I haven't seen the doc yet and it may address this question in there, but my question for Dr. Neville is if there's any hope/promising research about removing these plastics from bodies at some point in the future. Similar to climate anxiety, I think the many toxins in our lives are causing lots of health anxieties and I, for one, am starving for some good news.
I am curious about the “home biodegradable/compostable” baggies and wrap that is now sold more widely in such markets as Wegmans/Whole Foods/online. What binding processes allow for the plant starches to hold? Risks? Reusability (beyond single use)? And failure rate when commingled with “regular” trash… meaning failure to decompose.
There seem to be ongoing articles now questioning the research on whether we are truly measuring accurate amounts of plastics in humans and if there really are health problems caused by plastics. Is this plastic greenwashing —what is accurate? I’ve seen articles in Science and the Guardian questioning the integrity of findings.
This may not be a question for her but it's one I often think about: where are we with substitutes for plastic? I think of Mark Jacobson drawing up renewable plans for all the states and nations; is there an equivalent of someone drawing up all the alternative materials for everyday things? I mean, we get composable bags at the grocery store these days, but what about all the cellulose, glass, and wood and biodegradable/natural materials for other stuff in everyday life? (I also think about what people used before plastic became ubiquitous as someone olde enough to have had my elementary school PBJ sandwiches in wax-paper bags).
I especially want to raise up Juergen’s comment here. I am assiduous about lowering/departing from common plastic consumption (try buying berries!!) or trying to be smart about recycling (and its limits). But I am coming to understand that this singular approach barely makes a difference. My own adult children have little patience for the extra time and thought in their cramped-new-parent-lives for eschewing child rearing conveniences related to overuse of plastic. This piece of the conversation seems always to need more amplification and opportunity for responsive dialogue.
Could she describe what she uses in her home, i.e. how she buys what kinds of foods, how she prepares them and stores them, what kinds of furniture, rugs, etc. and if she were 25 today, what she would be thinking about surrounding herself with.
I just read the Financial Times piece and it answers some of this, but I'd still like to hear how she answers that. Additionally, I'm curious to know if wildlife fertility rates have shown a similar decline and whether new water and sewage treatment processes can remove the chemical and particulate contamination.
What are her best estimates of the RELATIVE exposures to these chemicals from different sources (clothing, food, drinking water, tire wear particles, upholstery, cushions, carpets...) in everyday lives, along with, or weighted by RELATIVE risk (where that can be estimated at all) of say, PFx, Bisphenols, phthalates...
I'm not too concerned about asking specific questions as I am concerned about how all of this will effect reproduction for life on the planet. We can't get rid of plastics anytime soon so what's the answer? Where do we go from here, now that we know what's going on?
Would love to hear her thoughts on "bio-plastics" that are being marketed as a better alternative. I personally think it's just greenwashing, but would like to know her perspective.
Excited to hear you're interviewing her. We're really looking forward to this documentary and heard about avoiding plastic for fertility many years ago. Follow through has been incredibly difficult though, and I'm sure fertility isn't the only thing impacted. Since it's practically impossible to avoid plastic day to day, my main question is how aggressive do we really need to be? For instance, some plastic is marketed as 'safe' because it doesn't include BPA. Is my Brita filter safe if it's in glass but uses a plastic cartridge? My coffee maker with a plastic water tank but metal insides? My almonds that come in a large but durable plastic package? Is it okay if I get a Starbucks coffee or takeout once a week? Twice? What's a concern versus not?
Are Dr. Swan’s studies consistently reproducible by independent researchers ? Has she herself been a coauthor in a peer reviewed study in which her conclusions about male genitalia size and function have been unable to be reproduced? What are her credentials as a non-medical doctor to conduct a non-placebo-controlled “study” of a statistically meaningless number of human subjects of whom the viewer knows nothing-not even their age, let alone the health of the female partners -and present it like medical science? Typically researchers have to disclose financial ties or biases-has Dr. Swan in anyway profited from her viewpoints as portrayed? I am hardly on “Team Plastic,” but I am 100% on Team Rigorous Medical Science.”
I haven't seen the doc yet and it may address this question in there, but my question for Dr. Neville is if there's any hope/promising research about removing these plastics from bodies at some point in the future. Similar to climate anxiety, I think the many toxins in our lives are causing lots of health anxieties and I, for one, am starving for some good news.
