Okay, this post kind of fractalled into multiple conversation...

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Okay, this post kind of fractalled into multiple conversation threads, thank you to everyone who participated! I learned a lot.

First, PVA, the skin of laundry pods, is a plastic. Yes, it dissolves in water (under selected conditions). But it doesn't go away. On this planet, there is no "away":

"Dissolve does not mean disappear. Salt is technically soluble in water, but if you pour a bunch of salt in a glass of water, you very much taste it. It’s still there."

https://plasticoceans.org/pva-detergent-pods-gone-but-not-forgotten/

Like 11 February at 20:09 | Open on mastodon.social

48 comments

CelloMom On Cars

"In order for #PVA to #biodegrade, special PVA-adapted microbes need to be added at high levels and for long durations. Currently, most water treatment facilities do not sufficiently treat PVA in water, and therefore poses a series of environmental and safety concerns. "

Also:
"the production of PVA film involves heavy environmental and safety burdens in carcinogenic toxins, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, and fossil fuel depletion."

https://dirtylabs.com/blogs/the-dirt/ask-dr-pete-are-laundry-pods-and-sheets-really-sustainable

Also:
"the production of PVA film involves heavy environmental and safety burdens in carcinogenic toxins, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, and fossil fuel depletion."

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11 February at 20:13 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars

I will now stop using laundry pods.
Even while acknowledging that their contribution to microplastics is small.

The major contributors to microplastics in the oceans:

Synthetic textiles
(They make me sweat unpleasantly, so I stay away from those, too),

Car tires
(why I bike: skinny tires, a lot less wear!)

City dust
(Guessing that includes the two above, plus house paint and such).

From:
https://www.statista.com/chart/17957/where-the-oceans-microplastics-come-from/

I will now stop using laundry pods.
Even while acknowledging that their contribution to microplastics is small.

The major contributors to microplastics in the oceans:

Synthetic textiles
(They make me sweat unpleasantly, so I stay away from those, too),

Car tires
(why I bike: skinny tires, a lot less wear!)

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11 February at 20:20 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars

Research from the Fraunhofer Institut shows that in Germany, tire wear is the single largest source of microplastics, and it's much larger than the next source which is -- wait for it -- abrasion of plastic from road surfaces.

Sounds like Germans like to burn rubber (except that car tires are no longer ctual rubber but a composite containing lots of plastic).

https://www.celticwater.co.uk/bloghow-does-plastic-get-into-the-ocean-plastic-pollution-from-roads/

11 February at 20:27 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars

But back to doing laundry:
Several people have suggested using laundry sheets.

I had to look up what they are; they sound like a cool solution but then I found this:

"PVA is woven into laundry sheets to keep them intact. "

https://www.blueland.com/articles/are-laundry-pods-and-sheets-plastic

I'll stick to liquid soap.
But now I will also try the liquid laundry soap that my health food store sells out of a large vat with a faucet. BYO container: I can make that a glass bottle.

11 February at 20:33 | Open on mastodon.social

Mackaj

@CelloMomOnCars

Wow, I learned a lot from that thread. Thanks.

I use liquid for my laundry, but pods for the dishwasher. I'm not even aware of an alternative for that in UK supermarkets. Going to have to do some detective work to find out.

11 February at 21:13 | Open on mastodon.me.uk

Sindarina, Edge Case Detective

@CelloMomOnCars I bookmarked this recently, for that time when I switch back from laundromat to an in-home washing machine;

https://planetcare.org

No idea if it works as advertised, and it's basically a subscription service, which has drawbacks, but apparently there are local filtering options out there for the microfiber part of the problem.

12 February at 11:03 | Open on ngmx.com

CelloMom On Cars

Microplastic pollution affects a wide range of the planet's processes, from cloud formation to phytoplankton making our oxygen.

"From the evidence gathered, one can infer that #microplastic pollution plays a significant role in global warming and #ClimateChange and that MPs and climate change issues are inextricably linked. The current article bridges the gap between MPs and climate change challenges that were previously regarded separately."

