topic Re: Microfibers In Our Food? in Community Chat

Microfibers In Our Food?

Marp — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 18:54:09 GMT

The innovation of synthetic fleece has allowed many outdoor enthusiasts to hike with warmth and comfort. But what many of these fleece-wearing nature-lovers don't know is that each wash of their jackets and pullovers releases thousands of microscopic plastic fibers, or microfibers into the environment — from their favorite national park, to agricultural lands, to waters with fish that make it back onto our plates.

This has scientists wondering: are we eating our sweaters' synthetic microfibers?

Probably, says Chelsea Rochman, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Toronto, St. George. "Microfibers seem to be one of the most common plastic debris items in animals and environmental samples," Rochman says.

In fact, peer-reviewed studies have shown that these synthetic microfibers — a type of plastic smaller than a millimeter in length and made up of various synthetic polymers — have popped up in table salt in China, in arctic waters and in fish caught off the coast of California. These tiny fibers make up 85 percent of human debris on shorelines across the globe, according to a 2011 study. They're basically inescapable. So it's not unlikely they're finding their way into the human diet, especially in seafood.

More: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/02/06/511843443/are-we-eating-our-fleece-jackets-microfibers-are-migrating-into-field-and-food?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

SilleeMee — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 19:22:34 GMT

Being environmentally aware has been a way of life for me most of my life. I've known about this "clothing pollution" in our oceans for quite sometime. It's not only microfiber, a relatively new material in the market, but also the chemicals used to make some of the latest fiber, namely rayon from bamboo. I am an advocate of purchasing eco-friendly material when it comes to my clothing. I would like to see more people do the same.

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

dex — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 19:45:12 GMT

@Marp That is very disturbing.I always thought those fleece items were a way to keep plastics out of the dump but never thought it get worse.I think we are such a disposable society that those fibers too quickly end up in a landfill anyway.

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

LTT1 — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 19:59:03 GMT

@SilleeMee

This is new to me.

What items do you use or not use?

Are you sensitive to chemicals?

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

Plaid Pants2 — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 20:01:49 GMT

Think that's bad?

There are also pharmacuticals in our water, and food.

http://http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/drugs-in-our-drinking-water#1/a-to-z-guides/features/drugs-in-our-drinking-water#1

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

SilleeMee — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 20:33:30 GMT

@LTT1 wrote:
@SilleeMee

This is new to me.
What items do you use or not use?
Are you sensitive to chemicals?

@LTT1,

I usually try to buy clothing that is made of natural fibers like cotton and wool. But that's often hard to do when it seems everything has some kind of man-made fiber in it. Polyester and nylon are two that seem most popular and have great improvements in their production as far as toxic waste generated from their production. I am not particularly sensitive to an one chemical but I know for a fact that many clothing items coming from over seas is treated with some kind of substance. These substances can be used for softening, pesticide or dye fixatives that can be caustic to skin. Best wash any and all clothing before wearing...especially if it's made over seas. Rayon from bamboo is a fabric that takes bamboo trees (sustainable) but then toxic chemicals are added to the bamboo pulp to dissolve it into rayon. Waste by-products from this process is so highly toxic and ends up in the water. There is no EPA in most parts of the world. Many of the rayon manufacturing factories are working to improve on toxic waste production....and this is a slow going process in the countries that don't enforce regulations.

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

sidsmom — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 20:59:51 GMT

So if you're eating 'wild' fish, you're eating plastic?

Reason 9567 to not eat animals. 🙃

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

LTT1 — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 21:03:54 GMT

@SilleeMee

Im going to sound like the commercial for "The more you know!"

So, the more I know, the better.

They fooled me with bamboo.

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

Mominohio — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 23:44:08 GMT

Very interesting. Something I had never even thought of. Now I will go search for more information and sources. Thanks for posting.

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

Kachina624 — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 00:13:07 GMT

Between the microfiber and dog hair that I swallow, I'll probably produce a huge synthetic hairball one of these days.

Have you heard about the micro beads in toothpaste and facial exfoliants? They get in the water systems and are absorbed by fish.

Re: Microfibers In Our Food?

suzyQ3 — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 00:18:49 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
Between the microfiber and dog hair that I swallow, I'll probably produce a huge synthetic hairball one of these days.

Have you heard about the micro beads in toothpaste and facial exfoliants? They get in the water systems and are absorbed by fish.

@Kachina624, do take a selfie of that.

Yes, the microbeads -- those little bits of plastic -- are supposed to be banned this year. Bad stuff for the environment.