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Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#61
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Glass is heavy as shit and makes transportation require more energy.

Yet glass bottles are used everywhere from beer, wine, jellies, jams, etc. etc. Transportation cost is not much of a real issue.

More due to tradition than anything else.

Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#62
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Glass is heavy as shit and makes transportation require more energy.

Yet glass bottles are used everywhere from beer, wine, jellies, jams, etc. etc. Transportation cost is not much of a real issue.

The other problem is there is practically no incentive for any company to recycle broken glass. It's heavy, sharp, and there's little demand for it.

It takes much more fuel to transport glass containers and once broken it isn't recycled. Although glass is inert so in a landfill it isn't a problem I guess that's an benefit.

Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#64
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>shipping glass ... “difficulties” Yeah I’m sure they’d lose a ton of money. Glass is heavy and expensive plus the added liability of it breaking and a consumer reaching their hand inside.

We have milk delivered in glass bottles on our doorstep each morning. No difficulties.

[deleted]

Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#65
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They still do this in some cities?

They do it in Boston, I'm sure most other major cities have access to glass bottle milk delivery as well. If I recall correctly, it's $2.50 extra per bottle for the glass but you get $2.00 back if you return it on the next delivery.

What company/service are you using in Boston?

Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#66

Somewhat unrelated, but I really wish we could find a way to not be so reliant on plastics. I try to shop at local farmers markets (I'm willing to pay a small premium for knowing exactly where my food is coming from), and even in those cases the guy behind the table reflexively reaches for a plastic bag nearly every time. I always bring my own canvas bags or a backpack, but this has become so culturally ingrained in…

I don't think plastics themselves are terrible. Single-use plastics and disposable plastics are more the issue.

You can reuse a plastic tupperware container many times. I've had the same plastic water bottle for 10+ years.

At the same time you can still litter aluminum cans and smash glass bottles on the street.

Getting too focused on the material is not helpful IMO. Societally, we need to shift from disposability and overconsumption.

Buy less things. Make them last.

Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#67

For everyone talking about the benefits of glass bottles, they have their own dangers. This study from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia showed that broken glass bottles accounted for 15% of all lacerations in children (the largest single cause) and broken glass bottles most frequently inflicted injuries resulting in functional impairment or hospitalization https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-ab…

Not to mention that glass also has harmful chemicals that leach into the contents of the glass containers. Same goes for metal.

You may be thinking of crystal, which was used in older decanters and the alcohol inside assisted in the process of lead contamination.

Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#68
The term is

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=endocrine+disruptor

Why don't you think about the implications of the stuff not only everywhere in the environment, but as small (almost nano?) particles whith large surface, releasing their shiny sparkles/oily smears/pick your poison into your innards.

It's got electrolytez!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vw2CrY9Igs

Re: Americans May Be Ingesting Thousands of Microplastics Every Year

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pickles come in glass jars. so does salsa. So does some types of juice. I'm not sure why you are concerned about this because it is obviously not a big problem.

It is a problem, especially in transportation and distribution of products. It costs more for glass. It's heavier, there's more loss from breakage, etc. There's a reason society went from using glass for every container to plastic. Plastics are convenient, resilient to drops, lightweight, flexible, and easier to form in various shapes.

The point is that we already deal with glass through the entire process of production, distribution, use, and disposal and it is not a problem.

Plastic is of course cheaper (ignoring externalities) and of course has advantageous qualities. That's why we use plastic. It is a good material.

But we can deal with glass if we decide the true cost of plastic is too high, even if the glass breaks.

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