Why you need to STOP microwaving plastic

[@fig1]

Check out Tracey's work on the CalSPEC Microplastics Report for the CA legislature: uccs.ucdavis.edu/calspec/2022-research-topic We've also got more tips on how to limit the dangers of microplastics here: www.ucsf.edu/news/2024/02/427161/how-to-limit-microplastics-dangers

[@samuelculper4231]

Is it safe if our dishwashers are plastic?

[@germanshepherd6638]

1920: lead in water 2020: plastic in water

[@JT-Works]

@@germanshepherd6638 also forever chemicals in water, also Round Up in water, and I am sure there is more we don’t even know about yet...

[@Bushman9]

@@JT-WorksWhat? Are you insinuating that corporations hide how much unhealthy byproducts they actually produce in their quest for profits? That’s preposterous!

[@damham5689]

@@germanshepherd6638 capitalist call that progress. 😜

[@yennyku5240]

@@JT-Works no wonder I am constantly sick with stomach issues -_-

[@jamisojo]

​@@damham5689 communists don't care what happens to you.

[@jvb5590]

The jazz music in the background does not make plastic less alarming.

[@bucketofbarnacles]

Unnecessary background music is a problem with a lot of videos. Nevertheless, thank you to UC for this report.

[@RishabhGKoenigseggRegera]

*Jazz music stops*

[@JerryC25]

Lmao

[@johnmitchell2247]

Stupid music

[@shaolinfox30]

Somebody should make an alternate version with some driving heavy metal music in the background. Some real dark stuff. Or perhaps some menacing orchestral violin or some things similar? 😂 Picture something off the Conan the barbarian soundtrack. 😮

[@jefferystube]

Glaring omission from the video; the corporations responsible for putting these plastics into the system in the first place. Placing the onus on individuals and families is why plastic is still a problem that didn’t go away with all the post consumer recycling. Working folks have little choice and don’t have the time or money to avoid plastics in the ways suggested.

[@DieNibelungenliad]

Just turn the tap

[@re11ik96]

Plastic is also in ground water

[@Entertainment-]

You’re saying it as if corporations are some sort of evil being. They are just organisations, groups of individuals. That change should be done at an individual level and whatever influence you have in certain groups, such as being an executive at those corporations.

[@kikijewell2967]

​@@Entertainment-yep. Money is evil. It rewards greed. Any large corporation is large because of the pursuit of money. Money is the Forcing Function that selects for greed which undermines morals.

[@liawatson5789]

​@@Entertainment- They are evil.

[@DonQuiKong]

I dont disagree with the content, but you really need to add your sources to the video description. Especially when you have "by University of California" in your name. Just saying "one study shows" without citing it is just plain unprofessional in this context.

[@fig1]

Good call! We've added citations to the video description and will do so on our videos moving forward.

[@DonQuiKong]

@@fig1 ok i am impressed by the swift reaction.

[@hiroprotagonitis]

Y’all gonna address issues large scale issues systemically vs placing the onus on individuals too, or what?

[@hiroprotagonitis]

@fig1

[@limbeboy7]

​@@fig1 also fact check. Alot of this video science is wrong and outdated

[@aultraman]

Other than not microwaving food in plastic containers, there really isn't much we can do. Everything seems to be wrapped in plastic (meat, cheese, veggies, etc).

[@cyncyn5014]

There are many options actually. Instead of buying plastic water bottles you can invest on a filter system that can be attached under the sink. There are filter system that CAN remove plastic particles along with pfas, lead, etc. As for buying groceries, don't use the plastic bags, bring your own cloth bag made from cotton or bamboo. When buying meat, go straight to the butcher and have them wrap it in paper or wax paper. Same can go for cheese, have them weigh the cheese to get the sticker and have them place it in your own glass container. Buy milk in card boxes or glass, just like OJ. There are many things we can do to change. Unfortunately it can be a bit more expensive going this route, but it will be temporary. Many companies are freaking out And are already trying to find alternatives since the world is rattled by all this. Many class action lawsuits will take place, part of the reason why brands are trying to find a quick switch. Good luck everyone and get ready to jump in these class action lawsuits!

[@fictionindianspaceprogram-222]

What container can l use for microwaving? ​@@cyncyn5014

[@kleinerrebell6691]

4:12 He gives 4 great advices to avoid micro plastic

[@Iforgotme]

Walmart is our only option (small town). Milk is only available in plastic. What can we do?

