RT - ANOTHER VIEW ON MICROPLASTICS, DANGER OR NO DANGER?

This article might best be read while sipping a 20 oz. soda through a plastic straw.  Realistically, I have no scientific background on this topic, but tend to be skeptical of the climat is falling crowd.  There has always been climate change, long before the gasoline fueled automobiles.  I do not assert that the following article is correct, but that it is a corrective to the panic reporting about scientific questions in the US and the West, reporting that demands more money for certain types of research, but never questions the hypotheses upon which the research is based.  This article is worth a read.  Hugh Murray

‘It doesn’t harm us’: Russian scientist busts myths about microplastics

Alarming media reports about the harm of microplastics to the human body and the environment are greatly exaggerated, Alexei Khokhlov has told RT

©  Getty Images

Microplastics are among the most widely discussed environmental topics today. The media often highlights the harmful effects of polymer nanoparticles on living organisms. However, as head of the Department of Polymer and Crystal Physics at Moscow State University, and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Alexei Khokhlov told RT, there is no scientific basis for these claims. Khokhlov argues that microplastic particles are no more hazardous to humans than tiny wood or concrete particles which exist in the environment in much greater quantities.

RT: In recent years, many scientific studies and media reports have been published about microplastics. What exactly are they made of?

Khokhlov: Microplastics are defined as fragments of polymer materials smaller than 5 mm. These particles can break down into even smaller micron-sized pieces, and there are also polymer nanoparticles. 

We live in an era dominated by new materials. Just 100 years ago, the polymer industry was virtually nonexistent. The widespread use of plastics began in the 1950s, and today, approximately 400 million tons of various plastics are produced annually worldwide.

The main types of polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. These materials are used to make plastic wrap, packaging, and so on. Essentially, we are surrounded by polymer materials; life today would be unimaginable without them.

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RT: Is it true that microplastics are everywhere, even in our food and water?

Khokhlov: The molecular structure of polymers consists of long chains of monomer units. Interestingly, we are made up of polymers ourselves, since proteins, DNA and RNA chains are molecules of such type. As for their presence in the environment, particles from all natural and man-made materials find their way into the environment.

Nanoparticles of dust, sand, and natural polymers like cellulose can enter cells. Wood itself is essentially a composite material made from cellulose and lignin. Annually, around 2.5 billion tons of wood are produced globally, while plastics account for only 400 million tons. It’s a very small amount compared to natural polymers. 

RT: How do microplastics affect living cells? Can particles penetrate cells and disrupt their function?

Khokhlov: Any material will break down into smaller particles as a result of environmental exposure. All nanoparticles can enter the human bloodstream, not just microplastics. For instance, walls gradually disintegrate into dust and sand, which also make their way into the human body. There is no evidence that microplastic particles are particularly harmful.

©  Getty Images

Humanity has coexisted with ordinary dust for millions of years, and it doesn’t harm us. When any particle enters the human body, it is coated by biological fluids that include fragments of bacteria, proteins, etc. A ‘biocorona’, or coating made up of these fragments, forms around the particle, so it cannot affect the human organism. This process occurs with all particles, regardless of their composition — microplastics included. For the body, there is no difference between microplastics and dust. 

Currently, plastic makes up only 15% of the total volume of solid waste. This is relatively low, and the concentration of microplastics in the environment remains minimal. Laboratory studies claiming harmful effects are often conducted using extremely high concentrations of microplastics that do not reflect real-world scenarios.

RT: If the environmental impact isn’t significant, why do you think the media and public are so concerned about this issue?

Khokhlov: Because the media needs sensational stories. The idea that wood particles can enter human cells isn’t shocking because wood is familiar to us and no one believes it could pose any risk. Synthetic polymers, however, evoke fear because they are unfamiliar and artificial. But there’s no evidence to suggest they act differently than other particles.

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For example, there has been a lot of talk about eliminating plastic bottles since microplastics can get into the water. However, further research has shown that most of the microplastics found in water primarily come from polyamides, which are synthetic fibers used in textiles. When these fabrics are washed, tiny particles make their way into wastewater and eventually into our waterways.

RT: Can we replace plastic containers with alternatives that won’t break down into microplastics, or ones that would be made up of particles that are safe for nature and humans?

Khokhlov: There are always alternatives, but they tend to be much more expensive. And in many industries, such as healthcare, the alternative isn’t the same. For example, we can switch from single-use syringes and gloves to reusable options, but what will the consequences be?

In regions where access to clean water is inconsistent and sanitation is poor, single-use items and plastic bottles serve as the only means to avoid poisoning and infectious diseases.

©  Getty Images

However, it’s crucial to ensure that plastic packaging isn’t carelessly discarded outdoors but is properly disposed of. Out of 400 million tons of plastic, 300 million end up in landfills or incinerators, meaning that 100 million tons aren’t disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. This is a significant issue that warrants attention and action.

