Poisoning ourselves into extinction

also: Zucchini recipe

The world population is falling - failing, actually. See the charts in this article:

Degrowing the Population: Falling populations may prove to be the most effective path to Earth-saving “degrowth.” But it’s also a terrifying prospect, by Sarah Miller.

“So why are people in so many places, in all sorts of situations, having fewer babies? Why is humanity on a path to shrinkage?”

In Comments, the author Sarah Miller asks:

Can anyone explain why all but a couple of the responses to this article have come from men? Don't misunderstand me. I appreciate the input, whatever the gender of the responder. But the balance is off enough to make me wonder what it means. Thoughts???

My answer: Even though at risk of stepping in the same goo as the majority of your respondors, I would like to say a few things. At several points along the way in your article you might lose support of women readers. Half the population has no idea of the, essentially, calamity of pushing out babies followed by the relentless care for infants, unpaid and grossly under appreciated. Follow that by an effect in which it seems that men, after reading whatever post on the internet, MUST chime in with some supposedly important thought, although the content and relative worth of that is mediated by the defects in male thought processes. But on the actual topic of declining birth rates, stress is possibly the largest factor. You can analyze hair samples for stress hormone levels over the period of the growth of that length of hair. I don’t think you would like the result, from just about anywhere on the planet. Those stress hormones cross the placenta and affect development of the child for their entire life and even that of their offspring. And micro/nano-plastics are having a knock-on effect, creating even more reproductive damage that carries on over future generations. Those levels began in the 1950s and are accelerating. And where does this worldwide increase in stress and development of plastics come from? Along with nuclear weapons, all products of the male brain.

(For more on stress measurements see an article about measurements in whale’s baleen. <- This is a very important article on how civilization’s stressors are impacting all life, and is well written - do read it! Please support the work of Biographic.com)

We are poisoning ourselves into extinction. We’re being crushed under the weight of civilization. This species isn’t built to carry this burden - our brains, perhaps, but not our physical beings. Our brains, if some of us can still exercise free will or moral agency, seem to adapt to all manner of technology, but our bodies can’t handle the stress. This ongoing stress along with multiple poisonings of the environment, is leading to the population decline. Even if we can wind down “Progress” and find a simpler life, we may have already done too much damage to life systems. That would be the “hope,” to take this ever-increasing burden off people - the constant govt hand searching through your pockets for more money, the self-inflicted injury of adapting to urbanization, the unseen punishing force of the monetary system and the ever-increasing pressure from the elites to engage in further technological adventurism. Each way you turn, peace has been stolen from your life.

Plastics poisoning

Marine animals consume microplastic particles and excrete them in feces, posing risks to marine environment, by Tel-Aviv University, a review of: Eden Harel et al, “Effects of biological filtration by ascidians on microplastic composition in the water column” Chemosphere (2024) https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143589

The researchers conclude:

"In this study, we uncovered significant aspects of the influence of filter-feeding animals on the characteristics of microplastic particles in their environment and within the marine food web. The most alarming conclusion is that the microplastic problem is far more complex than initially thought.”

"Plastic pollution in the marine environment has many unexpected dimensions, and its complexities continue to grow. Sometimes, neither we nor the environment can even recognize it as plastic. As time goes on, plastic continues to harm more and more marine ecosystems. It is our duty to develop new technologies to mitigate this dangerous phenomenon."

Microplastics contaminate organic waste, raising environmental concerns, by University of Canterbury, a review of: Helena Ruffell et al, “Quantification of microplastics in biowastes including biosolids, compost, and vermicompost destined for land application” Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics (2025) https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/wecn.2024.65

This groundbreaking study by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has uncovered alarming levels of microplastic contamination in organic wastes and composts applied to land in New Zealand.

The research, published today (15 January) in Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics, highlights the potential for thousands of microplastic particles per kilogram of organic waste to enter productive soils.

UC Ph.D. candidate Helena Ruffell, who led the study as part of her thesis, analyzed various organic wastes routinely used as fertilizers and soil conditioners or in land remediation. These included biosolids (sewage sludge), vermicompost (worm composting), bulk compost (from curbside collections, large-scale industrial facilities, and small-scale decentralized facilities), and bagged composts from garden centers across New Zealand.

The study detected between 1,100 and 2,700 microplastic particles per kilogram of organic waste.

"Organic wastes are a valuable source of carbon and nutrients for our soils, and diverting these wastes from landfill by applying them onto land is a crucial measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the circular economy," says Ruffell, who is due to receive her doctorate in UC's Autumn graduation week in a few months.

"Our findings indicate that these contaminants in organic wastes originate from everyday products such as food packaging, health and beauty products, synthetic textiles, and household goods. These products shed and fragment microplastics, which can then enter wastewater treatment plants and ultimately be released into the environment."

