Japanese scientists find microplastics are present in clouds

Microplastics -- defined as plastic particles under 5 millimeters -- come from industrial effluent, textiles, synthetic car tires, personal care products and much more.

I can't help but ask: are all those 'safe' plastic food containers really ok to stick in the microwave?

Horror of Horrors!

Plastics Everywhere!

Man is Destroying the Earth his Home!

Those micro plastics are not only in clouds affecting the climate, but in our body, penetrating our cells and organs. Impact on health is not yet known but I won’t be surprised it is a path for diseases to develop or reduce the human reproductive function

Emerging evidence has linked microplastics to a range of impacts on heart and lung health, as well as cancers, in addition to widespread environmental harm

Sorry, impact on health is written partly in the article

It makes perfect sense that micro plastics are in clouds. Clouds are formed by evaporation although, it’s more likely the plastic finds its way into the atmosphere through water spouts and typhoons.

Well very good. You would think a plastic planet would be indestructible. I still love the feel of synthetic materials, though.

I can't help but ask: are all those 'safe' plastic food containers really ok to stick in the microwave?

in a word....no

Time to stop meaningless over-wrapping in Japanese supermarkets!

It beats me why items that are already securely wrapped have to be placed in another vinyl bag.

We have to put a stop to this before it's too late!

I think industrial effluents are probably the largest source in the atmosphere. But our consumption via packaging is a curse.

Like the movie The Graduate from 1967, the famous line, “I just want to say one word to you… plastics.” has come home to roost.

As we all need food for sustenance and have to purchase it and bring it home then how simple it is to be part of the solution by reusing plastic bags or by switching to a cloth bag.

Refusing plastic is literally better for us all

What next...dome cities to assess and restrict the bioavailability of airborne microplastics and their potential to enter the human respiratory system?

What are masks made of?

Researchers in Japan have confirmed microplastics are present in clouds, where they are likely affecting the climate in ways that aren't yet fully understood.

"Affecting the climate in ways that aren't fully understood" could very well mean "not affecting the climate in the slightest."

In fact, it probably does mean that.

In fact, it probably does mean that.

"In fact" you say, but didn't state in which fact you have used to determine it probably means that.

Are you sure you didn't mean "In opinion, it probably does mean that"?

Disposable masks are made of microplastics, so fairly relevant to the discussion, since there have been billions used and discarded worldwide, especially in the last few years.

Some people who have used masks and blamed others for the propogation of viruses and pretty used as a virtue signal symbol, don't like the fact that they have been a large part of the microplastics problem.

So they try veiled attempts to hide the fact of the environmental damages of these disposable, microplastic products so they don't need to feel guilty and can just pretend to care by whining about plastic bags and straws, etc, etc (which are also a huge issue too).

IMHO

So they try veiled attempts to hide the fact of the environmental damages of these disposable, microplastic products so they don't need to feel guilty and can just pretend to care by whining about plastic bags and straws, etc, etc (which are also a huge issue too).

Very interesting conspiracy you have a theory on...

Micro plastics are every where, in the food we eat, the oceans, the atmosphere and nearly all man made products. The sad thing is, the overwhelming population of the world do not care.

kurisupisuToday  09:00 am JST

As we all need food for sustenance and have to purchase it and bring it home then how simple it is to be part of the solution by reusing plastic bags or by switching to a cloth bag.

In a word, no. This will do nothing to reduce plastic production. Also where you will put the trash? That’s right, in a plastic bag.

These tiny fragments have been discovered inside fish in the deepest recesses of the ocean peppering Arctic sea ice and blanketing the snows on the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain.

Care to rewrite this sentence? I was trying to figure out for a millisecond how the fish in the deepest recesses of the ocean were able to pepper Arctic sea ice, and wondering if we were talking flying fish here. Then, as I read on to see the blanketing of the Pyrenees snowfields I realized that commas were missing.

Microplastics were discovered in baby formula. From the containers.

With all the dreadful global warming and micro plastics about, I'm surprised there's any human being left on this planet

Mother Earth:

I can’t breathe!

An interesting and troubling finding, all jokes and sarcasm aside.

With all the dreadful global warming and micro plastics about, I'm surprised there's any human being left on this planet

But for how long? Eventually some corporation will screw up and wipe out all life on earth. Oops!

