poor widdle sheeple
Are Republicans trying to lose the midterms?
https://spectator.com/article/are-republicans-trying-to-lose-the-midterms
Microplastics Key Evidence of Detection
Blood: The first detection occurred in a 2022 Dutch study of 22 healthy adults, where plastic particles (e.g., polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate) were found in 17 samples (about 77%), at a mean concentration of ~1.6 µg/mL. Subsequent studies confirmed this in larger or different cohorts, with particles in 80–90% of samples and various polymers (e.g., polystyrene, polypropylene). Particles range from sub-micron to hundreds of µm and can circulate systemically.
Organs and Tissues:
Brain: A 2025 study using Py-GC/MS on autopsy samples found substantially higher concentrations in frontal cortex tissue (median ~3,000–5,000 µg/g in 2024 samples) compared to liver or kidney, with levels rising ~50% from 2016 to 2024. Polyethylene was predominant; particles appeared in inflammatory cells and vessel walls. Brains showed 7–30 times more than other organs in some analyses.
Heart and Blood Vessels: Microplastics (e.g., polyethylene, PVC) were detected in carotid artery plaques in about half of patients in a 2024 study. They have also been found in heart tissues from cardiac surgery patients.
Liver, Kidney, Spleen: Detected in autopsy and surgical samples, with higher levels in diseased livers (e.g., cirrhosis) in some reports.
Lungs: Fibers and particles in lung tissue from autopsies and surgical patients, consistent with inhalation exposure.
Placenta: Found in every sample in some studies (e.g., all 62 tested in one 2024 analysis), with concentrations up to hundreds of µg/g; also in meconium (newborn first stool) and amniotic fluid.
Reproductive System: Present in testicles, semen (all samples in multiple studies, often 3–5 polymer types per person), and follicular fluid. Common polymers include polystyrene and PTFE.
Other Fluids/Tissues: Detected in breast milk, urine, stool (nearly all samples in pilot studies, e.g., median ~20 particles per 10g), saliva, tonsils, and bone marrow. Newborns show exposure via meconium ("born pre-polluted").
A 2024 scoping review identified microplastics in 8 of 12 major organ systems (cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, reproductive, etc.), with polymers like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), PET, and PVC most common.
Microplastics in Bottled Water
Concentrations in Bottled Water
Concentrations vary widely depending on brand, region, bottle type (single-use PET is common), and detection method (older studies missed most nanoplastics <1 µm):
Traditional microplastics (typically >1–5 µm): Earlier studies reported averages from ~2–325 particles per liter, with some brands or regions reaching thousands. Bottled water generally shows 6–7 times more particles than tap water globally (or ~2–3 times in recent analyses including smaller sizes).
Including nanoplastics (using advanced techniques like stimulated Raman scattering microscopy): A landmark 2024 Columbia University study found an average of ~240,000 plastic particles per liter in three popular U.S. brands (range 110,000–370,000), with ~90% being nanoplastics. This was 10–100 times higher than prior estimates focused on larger particles.
Recent 2026 studies confirm bottled water often has 2–3 times more total micro- and nanoplastics than treated tap water, with >50% of particles in the nanoplastic range. Some brands show significantly higher levels than others.
Common polymers detected include PET (from the bottle), polypropylene (PP, often from caps), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), and others. Fibers and fragments predominate; colors like transparent/blue are frequent.
oh no not again. expect to undergo the hardship of watching the Costco boomers loading up
man's reaction to ICE at airport
https://x.com/theroyalserf/status/2036481644513861769