https://www.yahoo.com/news/study-uncovers-disturbing-side-effect-110000309.html Side effect of using microwaves Research from the University of Nebraska has resulted in clear advice: Don’t nuke plastics. Our “just pop it in the microwave” mentality is unleashing hordes of tiny plastic particles — more than 2 billion nanoplastics and 4 million microplastics per square centimeter (almost one-sixth of a square inch), in some cases — the experts found.
I'm more concerned about the pervasiveness of microplastics than I am about climate change, and I say that as someone who agrees that climate change is a big deal.
I kind of wonder how long until plastics can't be used at all. There are already bacteria that have adapted to or are adapting to surviving entirely off plastic. Especially in the oceanic garbage patches. Sounds great, solves the micro plastic issue... right? Sure, maybe until they further adapt to eating the plastic that is currently in use. That might take thousands or millions of years, or it could be a few decades. No way of knowing.
If anyone wonders what might happen if eco-terrorists engineered pathogens and nanotech on purpose that did this, read "Directive 51" by John Barnes, the first of the "Daybreak" trilogy. https://www.amazon.com/Directive-Novel-Daybreak-John-Barnes/dp/0441020410