"Affecting the climate in ways that aren't fully understood" could very well mean "not affecting the climate in the slightest."

In fact, it probably does mean that

I remember a mate of mine saying that one problem with science education is that science graduates want and expect higher salaries than what teaching offers.

How to improve understanding of the sciences is a problem.

Fredrik

Unlikely my dear fellow. The planet is a jolly big place, it can withstand a lot.

We would be more likely to have a quick demise due to an asteroid strike or a nuclear winter caused by the madmen in charge.

Don't worry. Individually plastic wrapped onions and carrots will protect you from microplastics. Oh, wait..

Micro plastic are also found in sea water and sea salt you buy geez really in the clouds? But man it is hot again today in Tokyo

Yes, of course, like everything else it has the intrinsic trend of chaotic distribution, osmosis, diffusion, spreading and such. But what's the alternative, a then necessary sudden back to former epochs without any plastic, because also less production still would of course add up to the already existing problem? That's completely unrealistic, closing all production, sales and usage of it. We have to abide and get used to it, not much can be done, maybe some more monitoring and locally limited measures, but that's all to it.

The planet is a jolly big place, it can withstand a lot.

Indeed. Though the past couple of years have shown that the planets climate that we are destroying is rapidly becoming harder to live in.

We will doubtless be hearing more about this in the future.

So carbon dioxide wasn't the problem after all....

How are microplastics mixed with the air? Are they stirred up from oceans?

So pure rainwater collectors in places like Tasmania will actually need filters then?

@ WeiWei

So you believe that reusing a plastic bag does not reduce the demand for plastic bags?

I would beg to differ

However, using a cloth bag or one made of bamboo is much better for the environment

Of course having a landfill near ones home where everyone could dump organic waste would be the best but I can’t see that happening in major cities around the world

Send like plastic eating bacteria is what we need

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/28/plastic-eating-bacteria-enzyme-recycling-waste

all most every thing is made from plastic and we love plastic soo much we eat it everyday by accident and not knowing.

the earth was never designed for plastic it’s designed for mothers nature, plants, animals. All living creatures. Humans are a cancer to this planet if you think about it.

I remember reading something a couple of years ago that said the biggest pollutant at the Arctic was paint fragments, presumably from ships. Second biggest was tyre fragments.

The biggest or near biggest single source of ocean pollution is lost or discarded fishing gear. Given time, this too will break down into microplastics.

I think ordinary people are concerned about pollution, but the political system distracts us from it in case we demand any action that might hurt powerful people's profits.

Tire dust stays low so we can get more of it into our lungs. Measuring and reporting the particulates within three meters of the ground would make people want to wear scuba gear.

The sky is falling!!!

Meanwhile Japan burns household plastic in inci towers all over Japan.

This. And actually applies to most trash here in japan. Yet local recycling rules for sorting trash are forced upon us. People dutifully sort into so many types and have to throw things out only on certain days. Break the rule or throw out wrong trash on wrong day and you're in for it. Be ready to be ostracised.

Yet, most of it is all just burned anyway. Crazy.

In 2021, the recycling rate of plastic waste in Japan amounted to 87 percent.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1169339/japan-rate-of-recycled-plastic-waste/#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20recycling%20rate,Japan%20amounted%20to%2087%20percent.

The planet is a jolly big place, it can withstand a lot.

The world population has more than doubled in the past 50 years.

More plastic has been produced in the last 10 years than the entire 20th century and it is all still here in one form or another.

This is not a trend the planet can withstand for long.

falseflagsteveSep. 28 12:59 pm JST

The planet is a jolly big place, it can withstand a lot.

It clearly can't withstand the carbon emissions we are putting out. No fitness program will protect you from the effects.

Many might celebrate the high recycle rate of plastics in Japan, I don't. How about start with reduction of plastic, I dunno, the fake plastic seaweed in bento boxes to start. Is these anything more useless?

Then to the next step, maybe local, prefectural, or dare I say, the Japanese government reign in the largest source of plastic distribution and make accountable the cost to clean up the mess - convenient stores. But I can't help thinking that this will never happen as I am quite certain that the 7/11, Lawson, Family mart all own the politicians.

Folks, for anybody over 20, it is too late. We need to teach the children to say no. The future and solution resides in our children. Enough is enough.