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How much glass do I consume? Or is glass, dust, whatever - any different from plastics?
by tommek4077 4y ago
How much glass do I consume? Or is glass, dust, whatever - any different from plastics?
- Cthulhu_ 4y agoPlenty, same with pollen; the difference is that glass / silica is pretty inert, whereas microplastics release chemicals that according to some research mimic that of hormones. It's one theory behind humans' fertility declining - not just that they have less children, but they produce less sperm and the like.
- MauranKilom 4y agoWell, SiO2 is pretty different from plastic, chemically speaking. And I would expect that we inhale several grams of fine sand dust per week too. In other words, the amount of "glass" entering your body because you drank a beer is probably irrelevant compared to e.g. Sahara dust (if you're in Europe) in the air around you.
- GekkePrutser 4y agoYes and silicate is an environmental component that's well understood and our bodies have adapted to it because sand has been a thing forever. And glass is chemically inert.
- BenoitEssiambre 4y agoDust or soil has thousands of components, metals, bacteria, fungi, molds, organic matter, feces etc. It can give you farmer's lung and other illnesses. Plastic is comparatively inert. Weird that there is not environmental movement to reduce soil from the environment.
- ciphol 4y agoWe evolved to survive breathing in soil.
- sivizius 4y agoAsbestos is a silicate…
- GekkePrutser 4y agoI meant naturally occuring ones like sand. Even glass is kind of related. Didn't want to elaborate too much. But indeed it is.
- ectopod 4y agoAnd, in quantity, even the "harmless" silicates aren't. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis
- refurb 4y agoSilicon dioxide (sand) causes silicosis if inhaled. I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the risk.
- mrguyorama 4y agoIsn't the damage caused physically, not chemically? I think that's the main point
- refurb 4y agoWhy would that matter if both kill you?
- Robotbeat 4y agoI suspect that inhaling silicate is probably pretty terrible for you. Much worse than eating plastic.