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What are the long term effects of microplastics on human body?
As far as we know: almost nothing, but possibly anything. We don’t have an understanding of the effects. So far scientists have said that it could cause lung irritation if airborne, and may have some effect on hormones in the body.
Read: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/microplastics-human-bodies-health-risks
I think theres no hard evidence that its outright causing stuff, but there's a lot of studies on some correlations. some involve phthalates messing with the male hormones and genitalia for offspring
The problem is that it's extremely difficult to tease out what the impact is when pretty much everyone is exposed to it and has it in their system. Are there connections between these chemicals and autism or cancer? We are just starting to see the preliminary data on the subject.
For me it's a matter of not being interested in waiting to find out 30 years down the road. My personal belief is that there is no such thing as food safe plastic and especially not when it’s heated or stored for long periods. I believe that there is and will continue to be a concerted effort to downplay any uncovered impact and to ensure till the last second that no steps are taken to regulate the billion dollar plastics/ manufacturing industry. The spice must flow just as the plastics must flow.
Maybe that’s a bit too far in the conspiracy theory vein but name a more iconic duo than large corporations and covering up known flaws and risks for the sake of profit. If nothing else I do not think you lose anything by shifting to glass and certain metals for cooking and storing food. And steps have to be taken to minimize exposure to food packaging that is sprayed with pfas. Looking at you, literally all fast food packaging.
Couple these revelations with what we know about hyper processed foods and it’s no wonder why so many Americans are dumb as Fuck and have so many health problems. We are being poisoned because of our insistence on convenience. We literally have great options for all of these things that are more sustainable and less toxic but we still can’t be inconvenienced by a paper wrapper on a hamburger that might end up a little wet on the ride home.
Of course even with all these steps there’s only so much one can do when you’re literally inhaling plastic from the atmosphere. But it’s certainly a move in the right direction.
I still maintain that The Jungle should be required reading in high school in the US, but I think it will never happen
The book is no doubt banned for causing CEOs to feel bad. Certainly can’t have that.
oh good so like the genophage but for humans
1/1000 pregnancy viability may wipe humanity out rather quickly. Though at this point thats probably a favor for the world.
But we did it to ourselves and not some weird alien! Hooray!
We can all find out together. Yay :)
Donating blood (and plasma?) has been shown to reduce microplastics and PFAs in the human body/blood.
I believe a key point being any type of donation that parts are not returned to your body afterwords.
So, being a blood donor can actually have some positive health effects.
Ah, so we are bringing back bloodletting
Aye, good for the donor. Presumably not bad for the recipient either, since needing blood means they already lost some so worst case they just have constant levels of microplastics.