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11270-024-07003-w

Microplastic pollution affects a wide range of the planet's processes, from cloud formation to phytoplankton making our oxygen.

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14 March at 12:00 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars

Turns out, farmers now sow fertiliser pods on their lands: callled "controlled release fertilizers" they are tiny versions of your laundry pods but filled with fertiliser.

Seeds are also individually wrapped in a plastic pouch.

The micropouches break down into smaller microplastics that remain in the soil. And as they say, you reap what you sow.

This disturbing report posted by @henkdeligt , run it through a translator if you dare.
https://apache.be/2024/04/03/boeren-zaaien-ook-microplastics

Turns out, farmers now sow fertiliser pods on their lands: callled "controlled release fertilizers" they are tiny versions of your laundry pods but filled with fertiliser.

Seeds are also individually wrapped in a plastic pouch.

The micropouches break down into smaller microplastics that remain in the soil. And as they say, you reap what you sow.

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4 April at 0:22 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars

There are a few other pathways for microplastics to reach the soil, from stormwater to plastic sheeting to "biosolids" (which is polite for processed municipal poo and other shit) – and all of those pathways need to be broken.

https://www.sierraclub.org/michigan/blog/2024/02/microplastics-and-agriculture

4 April at 0:28 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars

Plastics are toxic fossil fuel products. They don't biodegrade, they break up into little bits. And they get into our bodies.

"An examination of the livers, kidneys and brains of autopsied bodies found that all contained #microplastics, but the 91 brain samples contained on average about 10 to 20 times more than the other organs.

The researchers found that 24 of the #brain samples, which were collected in early 2024, measured on average about 0.5% plastic by weight."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/21/microplastics-brain-pollution-health

Plastics are toxic fossil fuel products. They don't biodegrade, they break up into little bits. And they get into our bodies.

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22 August at 12:51 | Open on mastodon.social

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@CelloMomOnCars I wonder if the Fossil Fuel companies knew about this before anyone else and like they did with Climate Change, kept quiet about it for the Profit?

22 August at 12:54 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars replied to Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@Lazarou

Somehow I would be not at all surprised if #TheyKnew about microplastics too.

22 August at 14:06 | Open on mastodon.social

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈 replied to CelloMom On Cars

@CelloMomOnCars they're monsters already, what's one more Crime Against Humanity?

22 August at 14:07 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars

As a reminder: The world is decarbonising. Oil and gas producers are nervous.

"That’s why the fossil fuel giants are looking towards petrochemicals, and plastics in particular, as their next major growth market.

“Plastics is the Plan B for the fossil fuel industry.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/29/how-the-fossil-fuel-industry-is-pushing-plastics-on-the-world-.html

The question is, are we going to let them unleash more toxic pollution into the place where we live?

22 August at 12:56 | Open on mastodon.social

CelloMom On Cars replied to CelloMom On Cars

Those unjacketed bananas packaged in styrofoam and a plastic film are an egregious example, but we consent to be poisoned in so many ways.

It doesn't have to be that way.

Even switching to a metal water bottle will save you from ingesting a ton of the smallest, most dangerous microplastics.

"The average liter of bottled water has nearly a quarter million invisible pieces of ever so tiny nanoplastics"

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/scientists-find-about-a-quarter-million-invisible-microplastic-particles-in-a-liter-of-bottled-water

Those unjacketed bananas packaged in styrofoam and a plastic film are an egregious example, but we consent to be poisoned in so many ways.

It doesn't have to be that way.

Even switching to a metal water bottle will save you from ingesting a ton of the smallest, most dangerous microplastics.

"The average liter of bottled water has nearly a quarter million invisible pieces of ever so tiny nanoplastics"

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22 August at 13:00 | Open on mastodon.social

J.H.Noyes

@CelloMomOnCars
Holy shit.
@ajsadauskas

22 August at 13:11 | Open on mastodon.online

T Chu 朱

@CelloMomOnCars @henkdeligt

I expected farmers be so much smarter than that. They should know that plastic doesn't go away.

