Still, researchers say that individuals should try to reduce their exposure by avoiding the use of plastic in preparing food, especially when microwaving; drinking tap water instead of bottled water; and trying to prevent the accumulation of dust, which is contaminated with plastics.
The Food and Drug Administration says in a statement on its website that “current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.”
The American Chemistry Council, which represents plastic and chemical manufacturers, did not directly respond to questions about the recent studies finding microplastics in human organs. Kimberly Wise White, a vice-president with the group, noted that “the global plastics industry is dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of microplastics”.
The entire watershed of the town I grew up in has contaminated water from a DuPont plant, provably going back to the 80s. Discovered about a decade ago, absolutely no government action done to mitigate it. For a year or two after the proof came out the county provided free water bottles, then literally nothing. Several hundred thousand people are daily drinking contaminated water out of taps that cannot be remedied at the point of use and the state and local government just continues to shrug
Sensational and ominous headlines such as “Plastic rain is the new acid rain” are in no way based on science. Microplastics are not acidic, and they don’t act like acid rain. In fact, the World Health Organization and others have noted that, while microplastics are present in the environment, existing evidence indicates they don’t pose a risk to human health.
Interestingly, the report referenced found the amount of microplastics in the environment represents only four percent of particles collected on average – and in some cases much less. The other 96 percent is comprised of natural materials like minerals, dirt and sand, insect parts, pollen, and more.
That’s right, only 1/25th of small solid particles in the environment are plastic! We gotta get those numbers up!
The Food and Drug Administration says in a statement on its website that “current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.”
uhhhh is there tho? we’ve had many discoveries of microplastics being in places and things, and like duh new things should not be added to bodies and environments without knowledge of their implications. but there is very little concrete about what it’s actually doing.
Yeah, there’s not any evidence I’m aware of yet that micro plastics in the body do much of anything. That’s not to say that it doesn’t, just that whatever it might do is not so dramatic that we’re able to immediately tell.
and unfortunately it’s crucial for this information to be found out before places like the FDA can make a standard. they can’t just guess and risk that being too high, and until we have realistic mitigation strategies it’s a joke to say “none”
The ACC seems unhinged with their responses to research and news about microplastics with all of the responses being some form of “nuh uh”
Ahhh I get to choose between the lead and the plastic, very cool
Maybe I should try that boiling thing
I genuinely don’t know if I wanna live anymore
Why not boil in a plastic bottle so you get the best of both worlds!
Those are phthalate crystals precipitating out of my skin after I try this
Point of use/under cabinet R.O. or whole house water filter is going to be the only way to ensure safe drinking water going forward.
They can be had somewhat cheaply, for single faucet dispensing.
~10 dollars in my fake app bank acct, overdrafted in my “real” bank acct
Will look into this if I ever have money for safe water to drink
I love being alive during the era of late capitalism, I love thinking
It doesn’t eliminate PFAS chemicals though
The entire watershed of the town I grew up in has contaminated water from a DuPont plant, provably going back to the 80s. Discovered about a decade ago, absolutely no government action done to mitigate it. For a year or two after the proof came out the county provided free water bottles, then literally nothing. Several hundred thousand people are daily drinking contaminated water out of taps that cannot be remedied at the point of use and the state and local government just continues to shrug
Reverse osmosis very much removes PFAs from drinking water. There are other ways besides RO for reducing/removing pfa’s
lmao:
That’s right, only 1/25th of small solid particles in the environment are plastic! We gotta get those numbers up!
Also, hilariously, every time you copy something from the web page, they embed a little “Learn more at: https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/blog-post/2020/no-microplastics-are-not-the-new-acid-rain-not-even-close”
Like sure, I’ll happily link the rest of the screed because it has to be seen to be believed, don’t worry.
Correct, we actually did something about acid rain
Akshually sweatie plastics are not acidic so you can’t say they’re like ACID rain.
Checkmate tankies
I think that sentence was by far the dumbest shit I’ve read in weeks.
“We at American Chemistry do not condone the use of analogies”
microplastic and its consequences really have been a disaster for the human race
uhhhh is there tho? we’ve had many discoveries of microplastics being in places and things, and like duh new things should not be added to bodies and environments without knowledge of their implications. but there is very little concrete about what it’s actually doing.
Yeah, there’s not any evidence I’m aware of yet that micro plastics in the body do much of anything. That’s not to say that it doesn’t, just that whatever it might do is not so dramatic that we’re able to immediately tell.
and unfortunately it’s crucial for this information to be found out before places like the FDA can make a standard. they can’t just guess and risk that being too high, and until we have realistic mitigation strategies it’s a joke to say “none”
Oh sick, good to hear