Bacteria can be used to turn plastic waste into painkillers, researchers have found, opening up the possibility of a more sustainable process for producing the drugs.
Chemists have discovered E coli can be used to create paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, from a material produced in the laboratory from plastic bottles.
“People don’t realise that paracetamol comes from oil currently,” said Prof Stephen Wallace, the lead author of the research from the University of Edinburgh. “What this technology shows is that by merging chemistry and biology in this way for the first time, we can make paracetamol more sustainably and clean up plastic waste from the environment at the same time.”
Sounds like a painless process.
So the fish won’t feel pain after all.
I had no idea it was synthesised from oil! Yet another reason not to take it. My local chemist has a sign that says “Did you know? Paracetamol is available for patients with long-term needs.” Big oil and big pharma colluding to cause liver damage on the basis that it’s barely an analgesic and doesn’t interact with most other drugs.
Just take morphine as god intended, it’s natural after all, comes from a plant
/s
Bad for livers
Just know that most of the liver damage caused by paracetamol comes from combining it with alcohol, to cure a hangover and such. Every medication is dangerous when used improperly. Never the less it is an important painkiller, especially since the way it works is different to NSAIDs also not fully understood, so it can be combined with NSAIDs to manage pain better.
That’s why it’s great for when you know what you’re doing, with intent.
I have neither knowledge of my actions nor intent towards their consequences
