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I think we're all getting comfortable with the idea that humans are now regularly ingesting and breathing microplastic particulate matter, AND that we're not dy

by vwcx 7y ago

I think we're all getting comfortable with the idea that humans are now regularly ingesting and breathing microplastic particulate matter, AND that we're not dying from the chemical accumulation of these particles. But that doesn't negate what marine biologists are pointing out with more urgency: that at the smallest end of the food chain, these particulates are being mistaken as food, with consequences yet unknown. More: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/05/microplastics-impact-on-fish-shown-in-pictures/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/05/micropla...

RyanAF7 7y ago
It's that damn straw lobby that's driven is to this point.
- dillonmckay 7y ago
  Big Straw?
pulse7 7y ago
"...we're not dying from the chemical accumulation of these particles" Can you provide more evidence for this statement? National Geographic writes only: "We haven’t yet seen the consequences" and there is a huge step from "we haven’t yet seen consequences" to "we're not dying... of these particles"...
- joshgel 7y ago
  Yes. See how long it took for lung cancer after smoking to be realized as a problem. https://images.app.goo.gl/UP5gfr4DBnKq7GvD7 https://images.app.goo.gl/UP5gfr4DBnKq7GvD7
devoply 7y ago
In other news plastics often mimic estrogen and sperm count down all over the world drastically. Plastics need to be simply banned or highly regulated, and we should also worry about nano particles invading our environment uncontrollably. We have alternatives and the massive corporations that peddle most of the food and drink around the world is more than capable of affording to switch to better alternatives even if it costs them some of their profit.
- hoi 7y ago
  nah, they would pass on the cost to the consumer. The consumer would go for the cheaper product which would be the manufacturer that uses plastic. So it would need to be enforced by regulation.
Giornito 7y ago
Different societies already find ways to minimize the importance of other humans, it makes sense that it is worse for things that are not considered human.

by vwcx 7y ago

RyanAF7 7y ago

It's that damn straw lobby that's driven is to this point.

dillonmckay 7y ago
Big Straw?

pulse7 7y ago

"...we're not dying from the chemical accumulation of these particles" Can you provide more evidence for this statement? National Geographic writes only: "We haven’t yet seen the consequences" and there is a huge step from "we haven’t yet seen consequences" to "we're not dying... of these particles"...

joshgel 7y ago
Yes. See how long it took for lung cancer after smoking to be realized as a problem. https://images.app.goo.gl/UP5gfr4DBnKq7GvD7 https://images.app.goo.gl/UP5gfr4DBnKq7GvD7

devoply 7y ago

In other news plastics often mimic estrogen and sperm count down all over the world drastically. Plastics need to be simply banned or highly regulated, and we should also worry about nano particles invading our environment uncontrollably. We have alternatives and the massive corporations that peddle most of the food and drink around the world is more than capable of affording to switch to better alternatives even if it costs them some of their profit.

hoi 7y ago
nah, they would pass on the cost to the consumer. The consumer would go for the cheaper product which would be the manufacturer that uses plastic. So it would need to be enforced by regulation.

Giornito 7y ago

Different societies already find ways to minimize the importance of other humans, it makes sense that it is worse for things that are not considered human.