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Science Friday

Plastic In Human Brains | Local Anesthetics Recommended For IUD Insertion

Science Friday

Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Life Sciences, Wnyc, Science, Earth Sciences, Natural Sciences, Friday

4.55.5K Ratings

🗓️ 23 August 2024

⏱️ 23 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A new study measuring microplastics in organs of the recently deceased found that about two dozen brain samples were 0.5% plastic by weight. Also, having an IUD inserted in the uterus is extremely painful for some people. The CDC now recommends that doctors use local anesthetics.

Transcript

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0:00.0

For some, getting an IUD is really painful, but now more people are speaking up about their experiences.

0:10.0

It's definitely an important conversation that's happening in the public right now and amongst

0:16.5

physicians as well.

0:18.5

It's Friday, August 23rd, or as we called around here, it's Science Friday.

0:25.0

I'm Cyphraib producer Shoshana Bucksbound.

0:28.0

In a bit, we'll walk you through the CDC's updated guidelines

0:30.0

to manage pain from IUD placement and what this might mean for patients.

0:34.7

But first here's guest host Maggie Kurth with a roundup of the top science stories of the week.

0:49.0

We all know that plastic pollution is a big problem. We see it in our streets and in our waterways. But scientists are increasingly paying attention to the plastic that is getting into our bodies.

0:55.3

A new study looked at organs of recently autopsied bodies and found alarming amounts of

1:00.3

microplastics, particularly in the brains.

1:04.0

Joining me to talk about this and other top science stories of the week

1:07.9

is my guest, Tim Revel,

1:09.6

executive editor of New Scientist,

1:12.0

based in London, England.

1:13.7

Welcome back, Tim.

1:14.7

Hi, thanks for having me.

1:16.3

Okay, so let's start with this very concerning news about our brains.

1:21.4

Just how much or how many microplastics are we talking about here?

1:26.0

Yeah, this is quite a shocking finding.

1:28.0

As you said, microplastics are found absolutely everywhere.

1:31.0

They've been found in the Arctic, in the oceans and in us.

...

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