It is already annoying, let’s just get this over and simply say if it is made of plastic, even in small part , it will release micro plastics .
Because every other day is another “revelation” of something obvious .
Even the paper fast food cups have a plastic liner, which isn’t obvious unless you examine it or look into it. It’s insane.
How else would paper hold a liquid
Back in my day, they used waxed paper.
:: disintegrates into dust and blows away ::
Wait until you hear what a wax is
I kinda figured that was the case.
The coffee and cream also contain micro plastics.
The coffee is also cursed
That’s bad
But you get your choice of topping!
That’s good
The toppings contain potassium benzoate
…
That’s bad
I’m getting macroplastic sprinkles
I’m still a little mad society didn’t latch onto “frogurt” instead of “froyo”.
Like a fun curse? A low poly skull follows you around and goes MYEH now and then?
You may call me MURRAY!
Ah I forgot about Murray! I was actually referencing a tiny indie game called Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor though
It’s microplastics all the way down.
And I pissed in it
Not surprising since we already have studies that show microplastics get released in things like plastic containers when used in the microwave that’s caused due to heat but still good to know and be informed even if I don’t use them outside of very occasionally.
So do microplastics harm our bodies? I can’t think it’ll help, just wanna know the severity to be worried lol
We don’t really know yet. Seems like there are assloads of studies finding plastic in places plastic probably shouldn’t be, and literally none of whether or not this is actually bad or how bad it is.
There is also assloads of corrections finding that some of those studies were bust because of sample contamination during the study. It’s almost impossible to not have microplastics everywhere including your research instruments. Which you’d think will be an evidence by itself, but we really can’t tell anything.
Microplastics might be overblown because scientists didn’t realize their gloves release particles that look like microplastics but aren’t.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36948312/
and
https://dceg.cancer.gov/news-events/news/2025/tgct-hispanic-men
No link has been found between the two of course but does make you go hmmmm…
Just add it to road tires sloughing it by driving… It’s the new leaded disaster. Thanks oil lobbies.
Lead is still a disaster though. Fazing lead pipes out is great but with out subsidies for remediation old lead pipes never get removed. Places like France didn’t even faze our lead pipes until 1995
Lead pipes are safe while they’re stable. If they get moved or cut or anything, or acid removes the protective layer, then they can become unsafe. Kind of like asbestos.
Lead in avgas, on the other hand, is definitely unsafe.
Oh yeah? Well I’m releasing micro-me’s into takeaway cups. Take that, microplastics industry!
Given that cops on TV routinely use them for DNA, you’re absolutely right.
How I imagine you doing this -
“Here, one with extra micro-plastic”
That’s okay, all the individual ingredients are already riddled with micro-plastics, and so are we
Most coffee drinkers are addicts.
If you’re an addict, I see no reason why you wouldn’t bring your own steel double wall vacuum mug.
I do actually, but by the time I’ve transferred it, the damage is done. Baristas have told me they have to put it in disposable cup rather than using mine.
Boycott those stores.
Decent coffee shops offer a discount if you bring a reusable mug, because it saves them a disposable one.
A disposable coffee cup costs cents. They throw out far more than that in unsold food at the end of the day. It’s not really about the cost of the cup.
They throw out far more than that in unsold food at the end of the day.
Again, if the store is wasting food, boycott it (or persuade it to stop doing so).
Decent coffee shops partner with local homeless shelters, or food apps / messageboards (Olio, Too Good To Go, …), to find takers for their leftovers.
It’s not really about the cost of the cup.
Indeed, which is why I did not say that it was “really about the cost of the cup”. The latter is, as you correctly imply, only one factor.
Find a better café? Most places offer you a discount when you bring your own cup
I think at this point the environment is so infused with them that it is pointless to pretend we can avoid them.
I remember one study about microplastics gave up because either they couldn’t find an uncontaminated control, or their measuring equipment was contaminating it. I’m not sure if they could tell which one it was.
This is clearly one of those: no fucking shit situations
Who the fuck sips hot beverages literally from plastic is not aware or considering the consequences.
Tf is wrong with most people.
People see a paper cup and dont think about how they make it waterproof
I thought it was wax, not plastic. The lid is plastic though.
Man, these university researchers just love telling us all the ways we’re gonna contract some horrible condition, or disease, or death.
On the other hand, there are probably more carcinogens in city air than microplastic.
There’s microplastic in the air.
they don’t love telling you that.
the media loves telling you that, and loves making rich white peopel panic and go out and buy all new cups/cookware/appliances based on the new latest scary study.
and i have relatives who do this. every 5 years they re-buy everything in their kitchen based on whatever is the latest scare trend is. non-stick, plastics, pfas, bpa, etc. it’s like clockowrk, every 5 years there is a new boogeyman think that you have to go buy all new pots and pants and dishware to ‘avoid’. or water bottles.
i bet in 5 years we’re going to start hearing how eating of out steel cookware/cups is bad for you and we all have to go back to plastic because that’s safer.
All that micro rust accumulating in your bones!
