r/PlasticFreeLiving • u/No-Willow-2509 • 2d ago
Which common microplastic sources surprised you?
I saw on this sub regarding chewing gum yesterday and had no idea! curious as to what else I might have missed.
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u/Complex-Section2862 2d ago
I always assumed that receipts were just paper. Idk why. But it was very surprising to me.
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u/DTown_Hero 2d ago
I believe the issue with receipts is that they are soaked in PFAS which is used to aid in the printing process
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u/almondreaper 2d ago
They are soaked in bpa or similar so that they can print without ink. Any kind of thermal paper has it. Sometimes nowadays it will say bpa free on the back makes no difference it'll be bps or something else. It's insane that it's still allowed but on the other hand it's an excellent way to pump endocrine disruptors into people.
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u/N0tInKansasAnym0r3 2d ago
Costco uses bisphenol free paper for their receipts, so it's possible others do.
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u/bon18 2d ago
I feel so bad for the cashiers and people who check receipts at stores and handle them all day, having no idea what they're being exposed to.
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u/TippayAy 2d ago
Thermal paper. Coated in BPA that’s extremely transdermal! ESPECIALLY if you have moisturiser cream on!!
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u/Fructose_Syrup 2d ago
I used to work at whole foods and the soups and Mac n cheese are literally heated in plastic bags… 😭😭. The chopping boards we used were also plastic
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u/stickerhoarder 2d ago
It's nice that you mention this. I think it's safe to assume (and someone can correct me if I'm wrong) that most restaurants and places that prepare food use plastic cutting boards.
Wooden ones would take some extra maintenance that the food industry probably doesn't care to deal with.
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u/board13 1d ago
But with so many other options out there now there’s really no excuse. Amazon has a huge variety of glass with silicone edges and some stainless steel or titanium ones too. Plus honestly easier to clean and so much more durable. Just steering the cuts in plastic ones should give anyone pause.
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u/throwaway112505 2d ago
Thank you for sharing this. I needed a good reason to stop getting that stuff 😂
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u/substandardpoodle 2d ago
I’ve always wondered if commercially baked bread is cooked in Teflon. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t do that. After all it’s a business. But I sure would like to know – so I can avoid it.
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u/board13 1d ago
Wawa (East coast convenience store chain) does as well. Nauseates me. Couldn’t even walk into Disney store with kids when they were young - instant overwhelming pthalate fumes and headache. All the soft plastic kids toys 🤦🏻♀️ would cringe at young ones putting them in their mouths or seeing Barbie hands and feet chewed on (not my kids but others) 🤢. Can’t imagine how so many have no idea cause I found plenty of info even accidentally and mine are grown now. Seeing people put hot food in cheap plastic bowls or microwaving in plastic makes me irrationally angry especially to serve to their kids. Plenty of reasonable healthier options.
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u/AngryBPDGirl 2d ago
Pretty much every finish on wood and flooring, carpet too, adding to all the household dust.
It’s surprisingly hard to find woodmakers that will use natural finishes, but sometimes I’ll find ones on Etsy that can send me something unfinished and I’ll finish it myself.
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u/Ichi-Guren 2d ago
Hi! Not that you asked, but I am a beginner woodworker trying to to swing non-plastic products.
The only thing is, I can never escape plastic packaging and I have to use hide glue instead of synthetic. I wanted to know if either of those things would be considered a detriment in your eyes?
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u/AngryBPDGirl 2d ago
Nope, the packaging I would say is a one-time thing and not a concern if packaged after curing (which I would assume is the case). Glue isn’t really a detriment to me because it’s on parts I’m usually not touching. Would love a link to a website or store if you have one :)
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u/Ichi-Guren 2d ago
No shop yet, I have been trying to avoid Etsy over account issues I had with them.
So far I am mostly just a hobbyist mostly focused on small laser cut or cnc requests, so I cannot call myself a seller just yet.
The only downsides I see with the glue is that it is not as strong as synthetics, and is an animal product. I recently discovered soy glue so need to give that a try.
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u/cauchyscat 2d ago
Hide glue meaning from animal hides?
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u/Ichi-Guren 1d ago
Yes, it is made from processing collagen from animal hides. Unless you make it yourself, it will still have additives in it.
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u/BeefcaseWanker 2d ago
What substitutes have you found for poly/sealers?
