this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2025
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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 26 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

I've already been assuming micro plastics are in literally everything on the planet after it's been found in so many things in recent years. At this point, it would be more surprising to know what doesn't have micro plastics in it.

I'd also like to see more studies on the effects of micro plastics being in everything. Shits in our fucking balls but we don't know if it's harming us. Everything sure wants to make you scared of it, though. I just wanna know if we really should be. I mean, I don't think it's good but still.

[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago

I think there was a thing done that said they found microplastics in our brains

[–] kinther@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Ouch my balls

[–] Tomassci@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago

That's why I go to the source and chew plastics.

[–] slumberlust@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

If this interests you, consider the book Ultra Processed People.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 40 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Because... they're made of microplastics?

... Must be a coincidence.

[–] FenderStratocaster@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I'm ignorant. Have micro plastics been proven to be harmful?

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 day ago

There are hints about them having carcinogen properties and promoting cerebral disorders (they do cross the blood-brain-barrier). But since human health is complex, not much evidence yet.

[–] calum@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

At the very least, significantly more microplastics were found in corpses of people who had dementia and the volume has increased between 2016 and 2024.

Correlation vs causation will require more research but it surely can't be harmful begin to reduce exposure where we can as we didn't have microplastics resident in our body for most of human history. I'd hazard an educated guess that accumulating any inorganic material inside your body isn't good for you.

[–] notastatist@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Yess, as they accumulate in the body at least.

That's not evidence of anything though.

[–] Threeme2189@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago

How is that proof that they're harmful?

[–] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 57 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I’d never have thought rubber or petroleum would be in a food.

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 27 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Well in the case of chewing gum, it basically IS plastic.

[–] WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Most commercial gums use a "synthetic gum base." It has been made with latex, chickle, all manner of crap.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Isn't natural plant gum latex too?

I think it is more accurate to say latex is a natural plant gum.

[–] FuckFascism@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Yummy, I love eating micro plastics...😋

[–] Buffalobuffalo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 3 days ago (1 children)

But which gum? I'm chewing gum right now and would prefer diet plastic gum if possible.

[–] ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.zip 30 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Almost all modern gum base is made from rubber/plastic. If you want plastic free gum you'll likely have to switch to one that specifically advertised as such. Most people talk about Simply Gum; I've never tried it personally and don't know much about the company

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 42 points 3 days ago (3 children)

"Surprisingly, the natural based gums gave off the same amount of microplastics" so I'm not sure it's worth switching from the one you like. The better way to reduce your intake is not to start a new piece, instead keep chewing the old one that's releasing fewer and fewer particles. The best choice would be to stop chewing gum, but it helps me eat less, also there's apparently microplastics in foods too, and in everything else including our eyeballs.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

How do gum bases not made of plastic give off plastic? Chicle and other natural gum bases come from plants.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

I don't know, I just quoted the study.

My theory as a non-scientist would be that the plastics aren't from the gum at all, but the gums and tongue which are apparently already full of them, according to random things on the Internet.

But that just shows how stupid it is to ask me

[–] papertowels@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Your question made me wonder - what if the plants had micro plastics lol.

[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

They do, and it's affecting photosynthesis 😅

[–] papertowels@mander.xyz 1 points 17 hours ago

Yaaaaaaaaay

[–] Obi@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Crazy how different people react differently to things, I don't chew gum often but I did try it again when I started controlling my diet and for me it just seems to activate my hunger, like my brain thinks "I'm chewing something, time to prepare the stomach for receiving food!".

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago

I understand that. In this case of course I have just eaten dinner which probably subverts that.

Do you have any shabiri grapes?

[–] workerONE@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago (2 children)
[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

you have to worry how abrasive some are.

[–] randint@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz 3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I just pulled this out from my ass, but I would guess yes, they do. But you rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth so I would guess it's not that bad? Since you're (mostly) not ingesting the microplastic particles from the toothbrush. But again I'm going off of nothing.

[–] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 14 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Current advice is actually to not rinse after brushing, as you're meant to let the fluoride of the toothpaste sit against your teeth for thirty minutes.

Unfortunately, I would recommend not losing sleep over either source of microplastics (chewing gum or toothbrushes), until tires and synthetic clothing are done away with by society. Those are much MUCH bigger, inescapable sources of microplastics

[–] shekau@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Because that's what tires are made out of, and they wear away as you drive (that's why you need to replace tires every so often as the treads wear away). That material doesn't just disappear, it gets ground down and dispersed into the environment as they're used.

It's one reason why electric cars aren't a great solution for anyone but car manufacturers—the tires. They'll cut down on fossil fuel use and fuel emissions, yes, but that's not the only way cars pollute.

EDIT: Also, thank you for asking! Always happy to explain :)

[–] CitizenKong@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Isn't it mostly tires? Which is just another reason humanity has to be cured of this insane car-craziness.

[–] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 5 points 1 day ago

Tires are there biggest ones, yeah, but number two is shedding from synthetic clothing creation and laundering

[–] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think micro plastics are in all the water everywhere.

[–] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

We're talking about their major sources, not where they're now consequently found

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

yea i heard that trick too, unfortunately it can cause perioral dermatitis in people, especially some toothpastes. because it tends to seep out of your lips and sits in the corner irritating the lips.

[–] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Instructions unclear, pulled toothbrush out of ass.

[–] Vandals_handle@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Are you a sea cucumber?

[–] Mongostein@lemmy.ca 17 points 3 days ago

So awesome

/s

[–] reksas@sopuli.xyz 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

good thing i stopped using chewing gum ages ago, always chewed it way too long and it turned disgusting.