Dear Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour,
First of all thanks Hilbert Buist for this wonderful owl picture on Faceboook. So stunning. Belle Island is so full of such wonders.
In another note, like so many, we are in recovery mode from the US election. Important to recognize that the world we live in has hatred and divisions but not to become too swallowed up in it. We have so much to be grateful for.
Personally, I have been finding the Substack newsletter by Richard Reich and Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American the most broadly informative. Do check them out.
LOCAL NEWS, ISSUES, AND EVENTS
1. New Vision for Kingston from Brent Toderian
2. Belle Park Clean-Up
3. Letter from Faith Journey Friends re Helping Homeless
4. Division Street Update
5. Victory: Pen Cows are Home
6. Household Hazardous Waste Facility to Close for the Season
7. North King’s Town Secondary Plan Update
8. A Taste of Indigenous Canada / A Winter Celebration
9. Santa Claus Parade, Sat, Nov 23, 2024
10. Kingston Climate Justice Coalition
11. Still waiting for the Report on the Open House re the Bridge over John Counter and the Railway
12. More info on the Biogas Proposal near the Cataraqui Conservation Area
FROM FARTHER AFIELD
14. Government of Canada Invests in Clean Technology for Marine Industry in Lake Ontario
15. EPA’s Clean Ports Program Underwrites New Environmental Initiatives
OF GENERAL INTEREST
15. How we Eat, Drink and Breathe, Microplastics
16. The Fluouride Issue
17. New Method of Testing for Forever Chemicals
18. Potpourri Simmering Pot Recipes for Fall and Winter
19. Sex Talk Once Again – as Requested by Several Readers
20. How Do You Save a Rainforest? Leave it Alone
21. Pub Carolling Once Again!
LOCAL NEWS, ISSUES, AND EVENTS
1. New Vision for Kingston from Brent Toderian
Received Nov 7, 2024 from Vicki Schmolka via Substack. Yey Vicki
Brent Toderian, the man who was hired by the city to advise on Density by Design and brought the tower on a podium concept to Kingston, is in town this week to work with staff on the new combined Official Plan and Transportation Master Plan. He said it is going to be a “game changer.” The city is “working with old policy that is standing in the way of progress.”
Speaking last night at the Holiday Inn, Mr. Toderian focused his remarks on place making, creating urban environments that are places for people. “Great cities know that streets are for people not cars,” he said as he presented slides with images from cities around the world doing place making well.
He said that all credible studies show that when people arrive by walking, biking or public transit they spend more money per trip, unless they are coming by car to a specific destination.
He praised Montreal for being the best city in North America for place making, very successfully closing some city streets for parts of a day, for the summer, or even longer.
He noted that “the only thing worse than cities that don’t [create spaces for people] are cities that do it badly.”
Toderian said “it is not about taking away spaces for cars, it’s about creating places for people to do things other than being a pedestrian… making every street interesting.”
The “animation” of a street can include parklets, chairs and tables, pop-up play spaces, food trucks, and shipping containers turned into stores. These are “street openings” not “street closings.” The key to success is “predictability and consistency.”
With the audience of about 30 people compromised of members of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Kingston, KEDCO, people from the commercial real estate industry, city staff, and local councillor Greg Ridge, Toderian challenged everyone to work together. He noted that the adage that good ideas go to city hall to die is equally applicable to downtown business associations and chambers of commerce who are quick to criticize a plan before its impact can be measured. “Before it becomes too much about city bashing, every negative response to an idea can easily be from the private sector,” he noted.
Toderian praised city staff for getting past the “lazy conversation” — do tall buildings, yes or no? to seeing that it’s a “not very good building problem, not a height problem.”
Toderian said that “very few places have a more obvious story-telling opportunity” adding that Kingston is an “authentic place based on identity branding.” He gave being Canada’s first capital and The Tragically Hip as examples.