[@kleinerrebell6691]

@@Iforgotme Try plant milk. It's mostly packed in Cartoon boxes

[@dc2guy2]

wait... this ain't Vox?

[@TheWebstaff]

No.

[@homeland1128]

Yep. Originality has left the chat

[@j303ab2]

omg what?

[@Pheicou]

True, one day we will ask an AI “make a Vox like video” and this is what will come out.

[@hashash]

Whoa, i also just realised after reading your comment😮

[@damham5689]

Paper plates are also coated with plastic and leave micro plastics on food when heated in a microwave.

[@JT-Works]

Interesting, I assumed it was a wax coating... I will look into further...

[@squadscout808]

I thought that was my leftover gum

[@user-ov4wr5yu4r]

​@@JT-WorksNot wax. Long ago it was white clay. These products, including juice boxes and such, are all plastic coated. (You know, wax melts easily.)

[@cyncyn5014]

It depends on the kind of paper plates. There are bamboo types of disposables like fork, spoons, plates, etc. These are more environmental friendly.

[@damham5689]

@@user-ov4wr5yu4r even if it was wax, Im pretty sure with the exception of beeswax, most wax is made from petroleum.

[@WatchThis2025]

I eat plastic in large chunks before it becomes micro plastic

[@XIIchiron78]

Macroplastic

[@kaibuchan]

Fuck yeah

[@AgentOffice]

Keep them guessing

[@TheDifferenced]

Hello Mr. Plastic. You will melt now after 50 years old

[@1Fresh_Water]

Smart, build up a tolerance!

[@therealsunnyk]

something in this video which I think a lot of people internalise but is sort of misleading is the size of these so-called microplastics. There are a number of pictures shown here where the plastic is quite large, maybe 2mm in size, but the studies are talking about 2um, which aren't the same size. This means that a lot of people walk away from info like this thinking that microplastics are little bits of plastic you can see with your eyes, where really we're talking about microscopic sized plastics.

[@hamzerpanzer]

I really hope people don't actually think that and understand it's for illustrative effect

[@matty_isthemotto]

​@hamzerpanzer hahaha people are re tar ds

[@pinnacleexpress420]

I mean she said theyre invisible. Did you actually watch it lol

[@stephenkolostyak4087]

@@matty_isthemotto "​@hamzerpanzer hahaha people are re tar ds" Never forget, half the population at least is rerererererererererererererereeeeeeee.

[@jojodroid31]

The pictures in the video are awful.

[@davidnika446]

Changed all my water bottles to stainless steel, glass or ceramic. and have a kitchen water filter, instead of paying for bottled water.

[@CrimsonLegacy]

I love vacuum-insulated water bottles and containers. You don't need to spend a large amount for an overhyped Stanley cup either. Thermos and other brands such as Ozark Trail make vacuum-insulated cups, bottles, and other containers that are just as effective. Perfect for keeping either chilled or hot beverages that way all day long, and maybe even longer.

[@IvoPavlik]

Good for you! I'm considering that too.

[@davidnika446]

@@IvoPavlik For my faucet filter, it amounts to about 20 cents per gallon. Unfiltered is fine for washing dishes, and you flick a lever for filtered water. And if you bargain hunt a bit, double-wall steel mugs can be had for $10-$15, and they'll last forever. It's silly to buy plastic cups in my opinion.

[@limbeboy7]

The suggestions to eat more plants than meat is the worst I've ever heard.

[@battery_wattage]

Disclaimer: some metal bottles have plastic liner to eliminate corrosion.

[@PrioritiesX]

Microwave safe plastic means the plastic is safe from melting in the microwave, not that you are safe from the plastic that leeches from microwaving that plastic.

[@mdml0]

Avoid hot drinks in paper cups. Paper cups are lined with plastic.

[@laurachristianson1688]

Why I make my own coffee and drink out of a regular coffee cup

[@asandax6]

Almost everything is lined with plastic.

[@Nusamadecom]

You can also just buy drinks in tin can

[@laurachristianson1688]

@@Nusamadecom hot coffee in a tin can? Ummmm nope nope nope

[@laurachristianson1688]

@@asandax6 fortunately old fashioned ceramic cups are not

[@spero360]

And instead of government regulations, blame the consumer and make him feel like he's responsible for having shitty options

[@alexanderstone9463]

What sort of regulations do you propose?

[@boingodoingo1930]

​@@alexanderstone9463mandatory investment into research into techniques to clean up microplastics by the companies who produce them (starting with the oil companies)?

