Microplastics are terrifying and all that, but I’m sort of more worried about plasticisers like BPA, BPF, BPS and the rest of the alphabet of BP-whatever’s that was created and brought into use after the dangers of BPA were realized.
Just a heads up - if something plastic says it’s BPA-free, it probably uses a different bisphenol compound that is less studied than BPA. And is likely as toxic (or even more toxic)!
But nobody ever talks about those, because science words.
Your comment reminded me about how I keep wondering if I should bite the bullet and throw away all the plastic cups, plates, bowls, and utensils in the house. Spend a little money on more metal and ceramic stuff, and potentially benefit my family’s health long term. Maybe.
You might not be better off with metal ustensils, loads of PFAS are used in the manufacturing process and end up in the finished product.
A professor once told me: “You cannot avoid contamination, you just have to diversify the sources.”
FYI items labeled as microwavable are tested to assess what leaches in the food or liquids under normal use. The leachate has to be identified and approved by the FDA (doesn’t mean safe but at least ok-ish)
Tbf, microplastics would typically contain plasticizers, so that distinction doesn’t seem very important other than to highlight that plasticizers are the biologically active component.
Perhaps awareness of one will spark awareness of the other. I suppose my concern is that plasticisers are sort of a ‘hidden’ risk, for the most part. They’re used in nearly every food packaging (and prep, such as hoses) that isn’t contained in glass, or served up in its own peel.
Microplastics are terrifying and all that, but I’m sort of more worried about plasticisers like BPA, BPF, BPS and the rest of the alphabet of BP-whatever’s that was created and brought into use after the dangers of BPA were realized.
Just a heads up - if something plastic says it’s BPA-free, it probably uses a different bisphenol compound that is less studied than BPA. And is likely as toxic (or even more toxic)!
But nobody ever talks about those, because science words.
I’m for sure getting a rare form of cancer then. Nalgene water bottles in the bush working all day every day. Thankfully I’m out of it now
Your comment reminded me about how I keep wondering if I should bite the bullet and throw away all the plastic cups, plates, bowls, and utensils in the house. Spend a little money on more metal and ceramic stuff, and potentially benefit my family’s health long term. Maybe.
You might not be better off with metal ustensils, loads of PFAS are used in the manufacturing process and end up in the finished product.
A professor once told me: “You cannot avoid contamination, you just have to diversify the sources.”
FYI items labeled as microwavable are tested to assess what leaches in the food or liquids under normal use. The leachate has to be identified and approved by the FDA (doesn’t mean safe but at least ok-ish)
Tbf, microplastics would typically contain plasticizers, so that distinction doesn’t seem very important other than to highlight that plasticizers are the biologically active component.
That’s very fair, indeed.
Perhaps awareness of one will spark awareness of the other. I suppose my concern is that plasticisers are sort of a ‘hidden’ risk, for the most part. They’re used in nearly every food packaging (and prep, such as hoses) that isn’t contained in glass, or served up in its own peel.