4 April at 0:36 | Open on climatejustice.social

CelloMom On Cars

@chu

Many of them haven't put two and two together. I mean, no fertiliser company will spell it out for you.

4 April at 1:06 | Open on mastodon.social

dr2chase

@CelloMomOnCars SHOES? More from shoes than from synthetic fibers in laundry? Wow. Now I'm trying to figure out alternatives for places that aren't friendly to bare feet (I went barefoot a lot as a kid in FL, only cut my foot badly twice).

11 February at 22:19 | Open on ohai.social

CelloMom On Cars

@dr2chase

I'm also wondering if Germans use mostly cotton and wool to clothe themselves. The textiles part seems very, very small.

11 February at 22:21 | Open on mastodon.social

Tina

@CelloMomOnCars @dr2chase

Cotton is common in shirts and pants, also underwear and socks (often mixed with synthetics) but wool not so much. Viscose had a bit of revival in the last couple of years as a more sustainable option. Same goes for linen in summer clothes. However, acrylics is still the norm for sweaters and other winter items. Coats are very often mostly or all synthetic fibre. I own a 13 year old winter coat that's 50% wool but I haven't seen anything similar in years.

12 February at 5:59 | Open on mastodon.social

Nick

@dr2chase There are a number of ostensibly sustainable shoe brands (e.g. AllBirds). Obviously I'd be wary of how realistic the sustainability claims are, but it's a place to start. At a minimum, buying such things demonstrates the viability of such a market to manufacturers.

@CelloMomOnCars

11 February at 23:22 | Open on qoto.org

Tina

@dr2chase You could look for shoes with natural rubber soles. I switched to minimal shoes (not quite like walking barefoot but close enough) and the company I'm buying from has plastic free shoes.

12 February at 5:52 | Open on mastodon.social

Charles 𝄢 H

@spinni81 @dr2chase

Natural rubber soles wore to be dangerously slippery for me on smooth wet surfaces. It was like walking on ice.

I may have had bad luck in that regard.

29 February at 15:49 | Open on post.lurk.org

Tina

@celesteh Wow, for me it's completely different. My natural rubber soles are the least slippery I ever owned.

29 February at 17:19 | Open on mastodon.social

Sir David Nielsen

@CelloMomOnCars @whalecoiner they could use those bum tires to build lovely eco houses like Earthships, much better than burning them.

12 February at 0:40 | Open on mastodon.social

Giliell

@CelloMomOnCars Thank goodness they banned glitter, that will solve the problem.

12 February at 9:59 | Open on mastodon.social

Shortman

@CelloMomOnCars its higher than the sum of the rest of the top10. So there should be a clear focus on this aspect

12 February at 10:15 | Open on sueden.social

Leonard Ritter

@CelloMomOnCars das gibt's ja nicht!! wenn wir den finden der die ganzen autobahnen gebaut hat!!!

12 February at 10:22 | Open on mastodon.gamedev.place

Bruno Girin

@CelloMomOnCars interestingly, the total of sources 2 to 10 is 1,205g so tire wear, at 1,230g, is larger than the 9 following sources combined.

12 February at 11:34 | Open on mastodon.me.uk

tard

@CelloMomOnCars

So the tire abrasion originates from EVs or rather from cars with a combustion engine?

12 February at 18:13 | Open on todon.nl

CelloMom On Cars

@tard

Tires are tires, I don't think it's possible to distinguish between EV tires, truck tires, and regular cars' tires.

(And right now 1 million out of Germany's 48 million cars are EVs, so that's a tiny fraction).

But it is true that EVs are heavier than combustion cars of comparable size, and therefore contribute more microplastic per km.

