Author Topic: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow  (Read 963 times)

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Offline Black PhoenixTopic starter

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Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« on: June 09, 2022, 01:45:02 am »
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61739159

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Researchers from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand collected samples from 19 sites in Antarctica and each contained tiny plastic fragments.

Microplastics stem from the erosion of plastic materials and are smaller than a grain of rice - sometimes even invisible to the naked eye.

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"The most likely source of these airborne microplastics is local scientific research stations," researcher Alex Aves wrote in the journal, Cryosphere.

"However, modelling shows their origin could have been up to 6,000km (3,700 miles) away."

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"Microplastics can have harmful substances stuck on to their surfaces such as heavy metals, algae," says Laura Revell, associate professor at Canterbury University, who was also involved in the research.

"So they can provide a way in which harmful species can make it into some remote and sensitive areas, that otherwise wouldn't get there."

Experts also say humans inhale and ingest microplastics via air, water and food.

Not much research has been done on their impact on human health, but one study by the Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull last year found that high levels of ingested microplastics in the human body have the potential to cause harmful effects, including cell death and allergic reactions.
 

Offline Stray Electron

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Re: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2022, 02:29:29 am »
  Sorry but that is OLD news. Pollutants have been found in every corner of the planet including in the oceans, on the land and in the snows of the Arctic and Antarctic.
 

Offline MikeK

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Re: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2022, 07:15:48 pm »
The good news is that I'll be dead before the shit REALLY hits the fan.
 
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Online Gyro

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Re: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2022, 07:30:20 pm »
So much better than the younger generations who will just wish they were!
Best Regards, Chris
 

Offline MikeK

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Re: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2022, 08:36:58 pm »
Yeah, probably in a few generations.  But if humanity survives I should think it will be better for it (long term, though)...having learned hard lessons and becoming better stewards of the planet.
 

Online tszaboo

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Re: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2022, 10:37:18 pm »
Yeah, probably in a few generations.  But if humanity survives I should think it will be better for it (long term, though)...having learned hard lessons and becoming better stewards of the planet.
Yep, it's too late for us anyway.
This is the 4th state of grieving, you are just one step away from acceptance. Then you can actually start doing something about it. Good job, keep going!
 

Offline Stray Electron

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Re: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2022, 01:27:24 am »
The good news is that I'll be dead before the shit REALLY hits the fan.

  So you're saying that you'll be dead before all of the man-made problems can kill you?  That wouldn't sound very reassuring to me.
 

Offline pcprogrammer

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Re: Microplastics found in fresh Antarctic snow
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2022, 05:26:17 am »
The good news is that I'll be dead before the shit REALLY hits the fan.

  So you're saying that you'll be dead before all of the man-made problems can kill you?  That wouldn't sound very reassuring to me.

To me it sounds better than to have to live with all the shit that can arise. And lets face it the human race does not learn from the past. Just look at Russia and the Ukraine at the moment. Nobody want's war, but they still proceed with it. And it is not just the people of these countries that suffer, it spreads and is misused by the big money to make more money. And therein lies the problem that will be the downfall of mankind. Greed. At least that is my view on it.


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