• jagungal@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    16
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    11 months ago

    I’ve seen a lot of reporting on finding microplastics in new places and new quantities, but is there reliable evidence that it actually does damage? Genuinely asking, can someone please send me the papers?

    • TammyTobacco
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      11 months ago

      I think it’s still a bit early for us to know how it’s affecting us. It’s the kind of data that takes a lifetime of micro plastics to see how it will kill us. But knowing how much cancer various plastics already give us, it’s safe to assume this is a bad thing.

      • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        16
        ·
        11 months ago

        This isn’t like smoking or drinking. There isn’t any control group. We have no population to compare a lifetime of microplastic exposure against. It isn’t like lead, either. Plastics pollution to date guarantees a continuous supply of microplastics for decades/centuries.

        • NotSoCoolWhip@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          11 months ago

          You’re right, I assume that even at the very best, an uncontacted tribe would still be contaminated to some extent