Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 138 posts

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#51

Post by colechristensen »

csmeder wrote: post #4

Something I don’t understand: Patagonia's stated mission is to save the earth and microplastics entering the oceans is a major environmental concern. However, it is also true that many of Patagonia's clothes are made from synthetic materials such as plastic. The use of synthetic materials in clothing (and each washing) greatly contribute to the problem of microplastics in the oceans. I’m I missing something? Is the a…

I was under the impression that the primary sources of ocean plastics were large usually Asian cities without proper waste management effectively dumping significant portions of their trash in rivers and the ocean as well as ocean fishing waste.

Sure some plastics get into natural water sources from clothes washing, but how much of an issue is this actually compared to other sources?

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#52

Post by vouaobrasil »

tomp wrote: post #44
radec wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's a good waste management system? Honest question.

Burying plastics in the ground; returning carbon to where it came from.

Animals live in the ground and you are talking about filling their homes with garbage? You are sick.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#53

Post by politician »

tomp wrote: post #36
Eisenstein wrote: post #35

Plastics are inert. This is why they don't biodegrade easily. It is the additives in the plastics (to make them softer, or color them, or whatever) that are terrible for you. By the time these things are 'microplastics' I am having a hard time feeling scared that they are harmful. I'm not saying they aren't, but until someone can tie them to an actual problem, I don't see an issue -- especially since there is nothing…

There’s nothing wrong with one-time-use plastics, in countries with good waste management systems. Paper straws suck.

Metal straws (and spoons, forks, knives) are amazing.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#54

Post by colechristensen »

suyash wrote: post #13

Wow, so no even vegetarian diet is safe from micro plastics anymore. Anyone know if organic food soil is treated with this nasty 'sewage sludge' ?

It never was? Plastics are everywhere.

And most of the mineral nutrients in your food were indeed something’s poop at one point. I’m not sure how you want to escape that.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#55

Post by Traubenfuchs »

Eisenstein wrote: post #43
Traubenfuchs wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always dream about opening a single use plastic shop in the future, for those who just don‘t care and those who are actively opposed to it being removed everywhere. For example, drinking delicious Coca-Cola Zero Sugar at McDonalds from a paper straw is disgusting. The straw usually disintegrates before I am done and sticks to the lips at the start. I love single use plastic.

Why is everyone using straws as an example? First, they are not what I am talking about -- we used to get beverages in re-usable containers and now it is almost impossible to find anything in glass. We don't need plastic to-go containers, we don't need everything in a plastic wrapper or vacuum sealed in a thick plastic container (as evidenced by companies not doing that and having zero problems with their products be…

But I want to leave the store with the beaverage and throw away the container afterwards. Another great horror: Thin plastic bottles! Drinks in crinkly plastic bottles that feel like you could just roll them into a ball. Yuck. I want the thick plastic ones you can use to bonk someone on the head. I want back my cheap single use plastic bags that I could just throw away after use, instead of managing storage and availability of reusable ones.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#56

Post by tdeck »

kennywinker wrote: post #47
Eisenstein wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is everyone using straws as an example? First, they are not what I am talking about -- we used to get beverages in re-usable containers and now it is almost impossible to find anything in glass. We don't need plastic to-go containers, we don't need everything in a plastic wrapper or vacuum sealed in a thick plastic container (as evidenced by companies not doing that and having zero problems with their products be…

I would be so far from shocked if we found out soon that plastic grocery bag / straw bans were a psi-op by big oil/plastic manufacturers to make people hate the idea of reducing single-use plastic. I couldn't have picked a more inconvenient and inconsequential place to start legislating if I had tried. A ban on plastic soda bottles? Great! There's are existing non-plastic solutions, nobody would be negatively impacte…

The paper straws are pretty inferior but the grocery bag taxes just aren't that annoying. If you live in a place that charges for bags you quickly get used to just bringing bags with you and it's no big deal. Plus it significantly reduces the number of plastic bags blowing around in the wind. Since bags are so light they easily become airborne, sometimes posing a traffic safety hazard and often blowing into waterways.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#57

Post by tedunangst »

Eisenstein wrote: post #43
Traubenfuchs wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always dream about opening a single use plastic shop in the future, for those who just don‘t care and those who are actively opposed to it being removed everywhere. For example, drinking delicious Coca-Cola Zero Sugar at McDonalds from a paper straw is disgusting. The straw usually disintegrates before I am done and sticks to the lips at the start. I love single use plastic.

Why is everyone using straws as an example? First, they are not what I am talking about -- we used to get beverages in re-usable containers and now it is almost impossible to find anything in glass. We don't need plastic to-go containers, we don't need everything in a plastic wrapper or vacuum sealed in a thick plastic container (as evidenced by companies not doing that and having zero problems with their products be…

Because more cities have banned plastic straws than have banned plastic bottles.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#58

Post by dewclin »

Eisenstein wrote: post #43
Traubenfuchs wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always dream about opening a single use plastic shop in the future, for those who just don‘t care and those who are actively opposed to it being removed everywhere. For example, drinking delicious Coca-Cola Zero Sugar at McDonalds from a paper straw is disgusting. The straw usually disintegrates before I am done and sticks to the lips at the start. I love single use plastic.

Why is everyone using straws as an example? First, they are not what I am talking about -- we used to get beverages in re-usable containers and now it is almost impossible to find anything in glass. We don't need plastic to-go containers, we don't need everything in a plastic wrapper or vacuum sealed in a thick plastic container (as evidenced by companies not doing that and having zero problems with their products be…

> we don't need everything in a plastic wrapper

I bought a celeriac the other day, it was in a vacuum wrapped plastic cover. What a waste of resources.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#59

Post by xorcist »

Eisenstein wrote: post #43
Traubenfuchs wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always dream about opening a single use plastic shop in the future, for those who just don‘t care and those who are actively opposed to it being removed everywhere. For example, drinking delicious Coca-Cola Zero Sugar at McDonalds from a paper straw is disgusting. The straw usually disintegrates before I am done and sticks to the lips at the start. I love single use plastic.

Why is everyone using straws as an example? First, they are not what I am talking about -- we used to get beverages in re-usable containers and now it is almost impossible to find anything in glass. We don't need plastic to-go containers, we don't need everything in a plastic wrapper or vacuum sealed in a thick plastic container (as evidenced by companies not doing that and having zero problems with their products be…

I understand I am the weird one here, but I have the feeling must have missed the great straw usage conditioning everyone else went through. I find straws to be something for small children, not grownups.

I'm not sure I've used a straw in my adult life, yet I see people drinking coffee with a straw. Isn't the taste affected? Lots of what we think of as taste is actually smell and texture.

No wine connoisseur would order a straw with their expensive wine! I fail to see why one would be necessary for coffee or water, except for long distance runners and other situations where one needs to drink while moving.

Re: Microplastics are finding their way into fruit and vegetables as they grow

#60

Post by mumblemumble »

Eisenstein wrote: post #41
legulere wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plastics are relatively brittle however without those additives and will break down into harmful micro and nano plastics: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00489... There’s a lot we can do about it. Clothes tires and mismanaged waste are leading sources for microplastic that can be reduced.

Without the full article we can only go by the abstract of your link, which doesn't say anything definitive except that the effects on humans are unknown.

The precautionary principle would seem to be worth considering in that case.
Post reply on HN