Microplastics

[Back in the fold]

Microplastics are in the news a lot lately . Seems that nearly all plastics slough off microscopic particles of the parent material . I read where this stuff is getting into people’s blood and organs . Scientists have the proof , this isn’t made up . Makes me wonder about sponge filters first but others too . I have heard that Plecostomus will eat sponge filters and I’m sitting here eating my breakfast and watching my guppy aquarium . The guppies are pecking at the sponge filters eagerly . I know they’re grazing things off of it but could they be ingesting microplastics off it too . Kind of gets me to thinking about going back to the old tried and true box filters and UGF’s .

 

[Magnum Man35 149]

I read somewhere the average American has enough micro plastics in their brain, to form a plastic spoon... I've thought about this on fish as well, as aside from the glass box ( and there are plastic boxes as well ) almost everything in the hobby consists of plastics...

 

[emeraldking14 65]

I've written an article about nano plastics in relation to pregnancies in female ovoviviparous livebearers.

 

[Colin_T]

I've written an article about nano plastics in relation to pregnancies in female ovoviviparous livebearers.

can we read it?

 

[Colin_T]

They have found microplastics in babies developing in human females. They are also found in canned sardines because the companies remove the head of the sardine but leave the guts in the fish. The small fish pick up and ingest the microplastics while eating plankton.

Air operated sponge filters are usually made from polyurethane foam rubber, which isn't a plastic but is much more toxic if it burns, and when it dries out it releases fine dust that is pretty toxic too.

The course sponges in some power filters are plastic and they could release microplastics. There are also plastic plants, ornaments, light units, filter casings, most things fish related are plastic (as Magnum Man mentioned).

Washing machines release huge amounts of microplastics from clothing that can be filtered out quite easily but governments won't force washing machine companies to sell or supply filters for the dirty water. Instead the microplastics from clothing go into the sewer system and end up in the rivers or oceans.

Sea birds regularly have plastic items (not microplastics) in their crops and stomachs. They pick them up while fishing, the plastic items reflect in the water and looks like a fish or shrimp. The bird swallows it and feeds its young. Baby sea birds around the world are dying from starvation because their bellies are full of plastic items.

We really have ruined this planet.

 

[GaryE]

I find it inescapable, and become fatalistic. I like fiddling around with aquarium stuff. My homemade UG filters use - plastic. My box filters are... plastic. Hang on the back, canister - plastic. Homemade box filters - plastic.

As my brain fills with plastic I fear I'm going to start liking celebrity culture, fastfood burgers and billionaires. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I have noticed my fish have expressionless faces.

It's great being human. We can be smart enough to understand cause and effect, but dumb enough to ignore it if it suits our short term agendas. But as far as aquariums go, plastic is everywhere.

 

[MaloK]

When I first heard about the uses of micro plastics in clothes detergent.

I think I blasphemed non stop for 8 hours straight.

Who in is right mind could have thought for a millisecond this was a good idea ???