A plastic spoon in our brains. Microplastics

[Anonymous]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIMy2QsKpb0/

This is horrifying. This obviously can't be good for you. But what can we do when plastic is in everything, everywhere?

[Anonymous]

You can limit exposure by not using plastic containers, not using aluminum cans, not using polyester clothing, not using carpet, not using disposable wipes, not using body scrubs, not using toothpaste in tubes, not using bottled water, etc. etc.

They will still be some in the air and possibly the tap water if you aren't on a well system.

[Anonymous]

Aluminum cans also have microplastics in them?

[Anonymous]

No tea bags or chewing gum.

[Anonymous]

The biggest thing is avoiding heated plastic — cooking with plastic cookware, heating up food in plastic containers, drinking out of plastic water bottles that have been sitting out.

[Anonymous]

The NYTimes article on this was really depressing. A lot of the plastics are minuscule pieces of objects from the 1950s-60s, which have been building up in the environment for decades and are inescapable. Not bigger pieces of microplastics from newer containers.

[Anonymous]

And we thought all those brilliant scientists on our payroll were keeping us healthy.

Stop being so naive, people. Agenda 2030.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aluminum cans also have microplastics in them?

Yes, they are plastic lined, and one of the largest sources of microplastics in the average American's diet.

Polyester and other plastics in the laundry/dryer/air are the main source of exposure, but aluminum cans are the main source in diet besides plastic water bottles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest thing is avoiding heated plastic — cooking with plastic cookware, heating up food in plastic containers, drinking out of plastic water bottles that have been sitting out.

This is also another issue. Releases many toxic gasses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The NYTimes article on this was really depressing. A lot of the plastics are minuscule pieces of objects from the 1950s-60s, which have been building up in the environment for decades and are inescapable. Not bigger pieces of microplastics from newer containers.

Completely false and misleading misinformation there. Size of particles vary in every single instance. A typical water bottle can contain millions of particles in the nano-meter range, and thousands in the micro-meter range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aluminum cans also have microplastics in them?

Yes, they are plastic lined, and one of the largest sources of microplastics in the average American's diet.

Polyester and other plastics in the laundry/dryer/air are the main source of exposure, but aluminum cans are the main source in diet besides plastic water bottles.

The Poisoning of Americans. Why?

[Anonymous]

It's really not worth getting wound up about at this point. Let the good times roll!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's really not worth getting wound up about at this point. Let the good times roll!

Move along, troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aluminum cans also have microplastics in them?

Yes, they are plastic lined, and one of the largest sources of microplastics in the average American's diet.

Polyester and other plastics in the laundry/dryer/air are the main source of exposure, but aluminum cans are the main source in diet besides plastic water bottles.

The Poisoning of Americans. Why?

It’s profitable. Glass containers are more expensive. Natural fibers are more expensive. Go to the grocery store. Step back and imagine how much plastic is in that one store. All that plastic will be sold and trashed and backfilled so more is sold and trashed again. And that’s one store. The sheer volume of it all is insane when you think about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can limit exposure by not using plastic containers, not using aluminum cans, not using polyester clothing, not using carpet, not using disposable wipes, not using body scrubs, not using toothpaste in tubes, not using bottled water, etc. etc.

They will still be some in the air and possibly the tap water if you aren't on a well system.

Right, and this is just not feasible for most Americans. Maybe some extremely privileged people with the time and resources to avoid things like aluminum cans or toothpaste in tubes, but not most people. Like we converted to class containers in our house but the lids still have plastic. Getting rid of all polyester clothing is simply not feasible, especially when you have growing kids. Heck half of our kids' clothes are hand me downs which saves us a ton of money but means we can't be super choosy. We don't use disposable wipes or plastic water bottles, but I have no idea where I'd even start in avoiding aluminum cans or toothpaste not in tubes -- I'm sure there are people online who could explain to me how to do it, but is it something I could realistically squeeze into a work week and between parenting obligations? At the end of the day I'm so tired and I just want to zone out in front of the TV or here on DCUM, not do my bespoke order of common household products from some alternative vendor that will provide me with toothpaste in a class container that we have to scoop onto toothbrushes with a spoon or whatever. I'm too tired.

And even if I did all that, I'd still be getting plastic in our water, my kids would be exposed all day at school, I probably already have so much in my system it's too late for me.

So I just wind up coming back around to "oh well that sucks but there's nothing I can do" and just moving on. Because realistically, there is nothing I can do.