I’m being hyperbolic, but TikTok just re-radicalized me and in ADHD energy mode and I know this urgency won’t last forever. I hate when things I’m around feel contaminated by toxins and I already wear a mask for the polluted air. I hate getting rid of things that might be useful, but also plastics bad so it might be useful. I do have OCD, but this isn’t about that it’s an exaggerated but rational urge. I realize this account’s lib asking you to “vote with your dollar,” but for personal health what do you think? I can afford this eventually. I’m clearly monotropism spiraling but it’s fun.
Also, should we stop recycling plastic if the product will be worse?
There’s so many micro plastics in the environment already from tire and brake dust, that I don’t know if it would even make a large impact. I replaced plastic drinking vessels (cups, water bottles) that get frequent use, but otherwise I just try to buy non-plastic things as I replace old ones. For example, I’m pretty picky with only buying clothes from natural fibers whenever possible.
brake dust isn’t plastic but it is harmful particulate nonetheless. carpet is a huge source domestically
there probably isn’t asbestos underneath? The only asbestos flooring I’m familiar with is asbestos tiles, which are kinda unusual, plus safe to leave in place as long as you don’t break them up, and usually installed over concrete afaik. if you have asbestos insulation it won’t be directly under the carpet there’ll be a subfloor?
on further research I guess there are other places it could be like the carpet glue, but I wouldn’t assume it is or isnt without testing unless its obvious
We lost the fight on microplastics, it’s in the rain, its in the Marianas trench. It will last for thousands of years even if we stopped right now using plastic.
As much as this can be some kind of upside… it seems like they aren’t very bioreactive. This would be something to be studied over decades but there’s no control population (everyone including uncontacted tribes is exposed to microplastics) - as far as we know the health effects are relatively limited. Which makes kind of sense, that’s one of the reasons we use plastics in medicine and stuff.
They’ve been associated with increasing rates of cancer, fertility issues, possibly a handful of other things but there are so many confounding variables it’s hard to say if it’s actually down to microplastics or not. Certainly not great.
I’d say don’t throw out everything plastic. If it’s getting to you maybe change up high impact stuff. Toothbrush. Clothes possibly. Tupperware storage, water bottles, etc. Maybe consider switching shampoo/conditioner to something more natural.
But there isn’t really any escaping it, it’s in our food, it’s in our air, it’s in our water. I wish I could leave you with something positive… but the struggle against microplastics is gonna be a very long term struggle at this point.
Also, one that isn’t immediately obvious - don’t use thermal paper receipts/tickets as a fidget in your pocket (I know not to and still find myself doing it every so often…). If possible don’t take them in the first place, or throw them away as soon as possible.
Do you live somewhere with access to a basement? Check for radon.
Do you use non-stick cookware? If it’s Teflon, toss it.
Walking outside in the sun? Wear sunblock.
Stressed out? Try meditation.
I don’t doubt the veracity of the video, but there are levels to this, and there are far bigger toxins in your life that you should deal with before worrying about plastics.
Nothing beats physical/mineral sunscreen in effectiveness, but I still love the light feel of my water-based Japanese sunscreens.
One of the videos says mineral sunscreen is carcinogenic or something like that.
Synthetic fibers and car tires are the biggest source of microplastics. So other than wearing a mask near roads and not heating up plastics, you could start switching to natural fibers. Personally I can’t be bothered.
Plastic is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my microplastics. I will permit them to pass over me and through me. And when they are gone past I will turn the inner eye to see their path. Where the microplastic has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