I am curious about the “home biodegradable/compostable” baggies and wrap that is now sold more widely in such markets as Wegmans/Whole Foods/online. What binding processes allow for the plant starches to hold? Risks? Reusability (beyond single use)? And failure rate when commingled with “regular” trash… meaning failure to decompose.
This is a really good question. Is this stuff really a safe alternative or is it just clever marketing?
There seem to be ongoing articles now questioning the research on whether we are truly measuring accurate amounts of plastics in humans and if there really are health problems caused by plastics. Is this plastic greenwashing —what is accurate? I’ve seen articles in Science and the Guardian questioning the integrity of findings.
How much of the plastic I put in my recycling can ends up in the air and water of other countries?
This may not be a question for her but it's one I often think about: where are we with substitutes for plastic? I think of Mark Jacobson drawing up renewable plans for all the states and nations; is there an equivalent of someone drawing up all the alternative materials for everyday things? I mean, we get composable bags at the grocery store these days, but what about all the cellulose, glass, and wood and biodegradable/natural materials for other stuff in everyday life? (I also think about what people used before plastic became ubiquitous as someone olde enough to have had my elementary school PBJ sandwiches in wax-paper bags).
What are the 3-5 most problematic banned chemicals in Europe that are not banned here?
How strong is the evidence for a causal connection between plastics and infertility?
How willing are the persons affected to make lifestyle changes?
I especially want to raise up Juergen’s comment here. I am assiduous about lowering/departing from common plastic consumption (try buying berries!!) or trying to be smart about recycling (and its limits). But I am coming to understand that this singular approach barely makes a difference. My own adult children have little patience for the extra time and thought in their cramped-new-parent-lives for eschewing child rearing conveniences related to overuse of plastic. This piece of the conversation seems always to need more amplification and opportunity for responsive dialogue.
Could she describe what she uses in her home, i.e. how she buys what kinds of foods, how she prepares them and stores them, what kinds of furniture, rugs, etc. and if she were 25 today, what she would be thinking about surrounding herself with.
I just read the Financial Times piece and it answers some of this, but I'd still like to hear how she answers that. Additionally, I'm curious to know if wildlife fertility rates have shown a similar decline and whether new water and sewage treatment processes can remove the chemical and particulate contamination.
What are her thoughts about the potential for future large scale use of the biodegradable plastic made from bamboo?
Is someone studying the link between plastics and the rise of endocrine diseases, such as type 1 diabetes?
What are her best estimates of the RELATIVE exposures to these chemicals from different sources (clothing, food, drinking water, tire wear particles, upholstery, cushions, carpets...) in everyday lives, along with, or weighted by RELATIVE risk (where that can be estimated at all) of say, PFx, Bisphenols, phthalates...
I'm not too concerned about asking specific questions as I am concerned about how all of this will effect reproduction for life on the planet. We can't get rid of plastics anytime soon so what's the answer? Where do we go from here, now that we know what's going on?
Would love to hear her thoughts on "bio-plastics" that are being marketed as a better alternative. I personally think it's just greenwashing, but would like to know her perspective.
What is her view on the debate whether exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) could affect gender identity?
Excited to hear you're interviewing her. We're really looking forward to this documentary and heard about avoiding plastic for fertility many years ago. Follow through has been incredibly difficult though, and I'm sure fertility isn't the only thing impacted. Since it's practically impossible to avoid plastic day to day, my main question is how aggressive do we really need to be? For instance, some plastic is marketed as 'safe' because it doesn't include BPA. Is my Brita filter safe if it's in glass but uses a plastic cartridge? My coffee maker with a plastic water tank but metal insides? My almonds that come in a large but durable plastic package? Is it okay if I get a Starbucks coffee or takeout once a week? Twice? What's a concern versus not?
Are Dr. Swan’s studies consistently reproducible by independent researchers ? Has she herself been a coauthor in a peer reviewed study in which her conclusions about male genitalia size and function have been unable to be reproduced? What are her credentials as a non-medical doctor to conduct a non-placebo-controlled “study” of a statistically meaningless number of human subjects of whom the viewer knows nothing-not even their age, let alone the health of the female partners -and present it like medical science? Typically researchers have to disclose financial ties or biases-has Dr. Swan in anyway profited from her viewpoints as portrayed? I am hardly on “Team Plastic,” but I am 100% on Team Rigorous Medical Science.”