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Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

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Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#21

Post by infecto »

jaggederest wrote: post #16
gravitronic wrote: post #9

Starting to eye my dryer lint as a toxic substance

If you put a machine that blew asbestos fibers out the wall/roof of the building in most homes in the US people would probably be pretty upset. For that matter, I wonder if they ever made asbestos clothing for routine wear? Looks like aprons, oven mitts, and ironing board covers.

I don't think we can yet compare microplastics to asbestos. Asbestos is still used today but in much more industrial, safe ways than it once was used. Not to downplay any net harm but I don't believe its as clear yet.

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#22

Post by jenadine »

netbioserror wrote: post #19
cube2222 wrote: post #7

Does someone have good papers on the negative effects of microplastics (ideally on humans)? A while back I tried to look for those, and it was nontrivial to find papers that would conclusively show that they are harmful, and the mechanisms of this harmfulness. There's a ton of press about where they are (everywhere) but (as a layman) you could argue it's because they're not very reactive, and this lack of reactivity…

"Being there" can be harmful in and of itself. Blocking receptors, clogging up conduits, etc. As I understand it, this is why certain elemental metals are so toxic: They're big atoms that deposit in harmful places and can't be effectively filtered out.

True, but it could also be totally innert and not have any measurable negative effect. Who knows?

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#23

Post by jaggederest »

infecto wrote: post #21
jaggederest wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you put a machine that blew asbestos fibers out the wall/roof of the building in most homes in the US people would probably be pretty upset. For that matter, I wonder if they ever made asbestos clothing for routine wear? Looks like aprons, oven mitts, and ironing board covers.

I don't think we can yet compare microplastics to asbestos. Asbestos is still used today but in much more industrial, safe ways than it once was used. Not to downplay any net harm but I don't believe its as clear yet.

I'm pretty sure we can compare them. Whether the ultimate harm will be anywhere near that level of impact I have no idea, but they're clearly tiny fibers infiltrating places they weren't expected with possible health outcomes as a result of indiscriminate use before the risks were fully understood.

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#24

Post by ClumsyPilot »

kibwen wrote: post #5
ClumsyPilot wrote: post #2

What the plan to deal with this? People make fun of doomers, but this unfixable. PS: originally this said boomers, but I meant Doomers, as I. People who run around screaming the world is doomed

Lead and asbestos in housing and consumer products were similarly intractable, but we (mostly) banned them anyway. We're still dealing with removal and mitigation decades later, but at least those problem aren't getting any worse. At some point you have to say enough is enough and ban plastics in contexts where they're most likely to find pathways into the biosphere: food containers, disposable goods, clothes, car ti…

This is not in housing, it’s in the water, in the snow, it’s everywhere forever.

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#26

Post by ClumsyPilot »

hypeatei wrote: post #20
ClumsyPilot wrote: post #2

What the plan to deal with this? People make fun of doomers, but this unfixable. PS: originally this said boomers, but I meant Doomers, as I. People who run around screaming the world is doomed

Lawyers. If harmful effects are found decades later, then we'll be entitled to compensation! How fun.

This will affect every child In The world for many generations.

Who is paying these damages in trillions? Even if you were to pin it on specific companies, they would go bancrupt.

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#27

Post by cubefox »

bluSCALE4 wrote: post #11
ushiroda80 wrote: post #6

Plastics need be banned from clothing and food.

From clothing? Do you have any idea how prevalent it's become? It is hard/impossible to find clothes without traces of plastic.

It seems plastic in fabrics can mostly be replaced with cotton.

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#28

Post by infecto »

jaggederest wrote: post #23
infecto wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think we can yet compare microplastics to asbestos. Asbestos is still used today but in much more industrial, safe ways than it once was used. Not to downplay any net harm but I don't believe its as clear yet.

I'm pretty sure we can compare them. Whether the ultimate harm will be anywhere near that level of impact I have no idea, but they're clearly tiny fibers infiltrating places they weren't expected with possible health outcomes as a result of indiscriminate use before the risks were fully understood.

I don't think you can compare the net harm yet? Unless you have research that no one else does. We know asbestos is a carcinogen, we know it gets lodged into the lungs and does not remove itself. We know the outcomes from heavy exposure.

While we know plastic is getting to places it should not be, we have not fully figured out all the negative impacts. Those impacts will drive where/when to use it.

Edit: Again, I am not trying to downplay potential harm. It might be a serious issue that is driving poor outcomes but I don't believe we have research of that as of yet.

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#29

Post by kwhitefoot »

Night_Thastus wrote: post #17
glial wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't tell whether you're making an argument for or against it.

I don't think they're stating either - just that it's pretty impractical to remove plastic from clothing at this point.

Why is it impractical? It would be unpopular and put prices up but it could be done. We would have to reduce the amount of clothing that is produced but that is hardly a problem as we produce vastly more than we need. We could eliminate fast fashion for a start.

Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain

#30

Post by cubefox »

ClumsyPilot wrote: post #24
kibwen wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lead and asbestos in housing and consumer products were similarly intractable, but we (mostly) banned them anyway. We're still dealing with removal and mitigation decades later, but at least those problem aren't getting any worse. At some point you have to say enough is enough and ban plastics in contexts where they're most likely to find pathways into the biosphere: food containers, disposable goods, clothes, car ti…

This is not in housing, it’s in the water, in the snow, it’s everywhere forever.

I think you are confusing plastics with so-called forever chemicals.
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