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
nanobots?
a.k.a. enzymes
Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
31–40 of 186 posts
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#32Does 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.
Also interfering with immune response https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9552327/ and directly or indirectly via immune response triggering inflammation https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041202....
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#33People, get air filters inside of your house and especially your bedroom. Anything with a HEPA filter. I personally have a Winix and a dyson fan, quite happy with it.
You'll be surprised what it picks up over time, and consequently what you end up not inhaling...
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
It was more of a joke because usually compensation is next to nothing in large class actions. Basically, we don't really care.
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Cotton production, however, is extremely resource-intensive (particularly water) to the point of unsustainability – and it's largely grown in parts of the world that are likely to suffer catastrophic droughts in the future.
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
"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?
Bisphenol A have a carbon ring structure that resembles hormones like the estrogen. It can bind to the estrogen receptors and potentially increase risk of hormone related cancers.
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#37Plastics 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's not hard. Going to war is hard. Watching a loved one die is hard.
Googling "100% cotton" _clothing item_, "100% linen", "100% leather", "100% wool". It's not hard.
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#38Does 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…
Here is one on human GI track
"Micro- and nanoplastics in the body are passed on during cell division"
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240306150719.h...
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#39Earlier 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.
It's extremely practical. We have cotton, linen, and wool as great amazing fabrics. Drawstrings replace elastic.
Re: Microplastics in the olfactory bulb of the human brain
#40Does 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…
A quick search led me to this review, which has a number of studies linked in references, including a few that studied humans. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9885170/ Quote from the abstract: The direct consequences of MPs and NPs on the thyroid, testis, and ovaries are documented. Still, studies need to be carried out to identify the direct effects of MPs and NPs on the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adr…
Disappointingly nothing in that study relates these health impacts to known levels of microplastics in humans. That means there’s no way to tell, from that study, if the levels of microplastics to be found in you and me are likely to have material impact.
I definitely feel we should be more serious about reducing use of plastics, especially for uses likely to contribute to microplastic levels, but it’s going to be hard to convincingly make that case without quantifying these risks in relation to actual human microplastics levels.