I’ve been more and more conscious about microplastics. I was not aware that the laundry and dishwasher pods are just plastic which then goes into the water system.

What can be done to prevent microplastics?

  • Halosheep@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    All I’ve ever heard about microplastics is that everyone is filled with them and that they are everywhere.

    What I haven’t heard is why that is a concern. Is it going to affect my health in the long run? When? How much do I have to have consumed for it be an issue?

    Even if we identify those issues, can it be removed? Will it make a difference?

    For such a ‘everyone is now worried about this’ type problem, I never once heard why they’re concerned. I suppose I could look it up, but I’m surprised that all of the discussion is about the issue existing, but not why it’s an issue to begin with.

    • shalafi@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Exactly my take. “Plastic” is a huge word covering thousands of compounds. I’m no chemist, but all the plastics I deal with day to day are inert, which is much of the reason we use them.

      • Halosheep@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        I’m absolutely in favor of reducing single use plastics, but there’s so much plastic in so many things that I can’t imagine existing without it. People are rather unreasonably of the “plastic bad” mindset without considering what the alternatives could be.

        Not everything can be glass or wood/wood-like substances. Metal has its own environmental concerns. What else is there?

    • xkforce@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      The reality is that we do not know what the long term effects are. But nonetheless, without knowing what the consequences are, we managed to contaminate most of the planet including our food and water supply with them. Thats what is worrying because there are many cases where we did something similar with disastrous consequences.

    • BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      You could get kicked in the crotch everyday for the rest of your life and go on to live a long life. I mean, it’s just a few little electrical signals telling your brain there is a sudden pressure. But it won’t break anything.