Moreover, the primary sources of microplastics are not plastic utensils or packaging but washed [synthetic] clothes, worn automobile tires, urban dust, and even road markings and marine paint. This suggests that combating microplastics would require us to give up driving cars and using washing machines. But what would that lead to? People cannot forgo hygiene standards, and our current infrastructure and logistics cannot provide alternative solutions that would meet the needs of society.

WHAT MOVIE SPAWNED A MAJOR POLITICAL MOVEMENT?

CAN AMERICA FACE ITS PAST??   Hugh Murray

  Rob Quinn of Newser, 2/5/25 reported:

    "One of the thousands of silent films believed to have been lost forever is lost no more. The Heart of Lincoln, a 1915 Civil War drama, was found by Dan Martin, an intern going through old reels Historic Films Archive in Greenport, Long Island, NBC News reports. Martin, a film preservation student, tells Newsday that most of the material he was going through consisted of "kind of dry" old education reels discarded by universities, but he recognized Francis Ford's name when he rolled the credits on the old 16-millimeter print. Ford, who directed the movie and starred as Abraham Lincoln, is the older brother of John Ford, who won a record four Oscars for best director, including one for 1940's The Grapes of Wrath."

                             Hugh Murray

My point is different: - 1915 "The Heart of Lincoln" found. Was it a hit when released? How big?  In 1913 the blockbuster film of that era covered some of the same material, but in a different way.  "Birth of a Nation." was probably the most popular American film until "Gone with the Wind" in 1939. It earned more in sales until "Gone with the Wind."  Birth was the product of D W Griffiths.  It was shown in the White House, and Pres. Woodrow Wilson declared, in a film's slide, that it was written in lightning. Birth depicts some scenes from the War Between the States, the pain when family members fight for different sides, and finally the defeat of the South,.  The second half of Birth portrays the results of defeat. the foolishness of the Northerners who sought to remake the South without understanding it. The film shows how many local whites were oppressed by the corrupt Republicans and their unschooled allies.  Finally, in desperation,  the local whites, defeated by the war and then dispossessed by corrupt and coddled local scallywag's, carpet bagger Yankees, and illiterate former slaves.  In desperation the local whites banded together in informal organizations to overthrow the Reconstruction governments. It was made to encourage audiences to emote as the Klansmen rode at night to restore order. And cheer the audiences did!  

        The American film industry has produced many popular and artful and money-making films.  To this day Hollywood means movies.  However, unlike all the popular and arty and money-making films that came later, none did what Birth of a Nation succeeded in doing.  Birth created a movement!   Birth was so popular a film, it brought about a revival of the KKK, and not only in the South. No wonder Pres. Wilson, Democrat, who had been Chancellor of Princeton U., prided himself that no blacks were admitted to the prestigious university under his leadership. Wilson, Democrat, also segregated the Federal Civil Service, and require a person's photo when applying for a federal job so no blacks would be hired. Wilson segregated the military too. And so he led America into war, the war to save democracy. And the war to end all wars. The book that inspired the film "Irth of a Nation" was The Clansman.  Has any other film had such impact?  In 1924 the KKK had a march on Washington.  A candidate for the Democratic nomination was endorsed by the KKK.  Another faction, oppossed, favord Roman Catholic NY Gov. Al Smith.  It took 103 ballots before the delegates ignored both major factions and chose a lesser known candidate, who did poorly in the general election against Calvin Coolidge.

     Wilson, a Democrat, is considered a progressive President.  For Sec. of the Navy, he chose Josephus Daniels, a Democrat from North Carolina.  Daniels had personally partaken in the overthrow of the last Republican city in the South, Wilmington.  White mobs overthrew the GOP-Populist local government, chasing out some, burning out others, and using bullets too.  With such a background, Pres. Wilson chose Daniels as his Sec. of the Navy, a very important post as war loomed.  Daniels is credited in making it easier to advance in the navy on experience in the service, and less on outside credentials.  He is also noted for his view, the greatest crime in America is allowing blacks to vote.  For Under Sec. of the Navy, Pres. Wilson chose a young, healthy New Yorker, Franklin D. Roosevelt.  When FDR became President, he retained a segregated Civil Service, and a segregated military.

             A few days ago, tha last surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen died at age 100, Harry Stewart, Jr.  Basically, this was like other black units in the military, segregated.  Of course, to begin, there were white instructors to teach all how to fly, and there were some whites too, but overall it was a segregated unit, like the rest of the American military.  I worked for a white who was an officer of an all black artillary in WWII.  I am not implying that segregated units were necessarily bad, they can promote pride and enthusiasm.  That is the advantage of the HBCUs.

