Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Microplastics

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nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-are-microp…

They’re in our blood, our livers, and our brains. What are they doing to our bodies?

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I think the only thing I want to know is "can anything be done to help my body?" and I didn't see anything in there. Limiting exposure, sure, but I am already exposed, so what do I do about what has already happened?

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We don't know.

Campen acknowledged that we still don’t know what his findings — or any discoveries of bodily plastics — mean, exactly, for human health.

There is some speculation, and cause for concern. But we don't know yet.

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OP

Did you read the same article? Two items I found right away:

"If the body is constantly producing this inflammatory response, there may be an increased risk for a host of diseases. The presence of microplastics has been linked to cardiovascular disease and reduced sperm count and suspected of links to lung cancer, colon cancer, and dementia."

"Some of the most common additives in plastics, like bisphenols and phthalates — which make products more flexible, durable, or flame resistant — have been extensively studied for decades. These additives are known to be endocrine disrupters, meaning they can wreak havoc on our hormones; this can be particularly dangerous for the developing bodies of infants and children. "

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I mean... Yeah.

These are exactly causes for concern I was talking about. But we don't *know* yet.

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OP

I think you're advocating a "wait and see" but I feel like we know enough to start regulating

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Regulation without facts = bad regulation. What would we regulate? What levels are "safe" and what aren't? What types of plastics are better/worse? What exposure is considered dangerous?

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Plastic panic with a side of déjà vu—still no exit strategy, but hey, awareness counts.

😼😼😼

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