Billed as a conversation, Toderian then took questions from the audience. Mary Jo Cuerrier, Executive Director, Downtown Business Improvement Association, asked for his advice about closing Princess Street for the summer. He said the city was not ready to take such a big step. “You don’t have the skills and experience to pull it off.” He talked about a city that set up one parklet the first year with a goal of doubling that each year after. A street sale with nothing else interesting is not going to work, he added.
Members of the audience asked about more happening in neighbourhoods and in other parts of the city, not just downtown. Toderian agreed that people need places to gather close to home, too. “You can do much better city-wide.”
Responding to a question about the lack of parks and green spaces along Princess Street between Regent and Division Streets, the Williamsville Corridor, Agnew said there were mistakes that “we’re working on.” Toderian likes trees and said that they combat air pollution.
In response to a question about one-way streets, Toderian called them “traffic sewers” that are all about moving people as quickly as possible through an area and not about encouraging interactions. “Downtowns don’t need a bypass,” he said and added “If they don’t stop, they don’t shop.”
Toderian, who was a consultant to the city’s Power of Parking report, praised city council’s decision this week to support a car-sharing program, saying funding it from the Cash-in-lieu of Parking levy was smart. He was proud that a New York magazine had covered Kingston’s move to reduce parking requirements in buildings in an article titled “Steal This Idea”.
The event concluded with Toderian reaffirming his belief in better placemaking. “It’s better for businesses, it’s better for downtown.”
2. Belle Park Clean-Up
Received from the City, Nov 5, 2024
Belle Park Site Cleaning to Begin Wednesday, Nov 5
Community members near Belle Park will notice an increase in work crews and equipment activity in the area beginning Wednesday, Nov. 6 as cleanup of the site begins. The 1.25-hectare area was closed on Sept. 27 by the City of Kingston due to the health risks presented by garbage and a rodent infestation. That infestation is successfully managed allowing for cleanup and restoration of the area to start.
Leading up to the Sept. 27, closure people previously sheltering in the encampment next to the ICH and Consumption Treatment Services (CTS) retrieved personal belongings from the area with support from Addiction & Mental Health Services (AMHS), Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC), the City of Kingston and Kingston Police. Safe and secure off-site storage for other belongings identified by individuals was offered.
Site cleanup activities starting on Nov. 6 include removing garbage and debris, adding clean topsoil and hydroseeding (grass seeding). Fencing will remain in place to allow crews to undertake this work and ensure the newly planted grass seed can get established and begin growing in the spring. Residents are asked to respect the perimeter fencing and stay safely away from work crews and equipment during the cleanup activities.
The City and other partners continue to work together and assist in connecting vulnerable people to indoor shelter and daytime services and facilitate storage and retrieval of belongings. The City also recognizes that vulnerable people may choose to shelter in other areas of Belle Park, or any municipal park overnight, and the emergency shelter system continues to have capacity.
3. Letter from Faith Journey Friends re Helping Homeless
Received Nov, 10, 2024
We are members of a small Kingston group “Faith Journey Friends”. We are deeply concerned by the Ford government’s decision to spend $3 billion to send a cheque of $200 to any adult that filed an Ontario tax return for 2023, plus $200 per child in January 2025. As the Oct 31/24 Globe and Mail editorial points out, the extra revenues Ontario has generated this year could be much better used to:
- tackle Ontario’s health care funding problems
- boost investment and jump-start the province’s flagging productivity
- trim personal income tax rates
- all but eliminate this year’s deficit and free up tens of millions of dollars permanently
- supercharge the energy transition, including expanding the province’s transmission grid.
This list is not exhaustive. The point is that even households that most definitely do not need this money will receive it. As the Globe editorial points out, the payments are tax-free. The well-heeled will not even have to repay any part of that morsel, which only underscores the essential stupidity of sending cost-of-living cheques to millionaires. The $200 payment scheme might be understandable if it was targeted to lower-income households
Each member of our group has decided to donate our respective $200 to Our Liveable Solutions (https://www.ourlivable.solutions) to aid with its innovative sleeping cabin program here in Kingston. At least, our $200 will be directed to people who need it most and who need it far more than we do. We are publicizing our action in the hopes of encouraging others, if they are able, to do something similar. If you don’t need the $200, consider redirecting these public resources to where you feel they will do the most good. We have faith that many will want to take such a step away from treating all “qualified” residents equally and towards treating all residents equitably.
