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

sustainableplastics.com

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

#51

Post by Semaphor »

soco wrote: post #42
Semaphor wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Germany and several other EU countries have deposits on plastic bottles. I’m not sure how much that helps with the microplastics issue, though.

They have for the PET bottles, yes, but there are still thousands of other packaging types which just get dumped in garbage with unknown destinations. I cannot really imagine a deposit on those (do you want stinky meat packages returned to the shop?) but still we need to find a solution.

Most of it ends up in landfills which are relatively safe IIRC from other microplastic articles?

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

#52

Post by yakcyll »

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 agree with the perspective that it's impossible to tell exactly, with confidence, how harmful they are and what each of us should do. The topic may not be fresh, but the awareness of the dangers is. If you aren't willing to go with the intuition that having non-degradable artificial compounds in your body sounds 'bad', then I'd personally go for what seems to be a reasonable middle ground, likely what most of us are already doing, which is - stay on the look out. Assimilate trustworthy data (on the question of what constitutes trustworthy data - that which comes from sources striving for integrity and rigor and not from anecdotes), be ready to adjust, steel yourself for possibly drastic changes in the future.

Personally, I find the argument that the data we currently have is not enough to force us to make such changes absolutely understandable - but at the same time, I find this kind of inertia unwarranted in the age where the world looked almost unrecognisable just a decade ago.

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

#53

Post by ethanbond »

ninkendo wrote: post #13
mborch wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

To be fair, “the last 80 years” coincides with a lot of stuff. The world has changed a lot since the 1940s. Isolating plastics as a cause and accounting for all other variables is next to impossible.

We have really great studies showing plastics disrupting fertility systems in other mammals though.

This hypothesis is not formed merely from “sperm quality has declined since 1940” and “plastic use has gone up since 1940.”

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

#54

Post by ekianjo »

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.

Many things have changed in the past 80 years...

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

#55

Post by reisse »

njovin wrote: post #22

I'm still shocked that there hasn't been more of a regulatory push to eliminate single-use plastics. In the US the closest we've gotten is banning plastic straws and charging for plastic carry bags. Everything I've read about plastic recycling points to it being ineffective and requiring massive amounts of fossil fuel to move the waste around the globe, often with much of it just getting burned or dumped into the env…

> It seems like we had a pretty good system years ago in requiring people to leave a deposit for bottles when purchasing beer or pop to incentivize return + reuse.

On the other hand, this system incentivised using plastic bottles instead of glass, because of less hassle with returning.

> Everything I've read about plastic recycling points to it being ineffective...

There is one effective way to recycle plastic into energy called "waste incineration".

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

#56

Post by psychoslave »

soco wrote: post #42
Semaphor wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Germany and several other EU countries have deposits on plastic bottles. I’m not sure how much that helps with the microplastics issue, though.

They have for the PET bottles, yes, but there are still thousands of other packaging types which just get dumped in garbage with unknown destinations. I cannot really imagine a deposit on those (do you want stinky meat packages returned to the shop?) but still we need to find a solution.

Bottle in glass, aluminum or paper. Beers, various soda and juice already use that

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

#58

Post by local_person »

andric wrote: post #23
zo1 wrote: post #12

I think micro-plastics and "forever" chemicals will be our generation's asbestos/cigarettes controversy.

And Long COVID is shaping up to be our generation’s HIV/AIDS. History rhymes because people don’t ever learn. We deal with one problem or crisis at a time, instead of generalizing what was learned in order to help future generations avoid the same mistakes.

[dead]

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

#59

Post by superhumanuser »

ethanbond wrote: post #47
2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm still shocked that there hasn't been more of a regulatory push to eliminate single-use plastics. I'm not- show me the direct harm it is causing on an individual level. We can all agree they are a nuisance but it is hard to show how they are outright harming people. Studies like this are a step towards that proof.

Ideally, governments armed with scientists are capable of making key judgments like this one without “my child’s arm fell off” levels of apparent, individual harm.

Scientists are wrong... a lot.

The harm should be obvious to the layman IMHO in order to be legislated away. Otherwise, it should be left up to personal choice.

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

#60

Post by [deleted] »

andric wrote: post #23
zo1 wrote: post #12

I think micro-plastics and "forever" chemicals will be our generation's asbestos/cigarettes controversy.

And Long COVID is shaping up to be our generation’s HIV/AIDS. History rhymes because people don’t ever learn. We deal with one problem or crisis at a time, instead of generalizing what was learned in order to help future generations avoid the same mistakes.

[deleted]
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