In the distant future, long after humanity has vanished and our structures have crumbled, a distinct layer of plastics in the geological strata might be the last trace of our civilization. Plastics, the hallmark of the Anthropocene, are lauded for their cheapness, convenience, durability, and versatility. They have revolutionized various fields, including 21st-century medicine, where they are essential for items like intravenous tubes, gowns, syringes, and catheters.
However, the omnipresence of plastics has significant downsides. The production process is environmentally harmful, involving petrochemicals and additives that can be toxic, leaching carcinogens and endocrine disruptors into ecosystems and the human body. Plastic pollution contaminates rivers and coastlines, posing a threat to wildlife and infiltrating food chains. The manufacture and incineration of plastics release harmful emissions. Microplastics, tiny fragments less than 5 mm, are found everywhere—from mountaintops to Antarctic ice cores, oceans, and human bloodstreams. We ingest or inhale these particles daily. Although much remains to be understood about their impact on health, recent research indicates that microplastics and nanoplastics in carotid artery plaques can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, or death.1
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References
- Editorial. (2024). Ending plastic pollution: an opportunity for health. In The Lancet (Vol. 403, p. 1951). https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2824%2901018-3
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