Examples of microplastics detected in organic wastes which are of identifiable origin: A) Polyester glitter; B) polyurethane kitchen sponge; C) polyethylene microbead; D, E, F) acrylic multicoloured films from product packaging. Credit: University of Canterbury

The study also revealed that composts are contaminated with microplastics due to improper disposal of plastics and confusion around biodegradable or compostable plastics.

Despite efforts by councils to prevent plastic contamination in curbside organics collections, conventional and biodegradable plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) were found in mature composts. These plastics had not effectively broken down during the composting process and are likely to accumulate in soils over time.

"Even biodegradable plastics are not breaking down as expected, leading to their accumulation in soils. This raises concerns about the long-term impact of microplastics on soil health and productivity," Ruffell says.

"We urgently need to reduce the use of plastics to prevent microplastic contamination of these valuable organic wastes."

The study, co-supervised by UC Environmental Science professors Sally Gaw and Brett Robinson, and ESR Science Leader Dr. Olga Pantos, underscores the need for further investigation into the potential adverse effects of microplastics in productive soils and calls for improved waste management practices to mitigate a growing environmental issue, Ruffell says.

Chemical poisoning

Scientists identify 11 genes affected by PFAS, shedding light on neurotoxicity, by Tom Dinki, University at Buffalo, a review of: Logan Running et al “Investigating the Mechanism of Neurotoxic Effects of PFAS in Differentiated Neuronal Cells through Transcriptomics and Lipidomics Analysis” ACS Chemical Neuroscience (2024) https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00652

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) earn their "forever chemical" moniker by persisting in water, soil and even the human brain. This unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in brain tissue makes PFAS particularly concerning, but the underlying mechanism of their neurotoxicity must be studied further.

To that end, a new study by University at Buffalo researchers has identified 11 genes that may hold the key to understanding the brain's response to these pervasive chemicals commonly found in everyday items. The paper is published in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

These genes, some involved in processes vital for neuronal health, were found to be consistently affected by PFAS exposure, either expressing more or less, regardless of the type of PFAS compounds tested. For example, all compounds caused a gene key for neuronal cell survival to express less, and another gene linked to neuronal cell death to express more.

"Our findings indicate these genes may be markers to detect and monitor PFAS-induced neurotoxicity in the future," says lead co-corresponding author G. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen, Ph.D., Dr. Marjorie E. Winkler Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry, within the UB College of Arts and Sciences.

Still, the study found that hundreds more genes whose expression changed in different directions based on the compound tested. Plus, there was no correlation between the level at which PFAS accumulates in a cell and the extent to which it causes differential gene expression.

Taken together, this suggests that distinct molecular structures within each type of PFAS drive changes in gene expression.

"PFAS, despite sharing certain chemical characteristics, come in different shapes and sizes, leading to variability in their biological effects. Thus, knowledge on how our own biology reacts to the different types of PFAS is of major biomedical relevance," says the study's other co-corresponding author, Diana Aga, Ph.D., SUNY Distinguished Professor and Henry M. Woodburn Chair in the Department of Chemistry, and director of the UB RENEW Institute.

"Depending on their chain length or headgroup, PFAS can have very different effects on cells," Atilla-Gokcumen adds. "We should not be viewing them as one large class of compounds, but really as compounds that we need to investigate individually."

Other authors include Omer Gokcumen, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Ups and downs of gene expression

PFAS aren't immediately toxic. We're exposed to them practically every day, including through drinking water and food packaging, and don't notice.

"Therefore, researchers need to find points of assessment further upstream in the cellular process than just whether a cell lives or dies," Atilla-Gokcumen says.

The team decided to focus on how PFAS affects the gene expression of neuronal-like cells, as well as how PFAS affects lipids, which are molecules that help make up the cell membrane, among other important functions. Exposure to different PFAS for 24 hours resulted in modest but distinct changes in lipids, and over 700 genes expressing differently.

Of the six types of PFAS tested, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)—once commonly used in nonstick pans and recently deemed hazardous by the EPA—was by far the most impactful. Despite its small uptake, PFOA altered the expression of almost 600 genes—no other compound altered more than 147. Specifically, PFOA decreased the expression of genes involved in synaptic growth and neural function.

Altogether, the six compounds caused changes in biological pathways involved in hypoxia signaling, oxidative stress, protein synthesis and amino acid metabolism, all of which are crucial for neuronal function and development.

Eleven of the genes were found to express the same way, either more or less, to all six compounds. One of the genes that was consistently downregulated was mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor, which is important for the survival of neuronal cells and has been shown to reverse symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases in rats. One of the genes consistently upregulated was thioredoxin-interacting protein, which has been linked to neuronal cell death.

