Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

sustainableplastics.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 403 posts

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#31

Post by discordianfish »

NotGMan wrote: post #19
nonethewiser wrote: post #3

I looked for microplastic test services and it seems like they're all $500+. Wish it was something you could do at home. The local results are all that really matters. Would be interesting to compare bottled water vs. tap water/well water. I've heard bottled water tends to contain more.

Buy a water distiller. I've heard that the destillation coil must be from copper. The issue is that all commercial ones have steel, which can possible leach into the distilled water + it's not antibacterial.

This will make you end up missing crucial trace elements if not replaced somehow

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#32

Post by goda90 »

1337biz wrote: post #10
nonethewiser wrote: post #3

I looked for microplastic test services and it seems like they're all $500+. Wish it was something you could do at home. The local results are all that really matters. Would be interesting to compare bottled water vs. tap water/well water. I've heard bottled water tends to contain more.

I would be interested in this too. Also from my laymen understanding it should be not that hard to develop filters for at least larger particles. Or is that too simple thought out?

It's the smaller particles that get into cells and cause the most harm unfortunately.

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#33

Post by Semaphor »

nonethewiser wrote: post #17
m_a_g wrote: post #5

This is the third time this week I've seen a study related to microplastics. Should I be alarmed? If so, what can I even do? If I'm understanding these studies correctly, these microplastics are everywhere. In our bodies, in our water supplies, in our food. And we can't even get rid of them.

These are great questions. I think it's impossible to say for sure. It is at once a real problem (because they exist and cause problems) and a boogeyman because you never really know where they are and how much is going to be a problem for you. So be completely apathetic. Or always be afraid of everything and perform some purity rituals that give you some peace of mind despite not really knowing anything. Like drinki…

I mean, some things will reduce your plastic exposure without requiring measurements. Glass containers, metal bowls, no non-stick pans. That still leaves open if that results in different health outcomes, but it’s still something you can do without having high-tech measurement devices.

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#34

Post by nonethewiser »

andai wrote: post #6
nonethewiser wrote: post #3

I looked for microplastic test services and it seems like they're all $500+. Wish it was something you could do at home. The local results are all that really matters. Would be interesting to compare bottled water vs. tap water/well water. I've heard bottled water tends to contain more.

Would you expect that in glass bottles too? Is it just in the water supply?

I'm not sure but maybe to some degree? I have seen that recommended but I find it hard to believe the contamination source is the bottle itself. I figured it was from water source that was more concentrated with microplastic pollution. Which I assume happens more from plastics degrading in the environment over a long time, not simply water touching it in a controlled environment for a few months.

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#35

Post by Mistletoe »

discordianfish wrote: post #31
NotGMan wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Buy a water distiller. I've heard that the destillation coil must be from copper. The issue is that all commercial ones have steel, which can possible leach into the distilled water + it's not antibacterial.

This will make you end up missing crucial trace elements if not replaced somehow

This is untrue, do the math on tap water compared to food. It's such a small contribution.

>Using an average calcium concentration in public water supplies of 26 mg/liter and a maximum of 145 mg/liter (Durfor and Becker, 1964) and assuming that the average adult drinks 2 liters of this water daily, then the drinking water could contribute an average of 52 mg/day and a maximum of 290 mg/day. On an average basis this would represent 5% to 10% of the usual daily intake or approximately 6.5% of the adult RDA.

>Therefore, typical drinking water in the United States, Canada, or Europe provides approximately 3% to 7% of the RDA for magnesium intake by a healthy human.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK216589/

I don't think 5% of the RDA really moves the needle either way and those are the major minerals in tap water.

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#36

Post by artursapek »

NotGMan wrote: post #19
nonethewiser wrote: post #3

I looked for microplastic test services and it seems like they're all $500+. Wish it was something you could do at home. The local results are all that really matters. Would be interesting to compare bottled water vs. tap water/well water. I've heard bottled water tends to contain more.

Buy a water distiller. I've heard that the destillation coil must be from copper. The issue is that all commercial ones have steel, which can possible leach into the distilled water + it's not antibacterial.

No, get a reverse osmosis system with remineralization filter.

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#37

Post by beanjuice »

nonethewiser wrote: post #3

I looked for microplastic test services and it seems like they're all $500+. Wish it was something you could do at home. The local results are all that really matters. Would be interesting to compare bottled water vs. tap water/well water. I've heard bottled water tends to contain more.

Microplastic detection is a large focus in sensing right now. Its expensive and hard for the very same reason microplastics are so difficult to stop: they're chemically inert and small. Most detection methods rely purification and microscopy, which is for now mostly manual labor.

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#38

Post by tmountain »

m_a_g wrote: post #5

This is the third time this week I've seen a study related to microplastics. Should I be alarmed? If so, what can I even do? If I'm understanding these studies correctly, these microplastics are everywhere. In our bodies, in our water supplies, in our food. And we can't even get rid of them.

I’m personally exhausted from hearing about all the terrible stuff that’s happening that I have very little to no control over. I have seen countless articles about micro plastics, forever chemicals, fresh water supplies decreasing at alarming levels, Gulf Stream collapse, etc.

It’s enough to make you feel nihilistic. A big part of me feels like these are government problems, as the average person is preoccupied with paying the bills, feeding their kids, and all the other trivialities that we deal with on a daily basis.

That said, most governments are mired in bureaucracy at best, or downright dysfunctional (or anti environmental) at the worst.

So… what’s a guy to do besides “chop wood, carry water” while trying to enjoy life as best I can?

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#39

Post by SoftTalker »

mborch wrote: post #8
karol wrote: post #2

I am surprised there's no mention of male fertility. It's a very viable hypothesis in my opinion.

There's an article in American Journal of Men's Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9134445/ > In summary, semen quality in men has declined significantly over the last 80 years, with sperm concentration dropping to approximately one seventh of its original value. This timing coincides with the development of plastics. Not a bad hypothesis.

Also coincides with a rise in obesity, which is a known endocrine distruptor.

Re: New study finds microplastics infiltrate all systems of body, alter behaviour

#40

Post by TexanFeller »

karol wrote: post #2

I am surprised there's no mention of male fertility. It's a very viable hypothesis in my opinion.

Also the rising prevalence of trans. Feeling like the other sex might be related to disruption of one's normal sex hormone profile.
Post reply on HN