By early 1900s the dangers of asbestos were known yet it wasn't banned until 1999. It took 99 years! And lead paint was widely sold in early 1900s, peaking in the 30s - 50s but was only banned in the UK in 1992. And even today we’re still feeling the effects of both. Hasn’t history taught us anything? Once we are aware of problems from research studies like this one on microplastics it’s ~fundamental~ to act on them quickly with full investigations to understand the extent and associated risks. It’s blindingly obvious that there are implications on human health from micro plastics. Last month alone there was a study showing they are now in our blood - which means they can travel round the body and lodge in organs. If urgency isn’t placed on understanding micro plastics now, who knows how this will play out. In fact, it’s so low priority that government hasn’t event included micro plastics monitoring in the environment bill. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. We are a generation of human test subjects in an uncontrolled global experiment watching the impacts of microplastics on human health unfold in real time. And it makes me furious.