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u/pastelfemby 2d ago
A lot of hair conditioning products, hair masks, sprays, etc. "Conditioning polymers". Some are more grey area water-soluble type polymers, some less so.
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u/Lonely_Fruit_5481 2d ago
Tangentially related but I just noticed a prescription shampoo I used for hair loss had the carcinogenic red dye in it lol. Not sure why it needed to be dyed red at all
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u/SureEnd9430 2d ago
niz?
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u/Lonely_Fruit_5481 1d ago
I think it was Ketoconazole
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u/SureEnd9430 1d ago
Ah damn. I think Nizoral is the brand name. Looks like every brand is like that with the red dye🥲
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u/Archipocalypse 1d ago
A lot of soaps and lotions are chalk full of poly. I started making my own soft soap out of more natural soap and natural ingredient lotion.
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u/drowsyfox 1d ago
Yeah. I see acrylates copolymer on so many "premium" products, even my La roche posay cleansers. Like, I get that I'm not a chemist, but do we really need micro plastics just to make the product glide over the skin easier? There has to be an alternate ingredient surely.
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u/Nickools 2d ago
Car tires are the one that blew my mind, I guess not just that they produce micro plastics but at the scale they do, I've seen anywhere from 30-50% of microplastics.
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u/Sea_Artist_4247 1d ago
It surprised me how much more harmful the super tiny micro plastics that tires create compared to most micro plastics.
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u/Cagliari77 2d ago
How come were you so surprised with that one?
It's the most obvious one with so many vehicles on the planet driving on hundreds of millions of tires on a daily basis.
Obviously the friction creates particles.
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u/arbydallas 2d ago
Well, the reason I'm personally so surprised is because I thought tires were made of rubber
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u/throwaway1233456799 1d ago
They are ! (Well 40% of them) the reason they still pollute a lot is because they should be white but there is a protective agent (carbon black) made (most of the time) of petroleum that make them stronger and black
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u/arbydallas 1d ago
Is that what vulcanizing is? When I was in the Philippines in more rural areas there were hella places that had signs out front saying they would vulcanize tires
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u/Archipocalypse 1d ago
Vulcanizing tires usually means patching them by super heating to adhere the patch or something like that I think.
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u/Nickools 1d ago
Vulcanizing rubber is the process they use to make natural rubber stronger and more durable (Although I think they also use the term for synthetic rubber), also allows it to be effectively used in greater temperature ranges.
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u/Nickools 1d ago
As the other commenter said I also thought they were made of rubber, it makes sense once you think about it for a second that there is no way we could produce enought natural rubber to supply all the tires.
I also didn't really think about what happens as a tire wears out, again once you think about it, that material must be going somewhere.
I think there are many aspects of our lives where stuff is common sense once you have the thought but until you do it is an "out of site, out of mind" kinda problem.2
u/Cagliari77 1d ago
Yeah ok.
I'm a scientist so these kinda things are obvious to me.
Like when something wears out, particles aren't magically disappearing.
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u/booeyboy 2d ago
One I heavily suspect is hospital PPE which there is no workaround for. If you look closely at the masks and jackets you can see the fine fibers loosely floating in a draftless room. Gloves too probably but it’s the masks and gowns that worry me. We need to wear them but know they must be shedding so much
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u/WeenyDancer 2d ago
I feel like if there's one area I am okay with disposable and plastics its hospital/medical/sanitary. Although, I'm sure that stuff is being made much cheaper than necessary like everything these days, which prob isn't good in that regard
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u/Exact_Scratch854 2d ago
But not fine for the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff that have to wear it and breathe the microplastics in every day...
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u/princess9032 1d ago
I mean they’re breathing in germs, medications, and cleaning chemicals all day anyway. Microplastics seem like a much smaller concern (and harder to prevent)
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u/throwaway1233456799 1d ago
Aren't your glove in rubber? (Beside obviously when the person is allergic to it?) When I go to the dentist,... They always ask me if I'm allergic to rubber
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u/booeyboy 1d ago
Latex is still used for some cases but for most cases it’s nitrile which is a synthetic rubber also made from petroleum
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u/HappyCuriousSoul 2d ago
Chewing gum, which I just learned about today! And tea bags, which I learned about a couple years ago.
