[Microplastics] Why You Should Care

According to some studies, nearly 2,000 garbage trucks worth of plastic end up in the world’s rivers, lakes, and oceans, every … day. That’s 8 million metric tons. A 2023 study supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation found microplastics in the blubber, lungs, and acoustic organs of whales and seals.
Other studies of microplastics in marine mammals found health impacts ranging from impaired immunity, reproductive toxicity, altered metabolism and cancer risks.
These microplastics are in us, too. They have been found in human lungs, blood, and even placentas. And the problem could get worse because of environmental weathering as the plastics gradually breakdown and change.
Timothy Allen, a contractor in NSF's Office of Legislative & Public Affairs, hosts this episode.
Featured guests (in order of appearance) include:
Dr. Lauren Pincus, an environmental chemist and post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University.
Dr. Bhuvnesh Bharti, Associate Professor at Louisiana State University.

[@jdeiruxweld5344]

I don't know why but this video is so professional is like a documentary but doesn't have so much views 😢

[@NSFScience]

It’s a new format we’re trying so hopefully they’ll catch on. TY!

[@michaelallen2358]

Very informative and well done, thank you.

[@NSFScience]

Thank you very much! Next month we’ll tackle quantum!

[@michaelallen2358]

@@NSFScience Yes!!!!

[@hagopakasparian7732]

Micro plastic source is different than what mentioned and it is very much possible to stop the aggravation with simple legistration

[@ClotildeDaking]

j jh Great plan! I wish you many new discoveries when you watch it again. dp

[@LostTreasureable]

Great. Where we live we only drink water from plastic bottles.

[@Anth230]

The damage has been done. So I would not worry about it.....

[@queridogaldo6755]

sobering stuff

[@adamyapgoyal]

You literally did not define what micro plastics are. Like what is meant by "micro". Just assumed that the audience knows.

[@TheWildDoug]

They define it at :48