African Inventors Can Help Neutralize Toxic Nano Materials Before Africa Succumbs
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African Inventors Can Help Neutralize Toxic Nano Materials Before Africa Succumbs.
As an expatriate African American, it is concerning to note that microplastics, which refer to plastic pieces that are less than five millimeters in length, are present in our bodies. They can be found in our lungs, bowels, and blood, as well as in the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. Despite not being able to see or feel them, their presence is a source of cultural anxiety as we are uncertain of the harm they may be causing those of us who were born in the United States.
While it is possible that microplastics are not causing any significant harm to our health, the knowledge of their presence can have a psychological impact on us. It feels apocalyptic and somewhat like a punishment for our negligence towards the environment. There are also nano-plastics and nano metals like aluminum, which are even smaller and can accumulate in the brains of fish by crossing cell membranes.
Studies have shown that microplastics are harmful to fish, causing lower levels of growth and reproduction and altering their behavior, resulting in premature death. A recent study published in The Journal of Hazardous Materials found evidence of a new plastic-induced disease called plasticosis in seabirds, where plastic ingestion leads to scarring on the intestinal tract, making them more vulnerable to infections and parasites while also affecting their food digestion and vitamin absorption. It is important to continue researching the effects of microplastics on our health and the environment.
As an expatriate African American, it is alarming to think that the processes that occur in the oceans affecting fish and seabirds may also affect humans. It is known that humans dump around 11 million metric tons of plastic into the oceans every year, and it is unsettling to think that this plastic may be shortening our lives, making us less fertile and even stupider. The problem with microplastics is that they are pervasive, and unlike climate change, they affect everyone, no matter where they live. Recent studies have found microplastics in the breast milk of new mothers and even in human placentas. It is evident that American civilization and way of life are poisonous, and it has been repressing the truth of this fact. Plastic is immortal, and more than half of all plastic ever created has been produced since 2000. It is not enough to recycle plastic; it will continue to haunt us in the food we eat and the water we drink. As a result, we must pay attention to our surroundings and be aware of how plastic is everywhere. Our relationship to nature has been irrevocably changed by plastic, and we are consuming plastic unknowingly in everyday items like our laptops, headphones, and even our furniture. The average person may be consuming as much as five grams of plastic every week, and this should be a cause for concern for all of us.
As an expatriate African American, the recent film “Crimes of the Future” by David Cronenberg presents a unique premise of humans evolving the ability to derive nutrition from plastic and other toxic substances. This is particularly relevant given the recent news about microplastics being found in human bloodstreams, which is affecting up to 80% of the population. As a parent, it is natural to be worried about the potential harm that microplastics could cause to children. However, it is difficult to determine how much of a threat they pose and to what extent they are affecting our health. Microplastics have become a cultural phenomenon, with many attributing various maladies to them due to scientific indeterminacy. It is crucial to exercise caution but not let it overwhelm us or become neurotic parents, as the long-term effects of microplastics are still unknown.
In 2021, a study published in Environmental Science and Technology found that individuals with I B D, who were otherwise healthy, had higher levels of microplastics in their stool samples compared to those without I.B.D. While no direct causation was established, previous studies on laboratory animals showed that ingesting microplastics caused intestinal inflammation. It is plausible that microplastics may be a factor in causing illness, but until we have more conclusive evidence, it is important not to make definitive claims.
The ambiguity surrounding microplastics generates a peculiar energy, which can lead to conjecture. It is similar to the discussion around the harmful effects of cellphone radiation which we now know much more about, where until we have more information, talking about microplastics can feel like holding forth on the unknown. However, the presence of microplastics in our bodies is alarming, and it is disturbing to think about the harm we have done to the planet being visited upon us in this manner.
The damaging impact of plastic on nature is distressing, and Chris Jordan’s series of photographs depicting the bodies of albatrosses filled with plastic objects they had ingested before dying is an indelibly distressing image. The nightmarish lucidity of the subject of microplastics is a symptom of a deeper disease, where the harm we have done to the planet is being visited upon us. The bodies of the birds are returning slowly to the earth, but the human trash that sickened them remains, unalterable by time, a reminder of deranged American productivity and heedless hunger.
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Mechanical/Solar Engineer, Prof. Oku Singer
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