Scientific rigour and the dangers of microplastics | Letters
Joe Yates, Prof Philip J Landrigan, Prof Jennifer Kirwan and Prof Jamie Davies respond to an article on doubts raised about studies on microplastics in the human bodyWhile it may...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
Joe Yates , Prof Philip J Landrigan , Prof Jennifer Kirwan and Prof Jamie Davies respond to an article on doubts raised about studies on microplastics in the human body While it may be a belated Christmas present for the petrochemical industry, your article ( ‘A bombshell’: doubt cast on discovery of microplastics throughout human body, 13 January ) was less surprising to the scientific community, where constructive debate around microplastic detection in humans has been ongoing for some time. Such debate is entirely normal – and essential – for scientific inquiry. New and novel methods must be tried, tested, critiqued, improved and tried again. Science is incremental and gradual – unlike the uncapped production and pollution of plastics, which contain thousands of hazardous chemicals. Decades of robust evidence demonstrates the harms that these inflict on people and planet. Continue reading...