Microplastics Can Block Blood Vessels in Mice Brains, Researchers Find (theguardian.com) 21
Microplastics can move through mice brains and block blood vessels, essentially mimicking blood clots that could potentially be fatal or otherwise disrupt brain function. From a report: The findings are detailed in a peer-reviewed paper for which researchers for the first time used real-time imaging to track bits of plastic as they moved through and accumulated in brain blood vessels. When one piece of plastic got stuck, others accumulated behind it, like a "car crash," the authors reported.
The authors then found decreased motor function in those mice exposed to microplastics, suggesting impacts on the brain. While mounting evidence has linked microplastics to neurotoxicity, the research is the first to suggest how -- it probably reduces blood flow. "This revelation offers a lens through which to comprehend the toxicological implications of microplastics that invade the bloodstream," the Peking University authors wrote.
The authors then found decreased motor function in those mice exposed to microplastics, suggesting impacts on the brain. While mounting evidence has linked microplastics to neurotoxicity, the research is the first to suggest how -- it probably reduces blood flow. "This revelation offers a lens through which to comprehend the toxicological implications of microplastics that invade the bloodstream," the Peking University authors wrote.
Dirt and dust can also (Score:2)
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I agree that we can control some and not others but we can also control nature to an extent. Tires are probably #2 and particulates from vehicle and industrial exhaust would be #3.
Dust is technically mostly man-made. Though some is paper fibers and not dead skin and such. Paper fibers would also be man-made.
Inhalable dirt particles is mostly related to civilization (both housing and farming) because natural land is usually more well bound to roots and has a solid cover.
There's probably untold number of t
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The problem is microplastics are detectable in every human (and likely other creatures) making a control group impossible.
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Surely there is a bubble boy available.
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Hate to burst your bubble, but it's also made out of plastic.
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Large natural particles can do this as well, like bricks.
All I can say is, (Score:3)
good thing I'm not a mouse!
Can it be filtered out? (Score:3)
"Researchers suspect that immune cells had, in effect, absorbed the bits of plastic, creating irregular-shaped cells" that more easily get stuck and create blockages. So we need to be more proactive.
In the future you will periodically hook up to something like a dialysis machine that will filter the accumulated microplastics out of your blood. It will also remove senescent cells, bacteria, and viruses.
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I'm not even sure things will be as invasive as hooking people up to machines to filter their blood out as it passes out of them and through the machine in a loop?
We already know there is such a thing as a bacteria that eats plastics. It's quite possible we'll come up with a pill to take just like people take vitamins and other supplements now, that will introduce something into the bloodstream that dissolves plastic particles.
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You can give blood to reduce PFAS in your system, so probably the same here.
Do you use that blood for life saving purposes? Your call.
Read it while it's available, it's from the NIH:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/a... [nih.gov]
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In a world where a sizable portion of the population believes vaccines to be microchip implants for 5G remote control you're gonna convince the average citizen to hook themselves up to a blood filter machine every once in a while? How much will the USA make that cost for the average citizen? I'm guessing it'll be well over a five year average salary.
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A dialysis session costs about $500 but hey, nobody is going to make you get your blood scrubbed. You are welcome to keep the brain damage. Freedom!
Maybe there is hope after all ... (Score:2)
that we will not need to endure all four years [bbc.co.uk].
Dam plastics (Score:1)
That explains it! (Score:1)
This explains why (Score:2)
everyone is getting stupid. (I thought it was just my perception).
Someday, we will look back on plastics like we now look back on leaded gas (which is strongly implicated in crime rates...see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik... [wikipedia.org] ).
Also explains recent election results.