12 February at 20:24 | Open on mastodon.social

tard

@CelloMomOnCars

I am sorry, this was a sarcastic comment only highlighting that EVs are not really part of the solution. But instead we need mobility centered around walking, cycling and public transit.

12 February at 20:39 | Open on todon.nl

CelloMom On Cars

@tard

I hear you!
Here in the US it's all about EVs EVs EVs.

But I'm starting to call my ebike an EV.
I love watching the reactions.
(I'm an enfant terrible that way).

12 February at 20:42 | Open on mastodon.social

Artists Garden

@CelloMomOnCars So, just adding up road related sources accounts for more than 1½ kg per person per year. The answer is staring us in the face!
Oh, and it won't be just Germany. It'll be the same in every country in the 'developed' world.

13 February at 9:10 | Open on mastodonapp.uk

Antanicus

@CelloMomOnCars #FuckCars

29 February at 11:04 | Open on puntarella.party

Susa

@CelloMomOnCars
Now I am curious how much plastic comes from bike tires compared to car tires. I always considered biking as a clean way of travel - but maybe it isn't 🤔
@anfalas

23 August at 6:08 | Open on rheinneckar.social

Peter Kraus

@suvidu @CelloMomOnCars @anfalas Much less, tyre wear is affected by the weight of the vehicle, as weight affects the friction force the tyre has to deal with.

23 August at 15:04 | Open on berlin.social

Susa

@pkraus
Ah, thank you 😀 That makes me indeed feel better!
@CelloMomOnCars @anfalas

23 August at 15:24 | Open on rheinneckar.social

David Conrad

@CelloMomOnCars

Plastic drinking straws
[a blue dot smaller than an atom]

11 February at 22:53 | Open on mas.to

mirabilos

@CelloMomOnCars oh yes, I also just buy cotton, have for a long time, feels better. (Yes, it’s also not unproblematic, but then, what is.) I am unhappy that much cotton is only washable at 30°/40° though, especially for bedwear 60°C is a minimum IMHO (but synthetics aren’t better in that, and they do stink)

29 February at 15:54 | Open on toot.mirbsd.org

CelloMom On Cars

@mirabilos

Those washing instructions are there mostly to protect the manufacturer! Once it's mine I can see fit to wash it at any temperature. If it's really 100% cotton and the dye is good, you should be able to do 60C.
My sheets go in at 90C (I'm old fashioned) but they are all off-white.

29 February at 22:56 | Open on mastodon.social

mirabilos

@CelloMomOnCars it shrinks more at 60°C than at 40°C though, even if mostly once.

29 February at 23:03 | Open on toot.mirbsd.org

EikeZig

@CelloMomOnCars
Cigarette filters ?

They are EVERY.WHERE !

23 August at 19:41 | Open on nfdi.social

Iain MacLean

@erio7 @CelloMomOnCars Many years ago I was involved in a social marketing campaign for our regional council that included the risk of cigarette filters (among other things) to fish life (all our local urban waterways flow into two harbours). We had a cool poster of a smoking fish.

Buildings are all smoke-free inside in New Zealand, so smokers have to go outside for a smoke. But there aren’t enough receptacles for smokers to dispose of used butts in the street, so they flick them into the gutter.

Some are combined with street rubbish bins, but not enough people use them. And they aren’t all in the right place. Council bins are on the pavement, but many smokers who work in the area will smoke at the back door of their building, where there isn’t a butt receptacle.

Councils often have to spend more money and put in more services to make it easier for people to change their behaviour, which is hard when they are all trying to save costs!

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24 August at 17:35 | Open on venera.social

The Great Llama :fuck_verify:

@CelloMomOnCars
I suspect the biggest chunk of the synthetic textile portion belongs to industry. Tarps, temporary covers and the like. Synthetic clothes worn normally get a bit of wear through normal life, but industrial facilities put things under "temporary" textile covers until the cover wears out and then they replace the cover. This stuff sits out in full UV all day every day and it wears out due to that exposure much faster than someone's polyester shirt.