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Effects of Microplastic Slow Violence
Although microplastics have not had clinical studies and investigations on its impact on health due to it not having a focus until recently, some studies do exist that tell of the dangers of this plastic poison. It seems that the most common types of damage caused by excessive exposure to microplastics is endocrine and neurological defects
research on the more than 13,000 chemicals associated with plastics has found that at least 3,200 of those chemicals have been shown to be hazardous to human health.
Plastics are also known to have something called “forever chemicals” added to them during production. They are formally known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and these substances are man-made and used to enhance products. For example, PFAS are used to prevent food from sticking to packages (these foods are often cheap and accessible, which often target poorer individuals). PFAS are also used in clothing and other textiles to prevent stains and can even be found in firefighting foam to create a higher efficacy. Although these enhancements sound promising from a practical standpoint, they are extremely difficult to filter out and destroy, hence the nickname “forever.” And although their exact impact is unknown, they have been attributed carcinogenic properties.
Legionaires Disease is also a disease that disproportionally affects black Americans, and Microplastics can serve as a vector for this disease.
Whether it is due to their inherent chemicals, additional hazardous chemicals added to them for product enhancement, or their use as a vehicle for dangerous biofilms such as Legionella pneumophila, it is certain that microplastics should have no place in water or the human body. The fact that this form of pollution is so widespread among disadvantaged communities suggest that it is a form of slow violence, as Nixon would agree that exposure to these horrible microplastics is on par with those that he discusses. Cancers, birth defects, endocrine issues, and respiratory conditions often take a long time to develop, and these issues that slowly kill underprivileged communities are all too present in the symptoms of extended microplastic exposure.