The Climate Crisis

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The impacts and solutions of the Climate Crisis

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At this point, Microplastics pollution should probably be included (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The average brain weighs 1300-1400 grams. If 0.5% of that is plastic by weight, your brain contains 6.5 - 7 grams of plastic. The average plastic credit card weighs 5 grams.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/21/microplastics-brain-pollution-health

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

It comes from car tires, single-use plastics teflon pans, and plastic food containers. Plastic items that are meant to last a long time aren’t shedding as much.

So if you want to reduce your microplastic contributions, avoid driving, avoid single-use plastics, don’t buy non-stick pans, and use glass food containers.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

There's also carpeting, synthetic fibers from clothing, PVC and PEX piping for water supply, paint, etc. The one that gets me is the plastic Brita filter pitcher. This thing is supposed to clean my water.

It took us decades to get to this point and it'll take us more time to back out of it. And we have to start somewhere.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Do PVC and PEX pipes/multiple use plastic containers (like the Brita pitcher) actually release microplastics? I’m aware of evidence that PEX pipes leach chemicals (also very bad), but I can’t find anything showing they increase microplastics.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Chlorinated water adversely affects PEX pipes. I don't know that the amount of microplastics or nanoplastics has been quantified in a study yet.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b03673

The mechanical properties and lifetime of PEX were reduced after exposure to chlorinated water. (6) Prompted by concerns about the effect of chlorine dioxide on the chemical integrity of pipe materials, the pressure, tensile strength, and oxidation induction time were evaluated at constant temperature to assess the damage to pipe samples after exposure to chlorine dioxide for one year. (7) Overall, pipe aging due to long-term disinfectant exposure could cause decreased antioxidant contents; increased crystallinity; chain rupture; hydroxyl, carbonyl, and/or vinyl group production; and visible cracks in pipe walls.

Can such an aging process lead to MP and/or NP leaching into the drinking water network? On the basis of aging mechanisms and material performance characteristics, we propose that MPs and/or NPs can be leached from aging pipes.

The Brita pitcher comment is about my own growing paranoia about plastics that get scratched or cracked. I don't know the conditions and time line under which this particular formulation of plastic keeps it from shedding MPs.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Thanks for the information, I too am somewhat paranoid about plastics and chemicals leaching into my food/drink.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

While you're at it, make sure you're reducing your energy usage so you can stop climate change. Don't worry about Shell or ExxonMobil, I'm sure they're doing their best. And if we keep politely letting them know that climate change makes us sad I'm sure they'll give up their stranglehold on energy production so we can live happier, healthier lives! /S

In case it wasn't clear, treating huge environmental problems isn't a personal responsibility thing. We need legislation, and that isn't going to happen without drastic action.