eli5: do all plastics shed/break down into microplastics? Which plastic types are more prone to breaking down?
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Further context: I wonder if the any plastics from bagged salads or meat end up in the food. Also, isn’t anything that is fibrous plastic (polyester/ carpets) technically always shedding microplastics?
Everything breaks down eventually. So any container will leach into the product it holds, this is why metal cans are lined with plastic since metal has a strong taste and plastic is more neutral.
That being said, most bagged lettuce is packaged in cellophane, a biodegradable plastic made from wood pulp. It is not likely to cause issues if you ingest a small amount since it breaks down so quickly.
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