The pollution of the planet by microplastics is significantly cutting food supplies by damaging the ability of plants to photosynthesise, according to a new assessment.
The analysis estimates that between 4% and 14% of the world’s staple crops of wheat, rice and maize is being lost due to the pervasive particles. It could get even worse, the scientists said, as more microplastics pour into the environment.
About 700 million people were affected by hunger in 2022. The researchers estimated that microplastic pollution could increase the number at risk of starvation by another 400 million in the next two decades, calling that an “alarming scenario” for global food security.
Ha, that’s way worse than I would have expected the damage of micro plastics to cause.
Cancer? Psh. Male infertility? Psh. Those aren’t things that will threaten the species, unless all men go sterile.
But interfering with photosynthesis? That’s really bad
Fewer people makes for less plastic.
Problem is that the plastic is already around. In fact, less people will have to deal with more plastic than they’d ever been responsible for
Microplastics also lower testosterone and are a significant cause for male infertility.
“study finds”
You mean that it wasn’t observable before? Yeah, I am gonna call it sensationalist nonsense