Microplastics May Be Be Contaminating The Air We Breathe

According to environmental health experts, Microplastics, the curse of beaches, oceans, waterways and aquatic life everywhere, might also be contaminating the air we breathe.

The Guardian is reporting that a research team at King’s College in London is looking into this serious issue.

Frank Kelly, a researcher and professor of environmental health at King’s College, at an evidence session at the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) in the UK says, “There is a possibility, a real possibility, that some of those microparticles will be entrained into the air, and they will be carried around and we will end up breathing them.

This is a horizon-scanning issue but the particles are of a size that they are [breathable], they are increasing in number in our environment and there is a question to be asked.”

Marcus Eriksen of the 5 Gyres Institute also wrote that YUGE clouds of microplastics are coming from the five subtropical gyres, with an estimated 269,000 tons of plastic from 5.25 trillion particles.

Alarmingly, as Eriksen pointed out, about 92 percent of that plastic is micro plastic.

Kelly and his colleague Dr. Stephanie Wright said in a written statement, “Microplastics have the potential to cause physical and chemical harm, as demonstrated by laboratory studies.

They now present a human health risk, mainly due to their occurrence in dietary sources.”

Plastics can discharge potentially harmful chemicals that can interfere with human hormones. Kelly also noted that the health repercussions of microplastics are only just being looked at.

Comments

Old_Curmudgeon 6 years 33 weeks ago
#1

Recall George Carlin’s take on plastics: {4 minutes}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rld0KDcan_w

-----------------------------------------

Max Mayhem's picture
Max Mayhem 6 years 33 weeks ago
#2

That George Carlin clip is hilarious. So long as you accept our inevitable demise, not so far off the mark. Micro plastic is being mistaken for plankton and fish stocks worldwide are at severe risk. How about nano plastic? The science schmoes just brushed aside any concerns about that intrusion. In India, where half the population defecates in the open , the population experiences "failure to thrive" from all of the inhaled fecal material. Perhaps this is our high tech equivalent. But carry a cloth bag to the store? That is just SO difficult.

cccccttttt 6 years 33 weeks ago
#3

Clean Canadian air now sold in bottles to Chinese.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/12/18/canada-is-selling-its-clean-air-to-china/

So under our profit driven economy, more foul water and foul air drive up demand for clean products, and thus raise the bottem line of companies that supply those products.

ct

Lloyd Lutterman's picture
Lloyd Lutterman 6 years 33 weeks ago
#4

The Connection Of Bill Gates & Monsanto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3TfZoEebKY

Thom's Blog Is On the Move

Hello All

Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.

Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.

From Cracking the Code:
"No one communicates more thoughtfully or effectively on the radio airwaves than Thom Hartmann. He gets inside the arguments and helps people to think them through—to understand how to respond when they’re talking about public issues with coworkers, neighbors, and friends. This book explores some of the key perspectives behind his approach, teaching us not just how to find the facts, but to talk about what they mean in a way that people will hear."
to understand how to respond when they’re talking about public issues with coworkers, neighbors, and friends. This book explores some of the key perspectives behind his approach, teaching us not just how to find the facts, but to talk about what they mean in a way that people will hear."
From Screwed:
"If we are going to live in a Democracy, we need to have a healthy middle class. Thom Hartmann shows us how the ‘cons’ have wronged this country, and tells us what needs to be done to reclaim what it is to be American."
Eric Utne, Founder, Utne magazine
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann channels the best of the American Founders with voice and pen. His deep attachment to a democratic civil society is just the medicine America needs."
Tom Hayden, author of The Long Sixties and director, Peace and Justice Resource Center.