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I think the concern was with the plastic money shedding micro plastics or threads as it slowly degrades over time, like we're finding other plastic does like ou
by pests 3y ago
I think the concern was with the plastic money shedding micro plastics or threads as it slowly degrades over time, like we're finding other plastic does like our clothing. Not saying enough to take out of circulation, but does it shed any particles during its life?
- 1jbdg 3y agoDoes it shed particles? In a world of absolutism yes they would. I don’t know if there are actually any studies but fyi cotton notes will also have plastic features and a synthetic, uv cured varnish to try and get some extra life (although far less than polymer) so also ’shed’. Banknotes are regularly inspected and worn or damaged notes are pulled - they really are the perfect product for plastic.
- FinalBriefing 3y agoBy weight though, it's a lot less plastic being put out there. Is it worse than clothing? Maybe not, but I'd continue to be skeptical about it until some studies have been done.
- 1jbdg 3y agoBut the solid piece of plastic isn’t shedding, it’s encased in ink and will be removed with set levels of ink wear. The synthetic varnishes, features etc are the same with paper so you’re putting out 4x the amount of ‘at risk’ shedding material due to the longer life of polymer. Plastic = bad is a disaster for co2 emissions and ironically microplastics since the alternatives are heavier and don’t last as long. Meaning more transport, distribution etc and tires are one of the biggest sources of microplastics.
- CyberDildonics 3y agoI think the concern was with the plastic money shedding micro plastics Show me anyone who is actually 'concerned' about that with numbers to back up that there is any significance.
- cubefox 3y agoHere are some numbers (points on the left): https://hn.algolia.com/?q=microplastics https://hn.algolia.com/?q=microplastics
- CyberDildonics 3y agoThis doesn't show anyone concerned about polymer money shedding microplastics and it doesn't show any numbers about how much polymer money sheds microplastics. What did you think this was evidence of?
- pests 3y agoPeople concerned with _microplastics_. They don't care where it comes from. The point being - is money one? Why be so dismissive?
- CyberDildonics 3y agoWhy be so dismissive? Because there is zero evidence of what you're saying. How much plastic are people surrounded by and how much of that weight is bank notes? How much do they shed? Show some numbers or just use some common sense that this doesn't matter.
- pests 3y agoI don't know! That's why we're asking. Do you know those numbers? If you do then you could enlighten us
- CyberDildonics 3y agoThe average household in the uk has 1,136 kg, the equivalent weight of a small car. https://phys.org/news/2020-06-tool-household-plastics-footprint.html https://phys.org/news/2020-06-tool-household-plastics-footpr... A polymer bank note weighs 0.7g https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/banknotes/polymer/polymer-qanda-for-businesses.pdf https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/banknotes/... If you have 10 bank notes in your wallet, you have 162,285 times as much plastic in your house. I think most people would have had used some basic common sense that even their trash bags are many times more plastic than the polymer bank notes they use. Why did you possibly think that anyone should be focused on microplastics from bank notes? At what point do you go from "just asking questions" to "maybe this is a bizarre thing to focus on" ?