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The plastic inside us: how microplastics may be reshaping our bodies and minds
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2025
302 points (98.1% liked)
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as a cell biologist this confuses me.
usually we find the symptoms and discover the cause afterwards.
however, with micro plastics, we discovered the "cause" but somehow, haven't really found any symptoms.
I'm assuming that having then is bad, yet it's surprisingly inert.
I'm sure in 10 years we will find a massive horror that they cause when it's too late.
How can we find a control group in the first place if we are all affected?
Good point, and another reason why it's difficult,
however, you don't always need a control, look ar Rachel Carson's Silent spring.
which documented how having DDT everywhere in the world polluting all the waters leads to a decrease in Bird population without a DDT free planet to compare with besides the past.
You have an interesting writing style.
Gonna have to dissect some deceased inhabitants of North Sentinel Island as a control group.
I thought we've already been warned that all this plastic causes cancer. Like that's why we're not supposed to microwave things in plastic bowls & with plastic wrap, it supposedly causes cancer.
Some plastics cause cancer, others seem to be completely ignored by biological processes. Plastics range from cellophane which is basically just cellulose fibers chained together to Teflon which is basically entirely man made. It all depends, but generally speaking, plastic in the microwave is bad.
We think it might cause cancer, but don't think we really seem any strong sognificant relationship.