William Egnatoff
Michael Cooke
Monika Holzschuh
On behalf of Faith Journey Friends
4. Division Street – Season #3
Editor’s Note: This is a really excellent local series on Your TV dealing with local issues
Received from Sayyida Jaffer, Providence Centre for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation, Nov 4, 2024
Division St Season 3 airing on Cogeco, Season 2 Excerpts Available
https://tvlisting.cogeco.ca/tvsearch.shtml?search_string=Division+Street
Jamie Swift and Sayyida Jaffer are back with Season 3 of Division St on YourTV (Cogeco cable). You can watch it on Mondays at 8:30pm and other times in the week. If you missed season 2, here are some excerpts:
- Decriminalization with Julie Langan from the John Howard Society
- Gender Based Violence with Pam Cross
- Safer Supply with Dr. Andrea Sereda
- Daytime Evictions (April 2024) with Pam Gray and Brigit Smith
- Tenant Experiences Survey with Dylyn Reid Davies and Tara Kainer
More info: Sayyida Jaffer, Lead Economic Justice, 613-539-8594 (call or text)
5. Victory: Pen Cows are Home
Received from Vicki Schmolka, Nov 13, 2024
| August 6 – 8, 2010 saw hundreds of people at Bath Road and Centennial Drive in Kingston hoping to stop the removal of the penitentiary farm herd. The prison farm was closing and the dairy herd was to be removed and sold at auction. The Stephen Harper Conservative government’s decision to close the prison farms rankled and many events took place in Kingston and Ottawa to try to change the government’s mind. The government did not budge. People were not ready to give up and the Pen Farm Herd Co-operative was created. Through the sale of shares, the Co-operative raised enough money to buy 30 cows, heifers, and calves at the auctions. Almost a dozen local farmers housed the cows — milking and breeding them and keeping track of their lineage to preserve the genetics of the Penitentiary Farm heritage herd. The Liberals promised to bring back the prison farms and won the next federal election. Talks began to bring the cows home. Fifteen descendants of the cows bought at auction in 2010 have finally all been sold back to CORCAN, an agency of Correctional Services Canada. The dairy farm is now operating at Joyceville Penitentiary with the first shipment of milk sent out on October 30, 2024. At the end of this month, the Co-operative shareholders will be meeting to vote on distributing the proceeds from the sale and close the books. Farmer Dianne Dowling has been with the Save the Prison Farm campaign since the beginning. She said that this was “an issue that touched many people’s hearts and passions and they stuck with it.” “Every time we had a public meeting, more people showed up,” she added, noting that this public participation was “the fuel that kept us going.” For the small group of people who held a Monday evening vigil at the entrance to Collins Bay Penitentiary for years, the honking horns, thumbs up, and occasional financial donations were evidence of community support for the return of farming as serious work for those inside. A 50-minute film by Clarke Mackey, Elaine Foreman, Jamie Swift, and Lenny Epstein documents the community activism to save the farms. It is available on Clarke Mackey’s website. Scroll down to “Til the Cows Come Home.” [Disclosure: I own one-third of a share in the Co-operative.] |
6. Household Hazardous Waste Facility to Close for the Season
Received from the city Nov 6
The last drop-off days for the year at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility at the Kingston Area Recycling Centre (KARC), 196 Lappan’s Lane, will be Thursday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 30.
See www.rpra.ca/where-to-recycle/ for a list of retailers who accept certain hazardous waste items year-round. The facility is open Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Nov. 30.
