Have you changed your practices given what we know about microplastics?

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PirateEducational168@reddit

"Have you changed your practices given what we know about microplastics?"

No.

They're everywhere in everything already.

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I haven't made any massive changes but we did get a load of pyrex with lids but mainly because you can put it in the oven so I can make a batch of shepherds pie or lasagne for the freezer and stick it straight in the oven like a ready meal and get a nice crispy top.

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Honest-Librarian7647@reddit

At middle age I'm another one assuming it's too late, and that I'm probably riddled with them

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EnvironmentalEye5402@reddit

See Dr Shana Swan for all things plastic related.

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True-Abalone-3380@reddit

No I haven't changed any habits.

I have sets with PP1 and PP5

5 is PP, 1 is PET. PP is fine for warming in the microwave, PET will go soft and most likely deform. I don't think you will get much plastic coming off your Tupperware tubs under normal use so wouldn't worry about them.

I may be wrong, but with what I believe I understand at the moment that isn't much of an issue.

Most microplastics come from clothes, man made fibres shedding, and vehicle tyres.

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ChasingChisellers@reddit

You're right about microplastics shedding from clothes and tyres but a large contributor to microplastic concentrations in humans is via ingestion so I would avoid heating anything in plastic (including tupperwares and takeaway containers) and avoiding bottled water where you can. There are plenty of studies showing how microplastic shedding from heater plastics and bottled waters. One study shows a litre of bottled water containing ~240,000 tiny pieces of plastic so if you're consuming this every day, it's going to add up and these plastics are going to be carrying chemicals which will also leach into your body - it's called the trojan horse effect if you're interested.

Apologies for the lengthy reply - I'm a reproductive scientist with a bit of a side interest in environmental pollutants! I have glass tupperware for heating things up and a glass water bottle, although I still use the plastic tupperwares for freezing food but I let it defrost at room temp before I heat it in glass/on a plate.

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True-Abalone-3380@reddit

One study shows a litre of bottled water containing ~240,000 tiny pieces of plastic

I've had a look at a couple of these but not seen one check the water source, only the contents of a bottle bought off the shelf. I'm not disputing it, just that I've not seen a report which test for existing contamination of the water.

It's very possibly that some could come from the bottling machine, they will most likely have a plethora of filters, seals, pumps, pasteurisation heat etc etc.

Apologies for the lengthy reply

No problem. There is something going on somewhere and it needs to be understood and somehow addressed.

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eyeoftheneedle1@reddit (OP)

Thanks for your reply!

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HybridReptile15@reddit

I drink out of metal cups and metal protein shakers, purely because they’re easy to clean and don’t stain and even if you leave a dirty shaker in the car for a month you can still clean and salvage it although initially opening it to clean you’d think you wouldn’t be able to with the stench it emits

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Embarrassed-Whole989@reddit

I'm sure there's much more to worry about than micro plastics.

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ClarifyingMe@reddit

I haven't changed a single thing. I hope microplastics suffocate me in my sleep.

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tattywater@reddit

What I find with heating up food in tupperware is that if there is any oil/fat in the food, it cooks the plastic around where the level of the food it at the top and makes the plastic rough and flakey. You also get a slight plastic taint so no, I don't microwave plastic.

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True-Abalone-3380@reddit

I'd say you're possibly letting it get too hot, taking it out and giving it a stir more often may help with that.

Also, plastic is only really for warming & reheating, if you're actually cooking they I'd suggest glass.

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tattywater@reddit

Yeah you're probably right. I'm more organised these days, I'll get a batch cooked chilli out to defrost in the day to then heat it up in a pan later rather than defrosting and cooking in a microwave so saving energy. That's probably a bigger factor than heating stuff up in tupperware to be honest.

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