Not sure if this is more of a GD or SC thread, but here we go..
So the issue of micro plastics is gaining more of a spotlight, with a recent study showing that 83% of worldwide drinking water contained micro plastic fibres.
The problem is that plastic never really degrades, it just breaks down into smaller and smaller parts. For example your car tyres put out plastic dust into the air, washing synthetic fabrics releases fibres into the water, plastic bottles in the seas and rivers again enter the water courses.
These fibres are then inhaled or enter the water and food chains (either directly or via consuming other plants/animals).
It's only a bit of plastic most will probably say, however plastic is very good at absorbing toxic substances. One type of plastic HDPE (used in milk, juice and water cartons) for example is particularly good at leeching estrogen imitating chemicals, known to cause breast and testicular cancer*, poor sperm quality and malformed reproductive tract (to name a few).
*"Incidence rates for testicular cancer are projected to rise by 12% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 10 cases per 100,000 males by 2035. 1 in 195 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer during their lifetime." / "breast cancer incidence [invasive] rates have increased by less than a tenth (3%) in the UK, though this includes an increase in females (5%) and stable rates in males." / "Over the last decade, in situ breast carcinoma incidence rates in females have increased by two fifths (40%) in the UK" - Cancer Research UK
A reasonably lengthy article (with pretty pictures and videos), but worth a read..
https://orbmedia.org/stories/Invisibles_plastics
Personally I think this could be a pretty serious health and environmental issue if left unchecked. With our use of plastic increasing, and [as one of the videos above says] with untested plastics/chemicals being registered daily more needs to be done to regulate materials and research the impact on health.
So what does OcUK think? (I'd appreciate a thought out response rather than just the usual GD "don't care" or "never done me any harm" etc stock responses/loaded comments, ta)
So the issue of micro plastics is gaining more of a spotlight, with a recent study showing that 83% of worldwide drinking water contained micro plastic fibres.
The problem is that plastic never really degrades, it just breaks down into smaller and smaller parts. For example your car tyres put out plastic dust into the air, washing synthetic fabrics releases fibres into the water, plastic bottles in the seas and rivers again enter the water courses.
These fibres are then inhaled or enter the water and food chains (either directly or via consuming other plants/animals).
It's only a bit of plastic most will probably say, however plastic is very good at absorbing toxic substances. One type of plastic HDPE (used in milk, juice and water cartons) for example is particularly good at leeching estrogen imitating chemicals, known to cause breast and testicular cancer*, poor sperm quality and malformed reproductive tract (to name a few).
*"Incidence rates for testicular cancer are projected to rise by 12% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 10 cases per 100,000 males by 2035. 1 in 195 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer during their lifetime." / "breast cancer incidence [invasive] rates have increased by less than a tenth (3%) in the UK, though this includes an increase in females (5%) and stable rates in males." / "Over the last decade, in situ breast carcinoma incidence rates in females have increased by two fifths (40%) in the UK" - Cancer Research UK
A reasonably lengthy article (with pretty pictures and videos), but worth a read..
https://orbmedia.org/stories/Invisibles_plastics
Personally I think this could be a pretty serious health and environmental issue if left unchecked. With our use of plastic increasing, and [as one of the videos above says] with untested plastics/chemicals being registered daily more needs to be done to regulate materials and research the impact on health.
So what does OcUK think? (I'd appreciate a thought out response rather than just the usual GD "don't care" or "never done me any harm" etc stock responses/loaded comments, ta)
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