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We 100% know and are well aware that food items like cutting boards, plastic-ware, etc. are all sources of plastic we ingest. We are doing it on purpose, eatin

We 100% know and are well aware that food items like cutting boards, plastic-ware, etc. are all sources of plastic we ingest. We are doing it on purpose, eating plastic that is, the only question is why!

llm_nerd 1y ago
The why is that plastic is an extremely convenient, cost effective way to make lots of things. And the evidence that it was deleterious to human health was negligible. And to be fair, it's still fairly uncertain. We demonstrated endocrine problems with BPA, but aside from that microplastic consequences on health still seems uncertain. At best we're mostly doing the correlation/causation thing that leads people down a confusing path of cure-alls and snake oil. If there was a smoking gun for the consequences of this in our day to day living, surely it would be regulated out of existence[1], but thus far that evidence doesn't exist. [1] - ha ha, who am I kidding. In reality industry groups would muddy the waters, try to pretend it's "political", finance astroturfing groups, and soon enough a certain segment of society will be proudly clutching onto their microplastics, demanding higher dose services, and ascribing it with magical cure-all powers.
- dylan604 1y ago
  > surely it would be regulated out of existence[1], but thus far that evidence doesn't exist. surely, it's not so sure, especially with the current administration reversing so many existing policies. for example, reversing the restriction of asbestos is currently in the works. so adding new regulations on plastics use seems like something that the current policy makers will absolutely not be considering. at this point, I would not be shocked if they said they were reversing the bans on lead in gasoline or paints
  - rubslopes 1y ago
    > reversing the restriction of asbestos is currently in the works. I really, really hoped you weren't being serious... But https://web.archive.org/web/20250624143349/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/epa-trump-asbestos-ban-delay.html https://web.archive.org/web/20250624143349/https://www.nytim...

llm_nerd 1y ago

The why is that plastic is an extremely convenient, cost effective way to make lots of things. And the evidence that it was deleterious to human health was negligible. And to be fair, it's still fairly uncertain. We demonstrated endocrine problems with BPA, but aside from that microplastic consequences on health still seems uncertain. At best we're mostly doing the correlation/causation thing that leads people down a confusing path of cure-alls and snake oil. If there was a smoking gun for the consequences of this in our day to day living, surely it would be regulated out of existence[1], but thus far that evidence doesn't exist. [1] - ha ha, who am I kidding. In reality industry groups would muddy the waters, try to pretend it's "political", finance astroturfing groups, and soon enough a certain segment of society will be proudly clutching onto their microplastics, demanding higher dose services, and ascribing it with magical cure-all powers.

dylan604 1y ago
> surely it would be regulated out of existence[1], but thus far that evidence doesn't exist. surely, it's not so sure, especially with the current administration reversing so many existing policies. for example, reversing the restriction of asbestos is currently in the works. so adding new regulations on plastics use seems like something that the current policy makers will absolutely not be considering. at this point, I would not be shocked if they said they were reversing the bans on lead in gasoline or paints
- rubslopes 1y ago
  > reversing the restriction of asbestos is currently in the works. I really, really hoped you weren't being serious... But https://web.archive.org/web/20250624143349/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/epa-trump-asbestos-ban-delay.html https://web.archive.org/web/20250624143349/https://www.nytim...