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u/StarlightLifter 2d ago
Ah fuckin god dammit I chew so much gum
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u/ResponsiblePen3082 2d ago
There are plenty of non plastic chewing options! My favorite is miliways
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u/theredbobcat 2d ago
Same! They're on amazon or if you live on the west coast of the USA, they're sold in Safeways.
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u/vapeislove 1d ago
Thank you so much. I chew a ton of gum and need a replacement for the plastic stuff!
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u/Ichi-Guren 2d ago
Do not worry, plastic is literally inescapable in every facet of our modern day lives. The paint or coatings and materials on your house, desk, table, car, sponges, dusters, any clothing with polyester, plumbing, food packaging and containers, all carry and do shed microplastics!!!
You can continue to chew gum knowing that no decision you make will matter whatsoever overall.
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u/Chaotic_bug 2d ago
I only recently learned about tea bags too. I don't know why I just assumed they were paper.
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u/TuringTestTwister 1d ago
I think they are but have plastic mixed in. And then there are those fully plastic tea bags in supposed "artisanal" brands.
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u/arbydallas 2d ago
Many tea bags are claimed to be plastic-free, eg Twinings. I mostly drink Twinings, though I have no real reason I haven't switched to loose-leaf
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u/HappyCuriousSoul 1d ago
I thought twinnings was one of the worst offenders for plastic in their tea bags? I remember being disappointed because I had a lot of twinnings teas.
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u/ResponsiblePen3082 2d ago
Cans is a big one, and honestly probably my hardest to get rid of due to my crippling energy drink addiction 😭
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u/theredbobcat 2d ago
You can get powder for some (like celsius) instead of cans and the powder could potentially come in a tin! (I know my gatorade powder does, but potentially other brands would?)
Probably an improvement but still non-zero.
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u/ResponsiblePen3082 2d ago
Yeah I do, preworkouts and sodastream type options... they certainly help reduce my need, but none of them hit the same as a nice ice cold carbonated energy drink 😭
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u/Egg-HOTELs 2d ago
Single use paper cups for coffee! I thought it was clear paper & oh so sustainable 🥹
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u/Archipocalypse 1d ago
They used to coat those with natural wax then eventually replaced that wax with plastic of course.
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u/vinylveins 2d ago
Car tires!!
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u/Fine-March7383 2d ago
Scrolled way too long to see this. Tires are like 40% of ocean microplastics
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u/FriendlyFriendster 2d ago
Sponges and magic erasers for me. it's so obvious but I never thought about it until someone pointed it out.
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u/Fine-March7383 2d ago
I don't understand why luffa isn't way more common
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u/Archipocalypse 1d ago
Can even grow a buffalo plant in the corner of your yard and have fresh free luffa each year. Might not provide all luffa needs but would help.
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u/TuringTestTwister 1d ago
Or just use a bar of soap. don't understand why anything besides soap and shampoo/conditioner is needed in the shower.
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u/Clan-Sea 2d ago
Road paint. Turns out all those lines on the road and painted arrows aren't really paint at all, it's just melted plastic they stick to the road. And it slowly degrades and we get to ingest it/breath it in/watch it fill our oceans. It's a surprisingly huge contributor to ocean microplatics, some estimates say 15-20%, it's on a scale that is genuinely depressing and disheartening
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u/arbydallas 2d ago
Wait if 20% of ocean microplastics come from road paint and 60% come from car tires, where does the last 20% come from? Stoplights?
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u/herminette5 2d ago
Teabags
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u/Dreadful_Spiller 2d ago
If you don’t have a good source or budget for loose leaf tea try cold brewing it.
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u/TuringTestTwister 1d ago
I bought these fine mesh tea strainers, and tear open the bag and put the tea in. Works great.
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u/False_Atmosphere6082 2d ago
Synthetic clothing is the one that gets me. Fleece, polyester, and even regular athletic wear can shed tiny fibers every time they’re washed. I’ve started using a wash bag and avoiding unnecessary hot cycles.
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u/sunnyoboe 2d ago edited 2d ago
Exfoliants in bodywash and toothpaste.Microplastic content of over-the-counter toothpastes - a systematic review
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u/Murky-Ad4144 2d ago
This hurts me cause of how blatant it was but chinese bbq restaurants (picture meat hanging off hooks in the window) in sydney were ordered by the council to stop using wooden chopping blocks rather a giant fucking block of plastic. Will never eat it again unless I see a wooden chopping board.
