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Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

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Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#21

Post by defatigable »

dataflow wrote: post #14

As someone who avoids cooking with plastic, I've always wondered... what makes people think it's safe? Does it not occur to most people that plastics can break down through the heat they're subjected to, or do they assume the plastics in question have been specifically designed to adequately withstand that?

My basic mental model is that my body is constantly consuming chemicals that it doesn't use, be it particulates in the air or substances in the foods I eat or drink. My body is very good at incorporating the substances that it finds useful and ignoring (or killing) the ones that it doesn't, so I don't find myself worrying too much about any particular substance it might take up.

To your point, I don't have any particular reason to think that trace quantities of plastics going through my digestive system are going to cause any harm to me. Obviously if I have specific reason for concern I'll be careful (I'm not, like, going to eat off of asbestos plates...) but otherwise I'm not going to think about it much.

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#22

Post by giantg2 »

SV_BubbleTime wrote: post #10
productizeme93 wrote: post #2

It's surprising to me how much we don't understand about plastic still. Years ago I was in a kitchen shop with an out of town friend and we saw some Sous Vide equipment. I told her that we had one and that you could either plastic bags or vacuum sealed bags to cook in the water. Her reaction was an immediate "absolutely not." That's when I realized that she worked in a lab that focused on plastics. Her big call out w…

First off, there are silicon sous vide bags. Second… if you are at the level that a bag with meat in it for 2 hours at 140 degrees is too risky… you had better get working on that cabin in the woods.

Soft silicon products still contain plastic polymers.

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#23

Post by productizeme93 »

SV_BubbleTime wrote: post #10
productizeme93 wrote: post #2

It's surprising to me how much we don't understand about plastic still. Years ago I was in a kitchen shop with an out of town friend and we saw some Sous Vide equipment. I told her that we had one and that you could either plastic bags or vacuum sealed bags to cook in the water. Her reaction was an immediate "absolutely not." That's when I realized that she worked in a lab that focused on plastics. Her big call out w…

First off, there are silicon sous vide bags. Second… if you are at the level that a bag with meat in it for 2 hours at 140 degrees is too risky… you had better get working on that cabin in the woods.

First off there weren't silicon Sous Vide bags back then and the general attitude was "stick it in a plastic bag" and it will be fine.

Second, this is coming from someone that works in a research lab in plastics. So pretty well educated.

Anything else you want to be condescending and dismissive about? I'm sure we'd all appreciate hearing more about how you know better than the rest of us and please - make sure you lecture us about how much better you are with your logic and understanding of the world. We early await your amazing contributions. <3

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#24

Post by Pxtl »

SV_BubbleTime wrote: post #11
n8cpdx wrote: post #4

> then heated them at full power for three minutes in a 1,000-watt microwave This seems like unrealistic use of a microwave. The liquids are likely boiling for well over a minute. Are people really boiling liquids in the containers they’re serving their infant children? I’m not especially plastic-phobic but I also don’t think a reasonable person would think it is a good idea to boil liquids in their children’s bottle…

I can’t think of a frozen meal that doesn’t boil on the sides after being cooked for three minutes. Those taste awful, but are pretty popular.

Yeah. I mean I avoid microwaving plastic now (or even packing my kids' lunches in it where possible) but in my student days I ate a lot of tv dinners. My kid loves this seasoned rice that comes in a plastic microwaveable cup. Probably should stop her eating that.

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#25

Post by giantg2 »

dataflow wrote: post #14

As someone who avoids cooking with plastic, I've always wondered... what makes people think it's safe? Does it not occur to most people that plastics can break down through the heat they're subjected to, or do they assume the plastics in question have been specifically designed to adequately withstand that?

Most people have bigger issues in their life. Some trust that the regulators would never allow potentially harmful products on the market.

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#26

Post by justinclift »

PlunderBunny wrote: post #5
productizeme93 wrote: post #2

It's surprising to me how much we don't understand about plastic still. Years ago I was in a kitchen shop with an out of town friend and we saw some Sous Vide equipment. I told her that we had one and that you could either plastic bags or vacuum sealed bags to cook in the water. Her reaction was an immediate "absolutely not." That's when I realized that she worked in a lab that focused on plastics. Her big call out w…

We're all part of a giant experiment. It's a bad experiment too, in the sense that it doesn't really have a proper control group.

The control group: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#27

Post by DANmode »

dataflow wrote: post #14

As someone who avoids cooking with plastic, I've always wondered... what makes people think it's safe? Does it not occur to most people that plastics can break down through the heat they're subjected to, or do they assume the plastics in question have been specifically designed to adequately withstand that?

> what makes people think it's safe?

"You don't know what you don't know"; additionally asking too many questions makes you a "health nut" or "health freak", as portrayed by popular media.

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#29

Post by Pxtl »

esafak wrote: post #8

Oof how bad. Can they study dishwashing plastics next? Good thing I used glass. I think parents these days are rather more aware of plastic leaching than those of the previous generation.

The worry with glass is that it's dangerous if it breaks. I find stainless steel Bento boxes are excellent if it's not something that needs a tight seal.

Re: Study finds billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving containers

#30

Post by kennywinker »

justinclift wrote: post #26
PlunderBunny wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're all part of a giant experiment. It's a bad experiment too, in the sense that it doesn't really have a proper control group.

The control group: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinelese

I'm pretty sure they're being exposed to plastic too, at this point. Via seafood mostly, so probably at a lot lower concentrations.
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