"Each of these 11 genes exhibited consistent regulation across all PFAS that we tested. This uniform response suggests that they may serve as promising markers for assessing PFAS exposure, but further research is needed to know how these genes respond to other types of PFAS," Atilla-Gokcumen says.

Identifying the least-worst options

As harmful as PFAS can be, the reality is that good substitutes have yet to be found.

The compounds can perhaps be replaced in applications like food packaging, but their effectiveness in firefighting and semiconductor manufacturing, for example, may need to continue in the long term.

That's why studies like this are crucial, Atilla-Gokcumen says. The varied reactions most genes have to different compounds, as well as the lack of correlation between PFAS uptake into cells and the extent of gene change expression they cause, underscores just how unique each of these compounds is.

"If we understand why some PFAS are more harmful than others, we can prioritize phasing out the worst offenders while seeking safer substitutes. For example, alternatives like short-chain PFAS are being explored, as they tend to persist less in the environment and accumulate less in biological systems," Atilla-Gokcumen explains.

"However, their reduced persistence may come at the cost of effectiveness in certain applications, and there are concerns about potential unknown health effects that require further investigation. Further research is needed to ensure these substitutes are genuinely safer and effective for specific applications. This research is a major step towards achieving this goal."

Nuclear poison

Learn about How Fukushima’s radioactive fallout in Tokyo was concealed from the public: Japanese radiochemist Satoshi Utsunomiya found that air samples from March 15, 2011, in Tokyo contained a very high concentration of insoluble ¹³⁷cesium microparticles. He immediately realized the implications of the findings for public safety, but his study was kept from publication for years. [This is a major cover-up stage-managed in the promoting of the Tokyo 2010 Olympics.] Watch the radioactive plume from Fukushima.

Another great article: Uranium fever collides with industry's dark past in Navajo country, by Jacob Lorinc, Jan 20, 2025. A few excerpts:

A few miles down the road, big mounds of sand streaked gray and blue rise, one after the other, high above the vast desert landscape. They are the tailings from some of the uranium mines that were abandoned in the territory last century.

To Ray Yellowfeather, a 50-year-old construction worker, the tailings were always the "blue hills," just one big playground for him and his childhood friends.

"We would climb up the blue hills and slide back down," Yellowfeather says. "Nobody told us they were dangerous."

Years later, they would be cordoned off by the Environmental Protection Agency as it began work to clean up the mines. By then, though, the damage was done. Like many around here, Yellowfeather says he's lost several family members to stomach cancer. The last of them was his mother in 2022.

Poisoning of social structure

Here’s a great post by Dave Pollard: Oh, You Mean THAT Democracy, Posted on January 11, 2025 by Dave Pollard which concludes with:

“We all live in, and will continue to live in until they fall apart, ‘authoritarian’ nations with ‘authoritarian’ governments and political systems. It’s all just a question of whether we like and trust the current crop of ‘authorities’. And, for the most part, in most places and times, we don’t. And for good reason. The system is hopelessly broken, and it can’t be fixed. The current ‘authorities’ are just grabbing and stealing what they can until there’s nothing left to steal — no public resources, no functioning public infrastructure, or public services, or public institutions, no public insurance or health systems or education systems or transportation systems or utilities. It’s all going down.

This is what collapse looks like.”

For more on societal collapse, read The Collapse Chronicle by Sam Mitchell and Planet Critical, by Rachael Donald.

Anomie is a sociological term that describes a breakdown of social norms, values, and guidance. It can also refer to a state of disconnection from society that can be experienced by individuals.

Anomie is related to Strain Theory, which was developed by Robert K. Merton. Merton believed that people who believe in the American Dream but don't have the opportunities to achieve it may turn to crime.

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Sautéed Zucchinis

It's "place-a-zucchini-on-a-porch day", or you have too many from your garden - what to do? Blanch, slice and freeze them for winter.
Try this simple way to cook them! This is so good we can eat it every day.
Preparation time, 6 minutes; Cooking time, 25 minutes. Serves 4

900g Zucchini, sliced (2 lb)

1 medium shallot, sliced

30mL Water (2 Tbsp)

30mL Butter (2 Tbsp)

5mL salt (1 tsp)

1 garlic clove

45mL shredded Parmesan cheese (3 Tbsp)

Use your best butter. Place butter and equal amount of water in your Mauviel 2-litre sauté pan with the shallot slices. Cook over low heat until shallots are milk-coloured but not browned and do not brown the butter. Alternative, use olive oil and sliced onions.

Add sliced zucchini, stir, lower heat to just simmering, stirring frequently. Add a bid more water if needed to keep them from sticking. While this is cooking, peel a garlic clove and put it in your garlic press.

When the zucchini slices are almost fully tender, stir in the squeezed garlic, turn off heat and sprinkle with the Parmesan.
Serve while hot.