But not the paper one’s, right
Edit: if the paper cup is lined with PLA or PE, yes.
Any “paper” food container is lined with plastic. Grease barrier, water barrier, etc.
They use to make wax coated paper cups which was a step better. Also used to wrap candy in paper instead of plastic sleeves. Oh and all soda came in glass.
The heat of the coffee melts the wax, which kinda ruins both the coffee and the waterproofing-functionality.
Wax is great! Sadly most wax nowadays is made of oil.
…what do you think is the difference between wax and plastic…?
Wax biodegrades easily and breaks down in compost environments and doesn’t accumulate in your body…?
So in the context of packaging none of that is true. The real difference between wax and plastic is that plastic has a higher molecular weight. No specific cutoff, it’s mostly just vibes. Some packaging folk add a second criteria: wax melts, then burns, while plastic just burns.
Using your definition of wax, you’re pretty much living in the 17th century. Nowadays, wax comes from oil, and is usually the exact same polymer as the plastic packaging on the next product over. But with slightly smaller molecules.
Edit: I forgot grease barrier. Old school compostable biodegradable wax dissolves in grease. You don’t want that.
No, sorry, that’s an elementary misunderstanding of molecular weight.
Saying plastic and wax are the same because plastic just has a higher molecular weight is like saying a puddle and a glacier are the same because they’re both water. Molecular weight dictates how a material behaves. Plastic’s massive polymer chains (up to millions in molecular weight) cannot biodegrade, they break down mechanically into toxic microplastics that persist for centuries. Waxes are short-chain molecules (molecular weight under 1,000) that do not fragment into microplastics.
Furthermore, you’re assuming all wax is petroleum-paraffin. The push for wax packaging today relies heavily on natural, bio-based waxes (beeswax, soy, plant waxes), which are structurally chemical esters, not petroleum polymers. They are fully compostable, safe, and easily processed by the environment and living organisms. It’s not ‘vibes,’ it’s basic chemistry.
Okay. And then what happens when your <1000 mw wax polymerizes into a surface coating?
Because if I take 10 trillion cups of water and freeze them all into one block, that’s a damn good approximation of a glacier.
Fortunately that’s absolutely not true. You can buy plastic free paper for wraps and burgers.
Also, wax paper has been a thing long before plastics.
Every disposable food and drink container made of paper is lined with PFAS.
Fortunately that’s absolutely not true. You can buy plastic free paper for wraps and burgers.
Also, wax paper has been a thing long before plastics.
Fortunately that’s absolutely not true. You can buy plastic free paper for wraps and burgers.
PFAS are not plastics.
Also, wax paper has been a thing long before plastics.
Yes, this is true. In my experience I have had a very difficult time finding it and no restaurant where I live uses it anymore. I can’t speak for the rest of the world.
PLA microplastic is pretty harmless I think. It should degrade into lactic acid inside the body pretty quickly.
Wait what?
TIL. Now I know why PLA is so often used in 3d printing
The main reasons it’s used in 3d printing have more to do with cost (it’s cheap) and its mechanical properties (low-ish melting temp, low expansion/contraction when heated/cooled, low warping, durable enough), as well as not releasing tons of nasty fumes when heated.
Some other benefits are that it’s typically made from corn rather than oil, and can be composted in an industrial setting.
I see. I’m relatively new to this hobby and chose PETG as my default. The price is similar and since I am doing hydro-/aeroponics, it needs to be durable, also when exposed to UV rays.
I am still trying to figure out what materials to use when, but the the environmental impact gives PLA now a super bonus.
Be careful with 3D printed parts in your plant system. You can’t know what kind of additives are in there and what leeches into your plants.
I would never trust anything 3D printed in contact with food or plants that produce food.
Never mind that bacteria will accumulate in the layer lines easily.
I’ve started using sauce buckets from local snackbars as plant pots. As long as they’re kept out of direct sunlight it should be safe long term.
This is shocking and unexpected. That sucks so hard, as I have just finished printing the tower. But I am very thankful, because without you, I would have probably ingested unhealthy chemicals. Thank you very much.
I will choose a PETG brand with a food safety certificate and avoid Creality PETG.
Edit: I also just learned that the hotend nozzle needs to be switched out, too. Brass contains lead, which is very unhealthy. Switching it out with Stainless Steel.
PETG is great and almost as easy to work with as PLA! I got a nicer printer a few months ago and have been using it for more structural prints (hooks, storage bins that I’ll probably drop, things for in my car). It holds up a lot better, and doesn’t suddenly fracture into pieces when over stressed like PLA does.
For anything decorative, or low impact/stress, PLA works great and typically gives slightly better dimensional accuracy compared with PETG. PLA is a poor choice for anything that’ll have extended sun exposure, impacts, or needs to survive moderately high temperatures like in a hot car.
Happy printing!
I believe this is stating these microplastics are to small to pass through naturally, and since they cool when entering the body there isnt enough heat/micromes to turn them to lactic acid. So they can cause issues
You can have my share then.
