Microplastics Found In Human Hearts For First Time, Showing Impact Of Pollution::A study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology for found microplastics in the hearts and blood of humans undergoing cardiac surgery.

  • 👍Maximum Derek👍@discuss.tchncs.de
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    1 year ago

    One of the possible answers astrophysicists give for why we haven’t seen more evidence of intelligent life in the universe, is that there are technological milestones that lead to doomsday scenarios. They’re “great filters” that many advanced civilizations don’t survive. The classic example is nuclear fission and the power it gives to destroy. I’m convinced that plastic is one of these filters.

  • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    We started mass production of plastic 90 years ago, and we’re choking on it. We need to stop all plastic production.

    • LEX@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      The sheer amount of plastic that goes in the trash any time I take a trip to the grocery story is maddening. And I’m someone who is conscious about it and try to buy products with less plastic waste! Like, what is the point of all this? Is waxed paper not good enough?

      • Mythril@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        I did read some argument that for certain foods, if they removed the plastic wrapping, the expiration would happen so much faster that food waste would increase by a lot. I honestly have no idea if waxed paper would work as well though.

        I do agree that hopefully alternative solutions can be found in any case…

        • LEX@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          I doubt waxed paper would be a blanket solution for everything. Hot dogs come to mind as an example of something that may require plastic (meats in general, but that a whole other issue). But even something like cheese should do fine in sealed waxed paper.

          But more obviously, bread and other baked goods, candy, chips, pretty much anything where perishability isn’t a major concern can use waxed paper or cardboard for packaging. Sodas, water, milk, and juice could come in glass, aluminum, or even cardboard cartons instead of plastic bottles. Produce that comes in plastic could use paper, waxed paper, or those little cardboard cartons.

          There are plenty of alternatives but our corporate masters would have to sacrifice a small percentage of their quarterly profits so instead we will piss where we sleep until we die.

      • crate_of_mice@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        The sheer amount of plastic that goes in the trash any time I take a trip to the grocery story

        Do people not recycle plastics in your country?

        • LEX@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          If you think ‘recycling’ plastic does a damn thing, you need to do some reading. It’s a sham for corporations to trick you into thinking your plastic waste gets reused. It doesn’t.

    • pavnilschanda@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The problem is that many medical devices for the disabled and chronically ill are made of plastic. It’s why the disability community protested the plastic straw ban, since many of them require to use them to consume anything.