eli5: do all plastics shed/break down into microplastics? Which plastic types are more prone to breaking down?

Question

eli5: do all plastics shed/break down into microplastics? Which plastic types are more prone to breaking down?

In: 0

Answer 1

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.