25 votes

Microplastics can block blood vessels in mice brains, researchers find

8 comments

  1. Raspcoffee
    Link
    Man, as if we needed more reasons to stop with oil... but at the same time, I kind of hope that this will become a diagnosable problem. Because otherwise I fear that we won't do nearly enough.

    Man, as if we needed more reasons to stop with oil... but at the same time, I kind of hope that this will become a diagnosable problem. Because otherwise I fear that we won't do nearly enough.

    14 votes
  2. [2]
    AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    Related article that was shared by a friend this morning, Eating from plastic takeout containers can increase heart failure risk – study:...

    Related article that was shared by a friend this morning, Eating from plastic takeout containers can increase heart failure risk – study: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/12/plastic-food-containers-heart-failure

    Study link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324014593

    10 votes
    1. stu2b50
      Link Parent
      Well, the study showed that there was a correlation between eating from plastic takeout containers and heart disease per self reporting on a questionnaire. That’s not a particularly strong link,...

      Well, the study showed that there was a correlation between eating from plastic takeout containers and heart disease per self reporting on a questionnaire. That’s not a particularly strong link, and it’s merely correlative. A simple confounding factor is that people who eat out of plastic takeout containers, are also likely to eat out more, and simply have a worse diet, which we know causatively is linked to heart disease.

      22 votes
  3. mezze
    Link
    Well, hopefully this doesn’t translate too well into humans, but a part of me thinks “why wouldn’t it?”. This is one of those issues I feel totally helpless about and have kind of resigned myself...

    Well, hopefully this doesn’t translate too well into humans, but a part of me thinks “why wouldn’t it?”.

    This is one of those issues I feel totally helpless about and have kind of resigned myself to thinking it a miracle if I even reach 75-80 years-old despite leading a relatively healthy and active life sans the usual harmful vices.

    We are all King Midas, but everything we touch around us turns to plastic and I don’t see this changing any time soon.

    3 votes
  4. [4]
    BashCrandiboot
    Link
    I hope my brain blood vessels aren't blocked by any microplastics

    I hope my brain blood vessels aren't blocked by any microplastics

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      PetitPrince
      Link Parent
      A blocked brain blood vessel is usually called "a stroke', so I would assume that so far you're safe.

      A blocked brain blood vessel is usually called "a stroke', so I would assume that so far you're safe.

      4 votes
      1. BashCrandiboot
        Link Parent
        I feel this is a textbook "Ken M" moment but I'm not clever enough to capitalize on it.

        I feel this is a textbook "Ken M" moment but I'm not clever enough to capitalize on it.

        3 votes