Before heading out to the Household Hazardous Waste facility:
- Check your household for hazardous waste items like pesticides, batteries (single-use, rechargeable and automotive), solvents, pool chemicals, removers or strippers, paint, paint thinners, oven cleaners, bleach, drain cleaners, ammonia, motor oil and motor oil containers, antifreeze, propane cylinders and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
- Bring proof of residency. The City reports on households that visit the facility from Kingston, as well as from adjacent municipalities. Proof of residency (i.e., driver’s license, health card, etc.) is required upon delivery of household hazardous waste
Never put hazardous waste in the garbage or down the drain. Look for warning labels and instructions on products and handle any potentially hazardous materials with care. Do not mix hazardous materials and, when possible, bring items in their original containers.
Medications, batteries and compact fluorescent bulbs can be disposed of as follows:
Medications: return unused or expired medications and sharps for free to participating pharmacies in Kingston. For a list of collection locations near you, please visit www.healthsteward.ca/consumers/returning-medications/#drop-off-map.
Batteries: Drop off batteries (single-use and rechargeable only) any time during operating hours at: City Hall, 216 Ontario St.; INVISTA Centre, 1350 Gardiners Rd.; or the main office at KARC.
Compact fluorescent bulbs: These are accepted year-round in the main office at KARC.
7. North King’s Town Secondary Plan Update
Received from Niall Oddie, Senior Planner, Planning Services, City of Kingston Nov 12, 2024
The project team has been busy considering the comments and feedback received during our previous Community Working Group meeting and the community engagements held in April 2024. We are pleased to inform the group that we have complete drafts of all technical studies (with the exception of the Financial and Implementation Plan, which will be finalized shortly) and have prepared draft Official Plan and Zoning By-Law amendments for implementation. This is a major project milestone and we want to sincerely thank the Community Working Group for their contributions to the project.
The draft materials will be presented for a Community Meeting at Planning Committee on December 5, 2024 and are currently available for review on DASH under application number D01-011-2024. A Community Meeting is where a project is presented for initial questions and comments. Staff will consider all questions and comments received and then initiate formal applications for Official Plan and Zoning By-Law amendments, which will be presented for a statutory Public Meeting at Planning Committee in early 2025.
A Community Working Group meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2024, from 10 am to 12 noon where staff will present the draft materials, focusing on the proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-Law amendments. The comments received from the Community Working Group ahead of the Community Meeting will help staff refine the presentation of materials and collect initial questions and comments for consideration. The meeting will be held in person at 1211 John Counter Boulevard, however hybrid options can be investigated if required.
More info re attending the meetings?
Niall Oddie, noddie@cityofkingston.ca, 613-546-4291, x3259
8. Youth Imagine the Future _ A Festival of Writing and Art
Received from Nikki Alward of Youth Imagine the Future, Nov 11, 2024
Youth Imagine the Future is hosting an inspiring and unusual exhibition of aft and stories by local youth (ages 13 – 17)
We invite you to visit the Window Art Gallery (Kingston School of Art) December 3-15th to be wowed and energized by the hopeful art and the stories showing us what the world could be like when we rely entirely on renewable energy, restore biodiversity and have social justice.
A special Storytime evening will be held Friday Dec. 6th, 5-7pm at the gallery.
See YouthImagineTheFuture.com for the exhibition schedule and more about the festival. Follow us on Instagram, FB, and twitter.
8. A Taste of Indigenous Canada / A Winter Celebration
(3) A Taste of Indigenous Canada | A Winter Celebration | Facebook
Join True North Aid on Saturday, November 16 in Kingston, Ontario for A Taste of Indigenous Canada! In the spirit of the holiday season, gather in community to support Indigenous artisans, taste Indigenous food, and engage in an interactive learning experience. Receive a beautiful message from author and educator Wahwahbiginojii Dr. Dave Anderson.
Based on his children’s book A Winter Celebration, Dr. Anderson will speak to reconciliation and what our journey can look like together.
$10 per adult
$5 per child (ages 4 – 12 years)
9.Santa Claus Parade, Sat, Nov 23, 2024
Downtown Kingston BIA announces 2024 Nighttime Santa Parade
10. Kingston Climate Justice Coalition – A New Coalition
Received from Steve Lawrence of the Kingston Cliimate Hub Nov 13, 2024
Kingston’s Climate Report Card
We worked with non-profit organizations and independent experts to analyze the City of Kingston’s track record of action and inaction on the climate crisis.
