Don't eat (or inhale) microplastics?

[woodgeek]

We discuss microplastics a bit around here, couldn't find the relevant mega-thread, so started a new one.

New study dropped last week that found 'nanoplastics' (sub-micron microplastics) in human arterial plaques.
In about 50% of patients. Following those patients with nanoplastics, they did less well than those patients without.

video here:

Gil is quite level headed and sober... unlike Sabine.

This is just the first study... there will certainly be more in the future now. Not clear how the nanoplastics got into the bloodstream.

I have poo-poo'ed microplastics in the past (in response to a lot of very poorly motivated hype in social media). This post is my penace for my earlier skepticism.

 

[Prometeo]

I think it comes especially from drinks in plastic bottles, unfortunately

 

[walhondingnashua]

The list of negatives from the Chemical Age grows...

 

[begreen]

I think it comes especially from drinks in plastic bottles, unfortunately

Bottled water is often tainted, the theory being that the filters are shedding tiny plastic fragments. That is one of the sources but it is also airborne and showing up on pristine mountaintops. A big concern is that some of these nanoparticles appear to be able to cross the brain/blood barrier. That may have troubling consequences.

Microplastics are in our bodies. Here's why we don't know the health risks

Researchers are racing to try to understand how much humans are exposed and what levels are toxic.

www.sciencenews.org

Micro- and Nanoplastics Breach the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB): Biomolecular Corona’s Role Revealed

Humans are continuously exposed to polymeric materials such as in textiles, car tires and packaging. Unfortunately, their break down products pollute our environment, leading to widespread contamination with micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). The blood–brain ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

While mulling that over, here is another wonderful gift from the food packaging industry.

61 Unexpected ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Food Packaging

A global study identified 61 PFAS chemicals in food packaging that are not authorized for use in such products

www.scientificamerican.com

 

[stoveliker]

Personally, I think the blood brain barrier is not a bigger deal than the chemicals they release while (anywhere) in our body. We likely all have micro-(nano-)scopic silica there as well, from eroding rock.

Small amounts of some of these chemicals can affect biochemistry (hormones etc).

 

[begreen]

The list of negatives from the Chemical Age grows...

Out of control would be an apt description.

 

[woodgeek]

Personally, I think the blood brain barrier is not a bigger deal than the chemicals they release while (anywhere) in our body. We likely all have micro-(nano-)scopic silica there as well, from eroding rock.

Small amounts of some of these chemicals can affect biochemistry (hormones etc).

nano-silica is biodegradable.

 

[stoveliker]

I thought that was mesoporous silica.

It depends a lot. See quote below.
But my main point was that we'll ingest a lot of nanoparticles into our bodies because they exist abundantly in nature too.

MSN is mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

The FDA has recognized silica as “safe” for over 50 years, which makes the hurdle for deeming MSN-based drugs as “safe” mainly dependent on the modifications and cargo of choice. Silica nanoparticles, without modifications, have two primary mechanisms for toxicity in the human body.46 The first mechanism is due to surface silanol groups becoming reactive on losing their hydrogens. The reactive Si–O- group causes membranolysis by reacting with the tetraalkylammonium-containing phospholipids58 on the cell membrane. The second mechanism is due to siloxane groups on the surface, forming three-membered siloxane rings, which are unstable and, hence, reactive. These reactive siloxane rings, like the silanol groups, can also cause membranolysis.59 The presence of silanols and siloxane groups on the surface of the MSNs is dependent on whether the surfactant was removed through calcination or ion-exchange during MSN synthesis. This makes knowing the synthesis route of your MSNs important when understanding potential toxicity of your MSNs. It is important to note that both mechanisms are dependent on the surface chemistry of MSNs. Targeting surface modifications will have an acute effect on toxicity and is important when designing new MSNs for drug treatment. Regardless of whether the surface is primarily silanols or siloxanes, the potential for toxicity at higher dosages is present.

Edit: it's nano crystalline quartz (also sio2..) that is cytotoxic. See those countertops mfgs.

 

[woodgeek]

Silica dissolves in alkali conditions, and I thought it did so (eventually) in the body. Many naturally occurring minerals other than silica do not.

 

[Prometeo]

Bottled water is often tainted, the theory being that the filters are shedding tiny plastic fragments. That is one of the sources but it is also airborne and showing up on pristine mountaintops. A big concern is that some of these nanoparticles appear to be able to cross the brain/blood barrier. That may have troubling consequences.

Microplastics are in our bodies. Here's why we don't know the health risks

Researchers are racing to try to understand how much humans are exposed and what levels are toxic.

www.sciencenews.org

Micro- and Nanoplastics Breach the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB): Biomolecular Corona’s Role Revealed

Humans are continuously exposed to polymeric materials such as in textiles, car tires and packaging. Unfortunately, their break down products pollute our environment, leading to widespread contamination with micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). The blood–brain ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

While mulling that over, here is another wonderful gift from the food packaging industry.

61 Unexpected ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Food Packaging

A global study identified 61 PFAS chemicals in food packaging that are not authorized for use in such products

www.scientificamerican.com

not just the filters, but the containers themselves, caps especially, they are not stable