Fast fashion is appealing because it’s an inexpensive way to dress rapidly growing kids. But preliminary research has found that the fabric in some of these items contains lead. After testing several shirts from different retailers, undergraduate researchers found that all exceeded U.S. federal regulatory lead limits. They also estimate that even briefly chewing these fabrics could expose young children to dangerous lead levels. The researchers will present their results at ACS Spring 2026.

Hawaii faces economic and logistical challenges for dealing with plastic waste, including marine debris that lingers in its ocean waters. Researchers are pioneering a method to recycle the islands’ derelict fishing nets and plastic trash into asphalt roads. Demonstrations on Oahu show that adding recycled materials may provide an end-of-life fate for the region’s garbage, leading to less-polluted oceans. The researchers will present their results at ACS Spring 2026.