This report card summarizes what we learned: where Kingston is making progress, and where it is falling short of its own commitments and the scientific consensus on action.
More info? Kingston Climate Justice Coalition – https://climatecoalition.ca
Also Steve Lawrence of the Kingston Climate Hub – fractals@kingston.net
This group is looking for ways to enhance local pro-environmental initiatives including an environmental community calendar of events
11. Still waiting for the Report on the Open House re the Bridge over John Counter and the Railway
Hopefully next week.
Contact? Danny Potts – dpotts@cityofkingston.ca
12. More Info on Biogas Concerns
Thanks Jerri Jerreat, Nov 11, 2024
This Proposal will go to the Environment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Policies (EITP) committee on December 10, and then to Council on December 17. The EITP committee meeting starts at 6 pm. Anyone who wishes to speak is invited to contribute. No prior registration is required although you are invited to contact the clerk should you so wish.. For Council, pre-registration is recommended. Details for the EITP meeting and for Council should be available the Friday before the week of the meeting.
NPR – https://www.npr.org/2024/03/28/1241473455
PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ could be contaminating millions of acres …
Mar 28, 2024 · Biosolids (a byproduct of wastewater treatment) are often used as fertilizer.
New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/31/climate/pfas-fertilizer-sludge-farm…Something’s Poisoning America’s Land. Farmers Fear ‘Forever …
Aug 31, 2024 · Levels of one PFAS chemical in surface water exceeded 1,300 parts per trillion,
CNN – https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/02/us/video/pfas-forever-chemicals…
‘They told us that this material would be safe.’ Toxic PFAS … – CNN
Environmental Health https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-023-01…
Emerging environmental health risks associated with the land …
Aug 21, 2023 · One of the earliest studies on PFAS in soil following the land application of …
KCUR –
https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-03-11/pfas-contaminated-biosolid…
This farmer’s livelihood was ruined by PFAS-contaminated …
Mar 11, 2024 · Biosolids — a type of treated sewage byproduct from wastewater treatment …
California Water Environment Association –
https://www.cwea.org/news/breaking-down-the-facts-about-pfas-in-…
Breaking Down the Facts about PFAS in Biosolids
AB 1817 expands an existing law governing food packaging that contains regulated PFAS …
CBS News – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pfas-f…
Toxic “forever chemicals” found in U.S. farmland soil
May 3, 2023 · Exposure to PFAS has been linked to numerous health issues such as kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage and high cholesterol, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
NPR Illinois – https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-03-11/…
This farmer’s livelihood was ruined by PFAS …
Mar 11, 2024 · Biosolids — a type of treated sewage byproduct from wastewater treatment plants — are used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer on farms across the Midwest. But a group of toxic “forever chemicals” are slipping through the …
NPR Illinois –
https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-05-29/pfas-contamination-lawsuit-e…
Farmers threaten to sue the EPA over PFAS contamination …
May 29, 2024 · If wastewater plants detect two compounds, PFOA and PFOS, above 100 parts …
PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ are everywhere. Here’s what you …
Jun 22, 2022 · Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] put out a new advisory
FROM FARTHER AFIELD
13. The Government of Canada invests in clean technology and infrastructure for a sustainable marine industry in Ontario, Transport Canada, November 12, 2024. Today, the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, the Honourable Anita Anand, announced up to $25.2 million for four projects, funded under the Green Shipping Corridor Program, to support both shore-power and alternative fuel solutions in the marine sector.
14. EPA’s Clean Ports Program Underwrites New Environmental Initiatives, The Waterways Journal Weekly, November 11, 2024. On October 29, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will provide almost $3 billion in funding through its Clean Ports Program (CPP). The money will cover 55 projects in two large focus areas: zero emission (ZE) technology to reduce diesel emissions from trucks and drayage equipment and a more general category referred to as “climate and air quality planning” (CAQP)
OF GENERAL INTEREST
15. How we Eat, Drink and Breathe, Microplastics
Received from Freethink, Nov 11, 2024
Editor’s Note: With this program I was not able to include the graphics. I do recommend reading the original. Plastic water bottles are really bad.
