learn how to be profitable in selling less … Something has to fundamentally shift in the consumption world that reduces the pressure on the raw materials, which reduces pressure on the planet …” To avoid toxic chemicals and reduce environmental pollution associated with the washing and wearing of clothes, consider the following recommendations: ✓ Opt for organic cotton, hemp, silk, wool and bamboo fabrics. While such items typically cost more than non-organic cotton and synthetics, buying fewer items will allow you to spend more on each item. On the upside, higher quality organic items tend to last far longer with proper care, so you get your money’s worth in the end. ✓ Opt for items colored with nontoxic, natural dyes when possible. Businesses investing in organic farming and natural dyes include PACT (undergarments and loungewear), Boll & Branch (bed linens, blankets and towels), Jungmaven (organic hemp and cotton T-shirts), Industry of All Nations (clothing) and many others. ✓ Avoid screen printed items, as they typically contain phthalates. ✓ Look for the Bluesign System Certification,38 which tells you the item has been manufactured with a minimal amount of hazardous chemicals, or none. ✓ Avoid trademarked technical fabrics, as most are coated with chemicals that will eventually wash out. ✓ Be mindful of when and how you wash synthetic clothing. Wash synthetic clothing as irregularly as possible using a mild detergent. Line dry instead of putting them in the dryer. The heat and agitation will break down fibers. Handwashing or using the gentle cycle with cold water will also minimize the shedding of fibers, as will using a front loading washing machine. Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets. They leave a film on the fabric that blocks the wicking ability of the fiber. ✓ Install a microfiber filter on your washing machine.