2mo ago

Cleaning plastic containers in a dishwasher is a source of microplastic pollution, study finds

phys.org

37 comments

Betcha scrubbing them in the sink does too. It's just harder to set up a controlled study.
- Yeah I wish they would have done that. Would be interesting to see. Hand washed plastic containers are subjected to much more mechanical scrubbing action, but much less heat.
- My dish sponge is plastic.¯(ツ)_/¯
- Dishwashers usually wash hotter than you do in the sink & reuse the water, so I'd imagine they also produce more microplastic in the process.
  
  Hotter yes, but no plastic-on-plastic scrubbing. And not reusing the water wouldn't change the amount of plastic, it would just be diluted in a larger amount of water. My guess would be, larger particles. But I can see why that would have to be its own, more complicated study. Because so many more variables.
Basically any situation where plastic is warmed is a source of microplastic contamination
- Probably mechanical abrasion too. Like car tires. Or your carpets/rug. Or your toothbrush. Or your nylon/sport/athlesure wear. Or soft, non-natural blankets, haha. I bet your furniture, too...
  
  wool carpets for the win.
- And yet somehow it lasts forever in a landfill.
  We can't win.
  
  Just wash your dishes in a landfill.
- water with cleaning chemicals probably leaches some out too.
And people are grossed out when they learn that people can have enough micro/nanoplastic in their brain to make a disposable plastic spoon (2g). :)
- It's up to a credit card now (9g)
  Source
  
  When i die i want my brain plastic to be used for a warhammer figurine!
  
  The methodology used to get that result is supposedly very questionable.
  I heard it here:
  Science Vs: Is There Really a Plastic Spoon in Our Brains?
  Not to minimize the impact of microplastics, but the credit card amount is probably way off.
- the microsplastic keep my brain smooth and flexible :3
  
  Neuroplasticity
  
  This made me chuckle
The overall plastic mass equated to about 6 milligrams per person per year, or about a quarter of the weight of a grain of rice
- Multiply by nr of persons and years...
  
  Yes, that is what “per person per year” means
Well I don't want my Vitamin P to be covered in bacteria.
Plastic is poison.
Contaminating what? My septic tank that gets emptied every 10 years?
- Where do you think the truck that empties your tank goes?
  
  No clue. Guess thats what im asking.
- It goes with the water that leaves your septic tank.
  A septic tank is only meant to separate the water from oils and sludge.
  
  Really? So all my piss goes right thru and into my yard? If it filters out and stores solids wouldn't it also catch the microplastics too?

37 comments