Are microplastics really destroying our health?
In 2022, scientists found microplastics — pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long — in human blood. Since then, they’ve been discovered throughout the human body, including in our lungs, kidneys, livers, hearts, and brains.
So, why do we have all this plastic in us, what does it mean for our health, and what can we do about it?
Living in a plastic world
Plastics are a wonder material. They’re tough, lightweight, flexible, sterile, and cheap, which has made them hugely popular — since the 1950s, production levels for plastic have increased faster than for any other material. We’re now producing 440 million tons of plastic every year, with the total still trending upward.
Unfortunately, there’s a major tradeoff for all the benefits of plastic. Not only is the production of it bad for the environment, contributing to global warming, but so is the way we treat the material after we’re done using it: only about 9% of the world’s plastic waste is recycled, while 19% is incinerated. The rest goes into landfills (50%) or becomes litter (22%).
Researchers have known since the 1960s that plastic waste was an issue, but the problem took a new shape in 2004 when marine biologist Richard Thompson published a paper in the journal Science in which his team reported the discovery of microscopic plastic fragments and fibers in the ocean environment.
They dubbed these pollutants “microplastics.”
“The fragments appear to have resulted from degradation of larger items,” the researchers wrote. “Plastics of this size are ingested by marine organisms, but the environmental consequences of this contamination are still unknown.”
In 2024, Thompson led a new study, also published in Science. This time, his team looked back at the 7,000 microplastics studies that followed their 2004 discovery to see what we now know about the pollutants — and the answer wasn’t great.
Not only had the amount of microplastics in the ocean increased over the past two decades, scientists had also found the particles in tons of other places — they’re in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the animals we eat, as well as hundreds of species outside our food chain. They’ve also been found in other foods that we consume, from vegetables to ice cream.
As for where all these microplastics were coming from, Thompson’s team was right that many were once a part of larger pieces of plastic — polyester clothing and synthetic rubber tires proved to be particularly large sources of microplastics in the environment. The tiny plastic pellets which are used to create larger plastic products are a big contributor, too — at various points in the supply chain, they can slip into the environment.
Identifying microplastics and their sources was just the start, though. A major focus of research has been on determining the impact of these particles, and that’s led to more bad news.
“After 20 years of research, there is clear evidence of harmful effects from microplastic pollution on a global scale,” said Thompson in a press release about the new study. “That includes physical harm to wildlife, harm to societies and cultures, and a growing evidence base of harm to humans.”
Mitigating microplastics
That evidence has been enough to inspire officials in some places to take action to try to reduce the amount of microplastics in the environment.
In 2015, for example, Congress passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act, which banned the inclusion of plastic microbeads in toothpaste, face wash, and other products. Some states and cities have also banned some single-use plastics, which can break down into microplastics once discarded.
These policies aren’t enough to significantly reduce the amount of microplastics in the environment, though — the most straightforward way to make that happen would be for the textile industry and tire manufacturers to stop creating products with so much plastic.
“[W]e can not dramatically reduce microplastic pollution without leadership from the textile industry and tire manufacturers to produce consumer products that don’t add to the growing problem,” said Mark Gold, executive director of the California Ocean Protection Council.
These are massive, global industries, though, and convincing them to change en masse how they operate (or getting governments around the world to force them to change) won’t be easy, especially since we still don’t know for sure just how bad microplastics are for human health.
There’s no straightforward path to figuring it out, either.
“We know these microplastics are all over the place. We don’t know whether the presence in the body leads to a problem.”
Because microplastics are everywhere, we can’t exactly compare the health of people who are exposed to them to people who aren’t to determine their possible effects, so our real world studies have no controls — already a big strike against them.