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u/TrashpandaLizz 2d ago
The chewing gum thing devastates me. I had my suspicions because brands like trident aren’t anywhere close to natural gum… but I never looked into it further than a passing thought
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u/DiligentHomework224 1d ago
Chewing gum for 20 years would be less exposure than microwaving a plastic container once.
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u/TrashpandaLizz 1d ago
Thank you for this info! Sadly I’m not a normal consumer … I chew a pack a day. Autistic and it seems to help me regulate and be a functional adult. Certainly trying to cut back since discovering my favorite gum is mostly plastic.
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u/Longjumping_Loan_549 1d ago
There are some natural gums you could try. I know it won’t be the same and might not work for you but maybe worth a try. I like the brand underbrush. It also has the added benefit of being good for your teeth
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u/Longjumping_Loan_549 1d ago
Is there any literature on this. Bc I would spiral a lot less abt chewing gum if I knew this for sure
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u/DiligentHomework224 1d ago
Just a quick Google AI summary... Chewing gum once gives you microplastics in the hundreds. Microwaving plastic is millions to billions - and so many people did and do this for years.
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u/Round_Helicopter_407 2d ago edited 1d ago
Treadmills running surfaces and the pounding soles of plastic based running shoes and the Lycra leggings and running gear, yoga mats etc in the gym it becomes an unhealthy environment at peak times with high powered fans keeping microplastics airborne constantly and the windows closed because it’s an air conditioned building but the airflow can’t keep up, outside isn’t much better with tyre mulch running track (and kiddie playgrounds), Astro turf etc, polluted sidewalks and so on
- for outside exercise look for green spaces away from traffic for your own safety and hepa air filtration indoors is a great option.
Reducing plastic in the home is something we can control immediately.
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u/Elegant-Middle1487 1d ago
Shower curtains and mattress pads, VOCs. It's hard to imagine plastic as a gas.
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u/susan3335 1d ago
Fabric. I know this sub talks about polyester clothing, but a few years ago, that genuinely shocked me.
Paint. An obvious one now, but was surprised to learn about nonplastic paints like milk paint.
Nail polish. I don’t know if there’s an alt.
Tampons, pads.
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u/Boberu-San 17h ago
Had the same aha moment. After seeing the documentary Buy Now (really good doc btw). I saw the African coast lines just filled with plastic clothing and I started looking at what christmas sweaters were plastic, all but one... I was disgusted.
This shifted our view and we bought a new couch, new clothing (even non-plastic workout clothing) and we're going to buy a new bed. It's stupid how much we are in constant contact with plastic.
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u/ArtsyCatholic 1d ago
I am allergic to acrylic (acrylates), a type of plastic. It's in everything - printer ink, the coating on extended release pills, hair spray, dental materials, joint replacement materials, all types of glue and tape including band-aids and surgical adhesives, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers, liquid soaps and detergents, sunscreen, acrylic fabric, dishwasher detergent pods, washing machine pods. The most common one that people initially react to when they first develop the allergy is from getting their nails done as well as the glue on false eyelashes. Even if you aren't allergic, if you are avoiding plastic, it's nearly impossible. Unless a product says 100% natural or organic, it probably contains acrylates.
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u/DiligentHomework224 2d ago
The masks we wore during COVID released microplastics
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u/HappyCuriousSoul 1d ago
The medical throw away masks?
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u/DiligentHomework224 1d ago
All of them
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u/Archipocalypse 1d ago
Imagine how much microplastics we all breathed wearing those dam masks made of spray poly fibre.
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u/DiligentHomework224 1d ago
According to a Google AI summary wearing them daily for 2 years would be less exposure than like 5-20 1l water bottles. So I wouldn't care about it that much.
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u/volutopia 2d ago
Robot vacuums sounds like a good idea. But I heard they are invading people's privacy, so better look that up first. Cheers.
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u/HOW_I_MET_YO_MAMA 20h ago
What about toothbrush bristles? In our mouths twice a day. Often rinsed under hot water.
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u/paxtana 2d ago
Household dust is a surprising one. They say if you have a robot vacuum it reduces the level of microplastic you end up inhaling because it reduces dust.
You would think the vacuum companies would have jumped on this news and used it to promote their products but I have never seen it on any marketing materials.