this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2023
1169 points (97.6% liked)

Memes

45550 readers
1283 users here now

Rules:

  1. Be civil and nice.
  2. Try not to excessively repost, as a rule of thumb, wait at least 2 months to do it if you have to.

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
1169
Its happening (discuss.tchncs.de)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
153 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

We have absolutely no idea what (if anything) micro plastics will do now that they're small enough to get through the blood brain barrier. Could be harmless, could be like how led was seemingly innocuous

[โ€“] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes and it is being thoroughly investigated, as it should be. But so far nothing has been found, so sensationalism is only detrimental as:

  • it takes away focus from materials that have actually been found to be harmful
  • puts public pressure on researchers, and if they don't find something quick it might be the end of the whole field, and then they might have difficulties funding research on future polymers
  • builds up anxiety about something we can't do anything about (the plastics are there and they're here to stay for a while)