“Plastic” is also not just one thing. There are more than 13,000 different chemicals used in plastic production, which complicates matters even further — how do we know which ones are causing which health effects and therefore need to be regulated or banned? There isn’t any systematic testing of these chemicals in humans, much less the countless potential combinations of them that are used in plastic products.
Scientists can — and have — exposed human cell cultures to certain kinds of plastic chemicals and microplastics and recorded how often the cells experienced inflammation, DNA damage, or death. They’ve also performed controlled studies on animals and recorded their effects, noting how exposure to certain levels of microplastics can cause mice to experience organ failure, develop immune disorders, demonstrate signs of dementia, and more.
Even though these studies (and common sense) suggest that having microplastics in our bodies is probably harming us in some way, they don’t prove it, though.
“Are the plastics just simply there and inert or are they going to lead to an immune response by the body that will lead to scarring, fibrosis, or cancer?” Albert Rizzo, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association, told National Geographic in 2022. “We know these microplastics are all over the place. We don’t know whether the presence in the body leads to a problem.”
Looking ahead
Proving a link between microplastics and health issues may be a huge challenge, but as Thompson noted, the evidence base of harm to humans is growing.
A study published in March 2024, for example, analyzed plaques removed from the clogged heart arteries of about 300 people with heart problems and found microplastics in about 60% of the samples. People with microplastics were 4.5 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or die within 34 months of the plaque removal surgery, compared to those without.
That correlation does not prove causation — it could be that people who are sicker for other reasons are also ingesting or retaining more microplastics, and that’s what the study is picking up on. But the result is certainly consistent with microplastics worsening health problems.
We don’t have to wait as researchers work to unravel the connection between microplastics and human health to start mitigating the problem, though.
“Nobody’s saying there’s no safe way to use plastics.”
We already know that plastic waste in the environment, big and small, is killing wildlife, degrading ecosystems, and generally just making the world a worse place, and tire wear particles, which include plastics as well as a range of other unpleasant substances, have long been known as a major source of pollution.
To combat this, some people are developing better plastic recycling tech and sustainable plastic alternatives. Others are collecting and recycling the plastic waste that’s already in the environment and taking steps to prevent new waste from reaching it.
These are still relatively small-scale solutions, but in 2022, the members of the United Nations committed to establishing a legally-binding agreement designed to end plastic pollution. This agreement is expected to include concrete plans for reducing plastic production, phasing out particularly problematic plastics, redesigning products that create significant microplastics, and more. A UN committee will meet in South Korea the week of November 25 to finalize a draft of the agreement.
“Nobody’s saying there’s no safe way to use plastics,” Thompson told Yale Environment 360. “It’s just that we need to start making them to be safer and more sustainable than we have done so far, and that’s what the treaty needs to help us do.”
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a comment about this article or if you have a tip for a future Freethink story, please email us at tips@freethink.com.
16. The Fluouride Issue
Received from Eric Walton, Nov 1, 20245
Editor’s Note: I am not an expert on this at all but it seems to be a recurring debate that some people on my mailing list have asked me to have a look at. A short google search also reveals lots of info.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/04/fluoridation-water-epa-risk-assessement
Here are some other links:
https://ufhealth.org/news/2024/study-explores-association-between-fluoride-exposure-in-pregnancy-and-neurobehavioral-issues-in-young-children#:~:text=We found that each 0.68,based on their mother’s reporting.”
Here’s what scientists say, and what we know about fluoride in drinking water in Canada. What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, released from rocks into the soil, water and air.
It’s commonly used in dentistry to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities.
In many parts of the world, including Canada, public health authorities or local governments add it to the drinking water supply to help prevent tooth decay in the community.
Major public health bodies around the world, including the World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) support the practice. PHAC says fluoridation is associated with an approximate 25 per cent reduction in tooth decay in children and adults. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named it one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century.
In Canada, 38.8 per cent of the population has access to fluoridated water, according to PHAC. Access varies across provinces and territories, based on several factors like cost, infrastructure and community concerns.
