4 ms·

I think OPs argument is that tackling microplastic exposure through personal choices like microwave use, etc, may be unlikely to make a significant dent in over

I think OPs argument is that tackling microplastic exposure through personal choices like microwave use, etc, may be unlikely to make a significant dent in overall microplastic consumption, if it's in all the food, all the water, the soil, the air, the bedsheets, the flooring, etc etc.

tempest_ 3y ago
Basically all food comes in plastic now a days. There are still people surprised to find out that the aluminum or steel can they get food out of is coated internally. This article is talking about heating plastic in a microwave which is something a lot of people do but I suspect fewer people have unloaded skids from the back of a tractor trailer in the summer. That stuff that is at room temp on the grocery store shelve has gone through a tone of heat cool cycles before it makes it to you.
- kristopolous 3y ago
  sure, plastic coating is not what those consumers wanted but some goals take time to reach. Let's not dismiss people who are making sincere efforts. For instance, I've been using reusable shopping bags for 25 years and buy most of my food through farmers market, never touching plastic bags or packaging in the whole lifecycle. That's probably at least 10,000 fewer plastic bags. Sure there's some wasteful people that probably use that in a month, I see how people shop. This isn't a virtue contest - it's a lifestyle commitment just like deciding not to smoke for health reasons. At scale these things have impact. Also I'm not anti-plastic - I just don't like making a bunch of trash and appreciate higher quality materials.
deleted 3y ago
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b112 3y ago
Bedsheets indeed! After all, isn't polyester essentially a variant of plastic?
- 10u152 3y ago
  What kind of monster has synthetic bedsheets? Cotton or linen only. I can’t even think last time I saw a synthetic sheet.
  - b112 3y ago
    Personally, I have 60% cotton, 40% polyester. Seems to handle my feet calluses better. (I get holes in pure cotton sheets too fast)

tempest_ 3y ago

Basically all food comes in plastic now a days. There are still people surprised to find out that the aluminum or steel can they get food out of is coated internally. This article is talking about heating plastic in a microwave which is something a lot of people do but I suspect fewer people have unloaded skids from the back of a tractor trailer in the summer. That stuff that is at room temp on the grocery store shelve has gone through a tone of heat cool cycles before it makes it to you.

kristopolous 3y ago
sure, plastic coating is not what those consumers wanted but some goals take time to reach. Let's not dismiss people who are making sincere efforts. For instance, I've been using reusable shopping bags for 25 years and buy most of my food through farmers market, never touching plastic bags or packaging in the whole lifecycle. That's probably at least 10,000 fewer plastic bags. Sure there's some wasteful people that probably use that in a month, I see how people shop. This isn't a virtue contest - it's a lifestyle commitment just like deciding not to smoke for health reasons. At scale these things have impact. Also I'm not anti-plastic - I just don't like making a bunch of trash and appreciate higher quality materials.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

b112 3y ago

Bedsheets indeed! After all, isn't polyester essentially a variant of plastic?

10u152 3y ago
What kind of monster has synthetic bedsheets? Cotton or linen only. I can’t even think last time I saw a synthetic sheet.
- b112 3y ago
  Personally, I have 60% cotton, 40% polyester. Seems to handle my feet calluses better. (I get holes in pure cotton sheets too fast)