Should I throw away everything I own that is plastic?
Should I throw away everything I own that is plastic?
I’m being hyperbolic, but TikTok just re-radicalized me and in ADHD energy mode and I know this urgency won’t last forever. I hate when things I’m around feel contaminated by toxins and I already wear a mask for the polluted air. I hate getting rid of things that might be useful, but also plastics bad so it might be useful. I do have OCD, but this isn’t about that it’s an exaggerated but rational urge. I realize this account’s lib asking you to “vote with your dollar,” but for personal health what do you think? I can afford this eventually. I’m clearly monotropism spiraling but it’s fun.
Also, should we stop recycling plastic if the product will be worse?
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We lost the fight on microplastics, it's in the rain, its in the Marianas trench. It will last for thousands of years even if we stopped right now using plastic.
As much as this can be some kind of upside... it seems like they aren't very bioreactive. This would be something to be studied over decades but there's no control population (everyone including uncontacted tribes is exposed to microplastics) - as far as we know the health effects are relatively limited. Which makes kind of sense, that's one of the reasons we use plastics in medicine and stuff.
They've been associated with increasing rates of cancer, fertility issues, possibly a handful of other things but there are so many confounding variables it's hard to say if it's actually down to microplastics or not. Certainly not great.
I'd say don't throw out everything plastic. If it's getting to you maybe change up high impact stuff. Toothbrush. Clothes possibly. Tupperware storage, water bottles, etc. Maybe consider switching shampoo/conditioner to something more natural.
But there isn't really any escaping it, it's in our food, it's in our air, it's in our water. I wish I could leave you with something positive... but the struggle against microplastics is gonna be a very long term struggle at this point.
So I should just give up and stop worrying about everything I touch?/hj
Don't fuck with bpa and don't use nonstick coated pans, that's about it
Also, one that isn't immediately obvious - don't use thermal paper receipts/tickets as a fidget in your pocket (I know not to and still find myself doing it every so often...). If possible don't take them in the first place, or throw them away as soon as possible.
Grab from the reverse face, take picture, throw away.
parchment paper have pfas which aint good too iirc
It's in the air, like, a good portion of it comes from airborne plastics from doing laundry of synthetic clothing