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submitted 1 month ago by tonytins@pawb.social to c/science@lemmy.world
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[-] Kolanaki@pawb.social 26 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I've already been assuming micro plastics are in literally everything on the planet after it's been found in so many things in recent years. At this point, it would be more surprising to know what doesn't have micro plastics in it.

I'd also like to see more studies on the effects of micro plastics being in everything. Shits in our fucking balls but we don't know if it's harming us. Everything sure wants to make you scared of it, though. I just wanna know if we really should be. I mean, I don't think it's good but still.

[-] kinther@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

Ouch my balls

[-] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 4 points 1 month ago

I think there was a thing done that said they found microplastics in our brains

[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 month ago

Because... they're made of microplastics?

... Must be a coincidence.

[-] FenderStratocaster@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

I'm ignorant. Have micro plastics been proven to be harmful?

[-] calum@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

At the very least, significantly more microplastics were found in corpses of people who had dementia and the volume has increased between 2016 and 2024.

Correlation vs causation will require more research but it surely can't be harmful begin to reduce exposure where we can as we didn't have microplastics resident in our body for most of human history. I'd hazard an educated guess that accumulating any inorganic material inside your body isn't good for you.

[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 month ago

There are hints about them having carcinogen properties and promoting cerebral disorders (they do cross the blood-brain-barrier). But since human health is complex, not much evidence yet.

[-] notastatist@feddit.org 4 points 1 month ago

Yess, as they accumulate in the body at least.

[-] Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago

How is that proof that they're harmful?

[-] FenderStratocaster@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

That's not evidence of anything though.

[-] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 13 points 1 month ago

I’d never have thought rubber or petroleum would be in a food.

[-] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 month ago

Well in the case of chewing gum, it basically IS plastic.

[-] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 5 points 1 month ago

Most commercial gums use a "synthetic gum base." It has been made with latex, chickle, all manner of crap.

[-] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Isn't natural plant gum latex too?

I think it is more accurate to say latex is a natural plant gum.

[-] Tomassci@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 month ago

That's why I go to the source and chew plastics.

[-] Buffalobuffalo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 month ago

But which gum? I'm chewing gum right now and would prefer diet plastic gum if possible.

[-] ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 month ago

Almost all modern gum base is made from rubber/plastic. If you want plastic free gum you'll likely have to switch to one that specifically advertised as such. Most people talk about Simply Gum; I've never tried it personally and don't know much about the company

[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 month ago

"Surprisingly, the natural based gums gave off the same amount of microplastics" so I'm not sure it's worth switching from the one you like. The better way to reduce your intake is not to start a new piece, instead keep chewing the old one that's releasing fewer and fewer particles. The best choice would be to stop chewing gum, but it helps me eat less, also there's apparently microplastics in foods too, and in everything else including our eyeballs.

[-] reddig33@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

How do gum bases not made of plastic give off plastic? Chicle and other natural gum bases come from plants.

[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

I don't know, I just quoted the study.

My theory as a non-scientist would be that the plastics aren't from the gum at all, but the gums and tongue which are apparently already full of them, according to random things on the Internet.

But that just shows how stupid it is to ask me

[-] papertowels@mander.xyz 3 points 1 month ago

Your question made me wonder - what if the plants had micro plastics lol.

[-] bizzle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

They do, and it's affecting photosynthesis 😅

[-] papertowels@mander.xyz 2 points 1 month ago

Yaaaaaaaaay

[-] Obi@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 month ago

Crazy how different people react differently to things, I don't chew gum often but I did try it again when I started controlling my diet and for me it just seems to activate my hunger, like my brain thinks "I'm chewing something, time to prepare the stomach for receiving food!".

[-] Buffalobuffalo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago

Do you have any shabiri grapes?

[-] workerONE@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago
[-] Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

you have to worry how abrasive some are.

[-] randint@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 1 points 1 month ago

I just pulled this out from my ass, but I would guess yes, they do. But you rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth so I would guess it's not that bad? Since you're (mostly) not ingesting the microplastic particles from the toothbrush. But again I'm going off of nothing.

[-] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 10 points 1 month ago

Current advice is actually to not rinse after brushing, as you're meant to let the fluoride of the toothpaste sit against your teeth for thirty minutes.

Unfortunately, I would recommend not losing sleep over either source of microplastics (chewing gum or toothbrushes), until tires and synthetic clothing are done away with by society. Those are much MUCH bigger, inescapable sources of microplastics

[-] CitizenKong@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

Isn't it mostly tires? Which is just another reason humanity has to be cured of this insane car-craziness.

[-] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago

Tires are there biggest ones, yeah, but number two is shedding from synthetic clothing creation and laundering

[-] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I think micro plastics are in all the water everywhere.

[-] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

We're talking about their major sources, not where they're now consequently found

[-] shekau@lemmy.today 2 points 1 month ago
[-] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Because that's what tires are made out of, and they wear away as you drive (that's why you need to replace tires every so often as the treads wear away). That material doesn't just disappear, it gets ground down and dispersed into the environment as they're used.

It's one reason why electric cars aren't a great solution for anyone but car manufacturers—the tires. They'll cut down on fossil fuel use and fuel emissions, yes, but that's not the only way cars pollute.

EDIT: Also, thank you for asking! Always happy to explain :)

[-] Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

yea i heard that trick too, unfortunately it can cause perioral dermatitis in people, especially some toothpastes. because it tends to seep out of your lips and sits in the corner irritating the lips.

[-] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 1 points 1 month ago

Instructions unclear, pulled toothbrush out of ass.

[-] Vandals_handle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Are you a sea cucumber?

[-] slumberlust@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

If this interests you, consider the book Ultra Processed People.

[-] FuckFascism@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Yummy, I love eating micro plastics...😋

[-] reksas@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

good thing i stopped using chewing gum ages ago, always chewed it way too long and it turned disgusting.

[-] Mongostein@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago

So awesome

/s

this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2025
62 points (95.6% liked)

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