     My point is that the US was conflicted on race from the beginning.  The Civil War was fought to end the slave-power, and slavery.  Beginning in 1865 riots and Lincoln's assassination brought the Radical Republicans to power in Congress, but they were often foiled by War Democrat Pres. Andrew Johnson.  The Civil Rights Amendments to the Constitution seemed tp solve the problem.  But a guerrilla war in the South, waged by whites wearing informal rebel attire, Klan white, red shirts, or whatever, against former black Union soldiers, Republicans, white teachers in black schools, black businesses, etc.  Pres. Grant tried to go after the Klan, but in the disputed election of 1876, the North promised to remove Yankee troops from the area.  With the fall of Wilmington in 1898, one could speak of the Solid South (solidly Democratic, solidly segregated).  The North and South were re-united, symbolized as many from both parts of the nation volunteered in the Spanish American War that brought us Puerto Rico, Philippines, and influence in Cuba.

     Like the other great nations in 1900, America was a racist nation too.  And up to 1950 or so.  What changed America????

From National Public Radio, New Orleans, Opera, Free People of Color, France

 The main source today is from America's National Public Radio.  Politically, it is normally left, and is no fan of Pres. Trump.  But other stories can be quite informative.  I urge all to follow the link to the story, aired Monday 3 January 2025.  https://www.npr.org/2025/02/03/nx-s1-4868011/oldest-black-american-opera-premiere

Below are some of my comments on that story.  I know little of opera, in New Orleans or anywhere.  But the idea that NO was a center of opera in the US during the 19th century does raise the question of possible connections with other musical forms, especially with jazz, which was developing in New Orleans later in that century.  My story, with amazement, is below:

     National Public Radio aired this report about the New Orleans French Opera House.  It is 6 minutes if you listen or the reading material contained in the link too.  Some of tin the 20th century, he FPCs Free People of Color may have been free for generations. Unlike the CR Movement in much of the South, which was intertwined with black Protestant churches, the FPCs were generally light skinned, and Roman Catholics.  And they had considerable influence in NO.

     As an unofficial tour guide in 1963 with the instruction (AVOID ARRESTS), i took 4 foreigners to the Knights of Peter Claver Building, which housed the local NAACP.  We entered their offices and they kindly agreed totalk to  our group presenting a summary of its activities.  I think Ernest Morial gave the talk (he would become the first black mayor of NO in the 1970s.  While he was speaking, one of the young foreigners whispered to me,"Is he a Negro?"  I was shocked by the question, and then I realized the NAACP attorney was much closet to my skin color than to the young man from  Ouagadougou. the capital of what was then called Upper Volta in West Africa.  His skin was very black, and his was an innocent question. And the situation must have been an echo of when newly arrived Marcus Garvey went to the offices of the NAACP  a century ago and saw only whites and W. E. B. Du Bois.  Garvey went on to found an openly black nationalist organization.  The point is that the black leadership in NO, was different from that in other parts of the South, lighter skin, better off financially, often well educated in Catholic schools, sometimes with French language heritage..  Bryant Gumble (formerly on Today on NBC) and his brother are descendants of FPCS.

      There was opera in NO going back to the late 1700s, but the  French Opera House, which opened just a year before the war, would become the social center for much of NO.  At the same time, blacks were less welcome.. But opera was not the only musical for.  There was also a German newspaper in NO, which may have also contributed to the brass bands.  My friend John is a relation to Hahn, an editor of the German newspaper, and the only Republican Mayor of NO.  If he served, it was around 1867.

    Who were the other French speaking FPCs who may have left NO for a more successful careers in France?  By the 1850s FPC womenin NO  were not required to wear yellow stars, but a certain kind of headgear so everyone  would know their race.

   How did this contribute to jazz?  Or did it?  Jazz, the word akin to jizz, or the emission from the penis during sex, does seem to connect jazz to the cat houses in the French Quarter.

   The composer of the opera, Edmund Dede. It is now being produced in full for the first time, though written over a century ago.  There were other Louisianans who went to France to find a place for their arts.  Later, most know Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, Claude McKay, Richard Wright and others including jaz musicians,but most of these were general Americans, not born with a French cultural tradition.  But it does say something of the free spirit allowed in France.

  In the 1950s Anne Braden wrote a book about segregation in the South THE WALL BETWEEN.  And in the mid  50s, I began to cross the invisible wall between the races  in NO, going to sit-in a history class at Dillard U.  I knew the professor, a refugee from Hamburg, Georg Iggers, and he alternated between the Unitarian Church (where I met him) and a synagogue.  In his class, I met a young woman and we chatted.  Shirley Dede.  Was she related to the composer?  She subscribed to a Trotskyist newspaper, Workers World, and was active in the NAACP.  We went to a few places together where we would not be arrested.  I crossed the wall in NO long before I crossed the wall in Berlin. New Orleans is a most intersting city.

  Hugh Murray

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/03/nx-s1-4868011/oldest-black-american-opera-premiere

the link should get you to a tape on Opera in NO and beyond.   Hugh