One of the possible answers astrophysicists give for why we haven’t seen more evidence of intelligent life in the universe, is that there are technological milestones that lead to doomsday scenarios. They’re “great filters” that many advanced civilizations don’t survive. The classic example is nuclear fission and the power it gives to destroy. I’m convinced that plastic is one of these filters.

I’d figure those plastics wreak havoc in the long term but won’t prevent people form reproducing and developing. It might be a serious setback but just a hurdle for humanity. Climate change, our nuclear arsenal, … pose more urgent threats.

funny that you mention reproducing…

Yeah lead does all of this stuff too and we made it past the Romans using it as a sweater…