No plastic netting please

Q: Can we use plastic netting to avoid pigeons?

Krishna: A few days back people in our apartment complex made a proposal to net our  entire building to stop pigeons from spoiling the newly painted complex.

But I negated it and sent them this message:

No netting please....
Pigeon netting is a physical barrier made of materials like nylon, polyethylene (HDPE), or sometimes stainless steel. It's designed to exclude pigeons and other birds from areas where they are unwanted, without harming them.
Pigeon nets are primarily made from two types of materials:

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Nylon
Other Material used:
Stainless Steel Netting
Polypropylene: Another plastic material used for netting
Polyethylene is infamous  for plastic pollution. Once it enters the environment, it can persist for hundreds of years, accumulating in landfills, oceans, and ecosystems. This persistence contributes significantly to the global plastic pollution crisis.
  These nets made of Nylon and  Polyethylene  produce microplastics and nano plastics that can harm us  tremendously.
Microplastics, tiny fragments of degraded plastic, can enter the food chain, potentially impacting human health.
Nanoplastics, the microscopic fragments of plastic, can enter all parts of human bodies. They were observed in human blood,  brain and heart tissues, placenta and even foetuses in  mothers' womb.
Microplastics and nanoplastics can enter the human body through these primary routes: ingestion (via the digestive system, through water and food), inhalation (via the lungs), and potentially direct skin contact.
 
Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that micro- and nanoplastics were able to cause serious impacts on the human body, including physical stress and damage, apoptosis, necrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and immune responses.
Microplastics and nanoplastics, ubiquitous environmental pollutants, are increasingly being found in atherosclerotic plaques and other cardiovascular tissues, raising concerns about their potential role in cardiovascular disease. Emerging research suggests these particles can exacerbate atherosclerosis by inducing endothelial cell toxicity, disrupting lipid metabolism, promoting oxidative stress, and activating inflammatory pathways. Additionally, they may influence coagulation dynamics and impair immune cell functions, potentially contributing to thrombus formation and cardiovascular events.
Here's a more detailed look at the evidence:

Presence in Plaque:
Microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, including those in carotid arteries, and other cardiovascular tissues like pericardia, epicardial adipose tissues, pericardial adipose tissues, myocardia, and left atrial appendages.
Mechanism of Action:
These particles can trigger several harmful effects in the cardiovascular system:

Endothelial Toxicity: They can damage the inner lining of blood vessels (endothelium), impairing its function.
Lipid Metabolism Disruption: They can interfere with the body's ability to properly process and manage lipids, leading to fat buildup in arteries.
Oxidative Stress: They can increase the production of free radicals, which can damage cells and tissues.
Inflammatory Responses: They can activate inflammatory pathways, contributing to the development and progression of atherosclerosis.
Immune Cell Dysfunction: They can disrupt the function of immune cells, such as macrophages, which are important for clearing plaque and other harmful substances.

Increased Cardiovascular Risk:
Studies have linked the presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in carotid plaques with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, and death.
Possible Mechanisms Linking to Cardiovascular Disease:

Foam Cell Formation: Microplastics and nanoplastics can promote the formation of foam cells, which are macrophages that have engulfed cholesterol and are a key component of atherosclerotic plaques.
Thrombus Formation: They can alter coagulation dynamics, potentially increasing the risk of blood clots (thrombi).
Vascular Barrier Integrity: They can compromise the integrity of the vascular barrier, allowing harmful substances to enter the bloodstream and contribute to inflammation.

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I read several research papers on this topic and can see the full picture of what happens if they are used  in front of my eyes.
The whole scientific community is against the use of plastic nets.
Moreover, during Diwali firecracker celebrations, they might catch fire and can spread it in no time throughout the building.
I installed an iron grill on my balcony, not the plastic net.
 
I don't accept this proposal of covering our building with plastic mesh at all. I won't contribute to such a mess and won't allow it anywhere near my home.
Just because others are doing it, we need not ape them blindly.
 
I might have different views based on scientific research and might not agree with what you say on some things. This is not non-cooperation, but thinking about the welfare of the people here.
I am more concerned about people, not the beauty of the building.

Now you know the facts.

Link to another article related to this topic 

https://kkartlab.in/group/some-science/forum/topics/plastic-death-t...