Twenty-four brain samples collected in early 2024 measured on average about 0.5% plastic by weight
A growing body of scientific evidence shows that microplastics are accumulating in critical human organs, including the brain, leading researchers to call for more urgent actions to rein in plastic pollution.
Studies have detected tiny shards and specks of plastics in human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow.
Given the research findings, “it is now imperative to declare a global emergency” to deal with plastic pollution, said Sedat Gündoğdu, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey.
My understanding is that it stems from various combinations of plastic trash, contaminating our ecosystem. So a plastic lined container (nearly any disposable container) is bad because it will contain microplastics in its conents, and also, as it degrades in the trash, will release more microplastics.
It’s just funny how we were looking for degradable plastics for years so we don’t have to burn it, just to find out the degraded plastic particles are the real problem, and burning it was actually the less unhealthy option.
I mean we’re still not certain if that’s true. We know that plastic is now everywhere because degradation, but I don’t think we know how damaging it is, if at all (i doubt its non damaging but who knows) In addition, burning could still be worse. Time will tell