this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2024
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[–] jagungal@lemmy.world 15 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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@lemmy.ml 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

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 1 points 10 months ago

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