Related video: Nebraska dentist denounces RFK Jr’s call to remove fluoride from drinking water (KMTV 3 News Omaha, NE)Related video: Nebraska dentist denounces RFK Jr’s call to remove fluoride from drinking water (KMTV 3 News Omaha, NE)Loaded: 36.70%
What are the risks?
Ingesting too much fluoride over a long period of time can lead to skeletal fluorosis, a bone disease that can cause bone pain and deformities. The condition is extremely rare in Canada, because health authorities adjust fluoride levels in water to keep it safe.
Another mild risk for children according to Health Canada is dental fluorosis. Children who ingest more fluoride than recommended (such as by swallowing toothpaste) can develop white spots on the surface of their teeth, but there are no other symptoms or harms associated with this condition.
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“That doesn’t mean that fluoride during pregnancy definitely has no effect on IQ — just that it’s far from clear that it’s even the main explanation for these relatively small IQ differences,” said Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University in the U.K.
When it was published, the journal editor explained his decision to publish the article, noting the importance of examining any possible link between fluoride exposure and cognitive development.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says fluoridation is a cost-effective and equitable way to prevent tooth decay for everyone in the community — even those who can’t access dental care easily. (chanchai plongern/Shutterstock)
“Scientific inquiry is an iterative process,” wrote Dr. Dimitri Christakis in the editor’s note.
“It is rare that a single study provides definitive evidence.”
Christine Till, one of the authors of the study, and a professor of psychology at York University, says there’s not enough evidence of a link at lower levels of exposure — like those currently recommended for drinking water in the U.S. and Canada.
“We don’t have as many studies in that area. We need more studies and [to] replicate,” Till said.
Another report published this summer by the U.S. National Toxicology Program also looked at the impact of all sources of fluoride exposure, like food, water or toothpaste, on pregnant women, infants and children. It suggests high levels of exposure — 1.5 milligrams per litre — are associated with lower IQ in children. That’s more than double the recommended water concentration in Canada, which is 0.7 milligrams per litre.
A recent review of high-quality studies on the subject — published by Cochrane, an international network of health professionals that examines health research — suggests that while fluoride in water leads to less tooth decay among children, the benefits may be smaller than before fluoride was also added to most toothpastes.
It’s no surprise, says Burry. He says water fluoridation is “one tool in the whole overall toolkit” in ensuring dental health among Canadians.
Uswak says those who can’t afford to see a dentist stand to suffer the most without fluoridation.
“Those people in society that face the most access-to-care barriers are the people that benefit most from community water fluoridation.”
17. New Method of Testing for Forever Chemicals
Thanks so much Ted Hsu for the link, Received Nov, 7, 2024
https://phys.org/news/2024-11-pfas-method-portable-accessible.html
18. Potpourri Simmering Pot Recipes for Fall and Winter
Received from Little Pine Learners Nov 1, 2024
https://littlepinelearners.com/potpourri-simmering-pot-recipes-for-fall-and-winter/
19. Sex Talk Once Again – as Requested by Several Readers
Thanks so much Ken Fisher for this interesting link
What should women know about having better sex? Sex researchers share their findings | CBC Radio
Personally I had no idea that 16% of women find sex painful – both young and old!
In the old days (19th & 20th c) Vaseline was the lubricant of choice. No idea what people used before that. Nowadays coconut oil is recommended although olive oil is also a choice. The water-based products commonly sold are useless.
I also had no idea that the clitoris has more nerve endings than the penis. Live and learn.
OMGYES is an interesting onlnesource of contemporary thinking as well.
20. How do you save a rainforest? Leave it alone | Canada’s National Observer: Climate News
21. Pub Carolling Once Again!
What: All welcome to join in the fun singing carols in the festive season
Four-part harmonies- but anyone can choose whatever part they would like to join – esp if they want to sit together with friends.
Where: Something in the Water Pub – 275 Princess St (between Clergy and Sydenham)
Who: Robyn Ableson will lead us in song
When: Sundays, Dec 8, Dec 15, and Dec 22 – 6:30 – 8:30
So that’s it for November,
Cheers,
Mary Farrar,
President, Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour