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

61–70 of 403 posts

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

#61

Post by ekianjo »

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.

> This is the third time this week I've seen a study related to microplastics

Most of Science is utter junk, driven by the willingness or desperate effort to publish anything to make a career in academia or funded by special interests.

What matters is what can be consistently replicated, observed and explained.

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

#62

Post by loveiswork »

tmountain wrote: post #38
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…

There is a spectrum in between chop wood, carry water that looks like: - use natural cleaning products - use reusable bags - volunteer in green space preservation - vote in local elections

etc. Establish your principles and live as closely to that as you can, and tune out what is outside of your control. Seriously. Block it. No one needs to see this shit every day.

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

#63

Post by thworp »

rcarr wrote: post #48
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…

I agree there’s far too much single use plastic. For example, it baffles me why non perishable products are still sold in transparent plastic bags. If they go to the store they generally get taken out of the plastic bag and put on display. If they’re sold online I have to waste time opening and discarding of a random plastic bag. Why? What purpose does it serve? If you’re that desperate to wrap it in something why no…

Mostly to prevent dust and other dirt accumulating before evrything goes into the final packaging.

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

#64

Post by fredrikholm »

SoftTalker wrote: post #39
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.

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

And correlated with decreased sperm quality and count. Considering the sheer amount of bad health outcomes that are also associated with obesity in general, it's not surprising that it also affects fertility.

Question then becomes, if you adjust for obesity, how much has male fertility changed since 80 years ago?

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

#65

Post by gniv »

Semaphor wrote: post #33
nonethewiser wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I'm not sure that helps. I suspect -- but I would really like to know -- that the sources of microplastics are non-obvious. I've heard of cosmetics, textiles, tea bags, foams as the most likely culprits, rather than plastic containers at room temperature, which I think are pretty stable.

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

#66

Post by lasermike026 »

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.

Stop buying single use plastics. Stop using them. Spread the word and lobby you representatives. Find a group, make a friend, and work, work, work.

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

#67

Post by konschubert »

Semaphor wrote: post #28
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…

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

It doesn't help with ocean pollution at all, because plastic rubbish from Germany and other EU countries wouldn't end up in the ocean either.

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

#68

Post by fingting »

trident5000 wrote: post #15

I bought a tub of BCAA powder from Ghost and was horrified after finding a large spidery plastic blob buried in there. I went to Burger King and looked inside the burger randomly which I never do and found plastic. Theres a microplastic issue but theres also a large plastic issue in food. Often times you do even notice when you eat it.

[flagged]

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

#69

Post by AnimalMuppet »

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.

Woah. At that rate, how long until everyone is literally infertile? 15 more years? (Yeah, I know, it might not be a linear decline. It's still shocking.)

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

#70

Post by yakcyll »

fsflover wrote: post #44
tmountain wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Try to affect the political decisions? Donate to Greenpeace or similar organizations?

No need for question marks. I think we really need to square off with the idea that, while we will personally not cause or contribute highly to major shifts in how the world operates, there are ways to contribute - even a simple e-mail to your representatives - that should be undertaken in earnest by each and every one of us, even if we don't feel that they will make an impact. Most people don't - and that's why the impact is negligible. We really should assertively encourage each other to participate, even to the smallest degree.

I think I and a lot of people around me got used to the relative comfort in life. To the sceptics this may sounds like just more scaremongering, but let's face it, it _has_ been getting worse in many more ways than we wanted or expected over the last decade. The least we can do to try to revert this trend is to attend a march, send an e-mail or try to spare some time to vote. Nobody can ignore the fact, that it will not reverse itself on its own.

Post reply on HN