[@JakoWako]

⁠@@alexanderstone9463 Limiting plastic production

[@jacobe9790]

@@alexanderstone9463Limits on the use of plastic for items that don’t need it. Plenty of products don’t need to be packaged in or made out of plastic, or at least as much. And before plastic was invented we were able to get by using other materials like glass, metal cans, or wax paper for food. The types of plastic used could also be standardized so plastic can actually be recycled instead of there being dozens of different kinds that have different recycling processes and just end up in landfills and then our air and water.

[@alexanderstone9463]

@@jacobe9790 I assume that the reason why you left out wood, paper, cotton, natural rubber, etc. from your list of things that plastic replaced, is because you are aware that we don’t have the land required to replace plastics with those things. But you don’t explicitly say that and you really should. Because not saying that perpetuates this myth, that I’ve seen everywhere on social media, that if it weren’t for capitalism and corporate greed then we’d have a plastic free world. In reality our dilemma is far more complicated than that and people absolutely need to understand that fact. Also, different plastics are used for different things for a reason. That is one of the reasons why I think it would be better to implement Pigouvian taxes on plastics. The revenue from said taxes would be used to permanently subsidize recycling and eliminate microplastics from wastewater.

[@davidmay268]

Is this how I can get better neuroplasticity?

[@oluomau.7489]

HAHA

[@o_o8203]

Yes, I am scientist, look 🧑‍🔬

[@mattoucas869]

bruh 💀

[@giomarg.m.1641]

Underrated comment

[@OO-tb4ou]

It hurts me to see how many people put non-microwavable cup noodles in the microwave

[@joelface]

Pouring boiling water into those cups is just as bad.

[@phrozen17]

Aren't they paper?

[@joelface]

@@phrozen17 if they were, they would disintegrate upon touching water.

[@OO-tb4ou]

@@joelface I doubt that, surely there is a reason they say not to microwave them.

[@OfficialDJTasawennateken]

Are made out of Styrofoam Styrofoam is perfectly microwavable Just because it says don't put it in a microwave doesn't mean it's because it's dangerous They tell you not to because it will just evaporate all the water out It's not like ramen that you make where you have to put a lot of water in a bowl

[@opossumboyo]

The food I grew up eating is bad for me. The way it was prepared, by people I trusted, is bad for me. The entertainment I consume is also bad for me. The world that I live in is full of bad influences, and very few of the modern leadership class believes we are doing things right. Almost every single aspect of my existence, and the existence of the average young person today, is littered with overwhelming negativity. It will compound and become worse over time. And yet they expect us to remain positive, to reproduce, and to keep the species going?

[@jessearodriguez]

Is this intentionally mirroring that famous Steve Jobs email?

[@AdpYTExplorer]

This kind of hurt, a lot

[@jessearodriguez]

@@opossumboyo also, just to give you perspective, drinking water used to have lead and/or harmful bacteria in it. Food scarcity used to be an issue for humanity, and that has vanished. We used to literally have no entertainment, the majority of human history is full of lives which were spent working from the time they were 8 years old to the time they died in their forties. The old ‘leadership class’ was always some variation on a hereditary aristocracy in which the orders of complete morons were followed on fear of death. You are surrounded by technological miracles and deal with none of the aforementioned strife, and yet somehow you’ve convinced yourself that it’s not worth reproducing to continue the species. Give me a fuckin break. The phrase “touch grass” was designed for people like you. Follow that advice. Make something of yourself instead of convincing yourself it’s not worth it to even try like a lazy and childish coward.

[@Vhix]

Knowing is half the battle. With time, we keep learning more and more about what's good or bad for us, and while regulation is always catching up slowly and primarily influenced by business interests, the next generations keep improving on the mistakes of the past. You can easily see that with how we've evolved over the past 50-80 years to reduce or completely eliminate things like asbestos, lead, CO2, tobacco. It's a slow and imperfect process, but that's humanity for you. Things could always be better, but as long as we're learning and trying to improve there will always be hope and eventually improvement.

[@whatrtheodds]

I'm pregnant and I believe I'm creating a good human. I have hope. I also really dislike the plastic situation but giving up will mean there will be no solution.

[@eth6706]

Video starts at 4:00

[@HugeShep]

I worked at a very popular diner and every time they served broccoli, they put it in a little old plastic container with butter and microwaved it until it was steaming. They were used so many times that the lids were broken and they still used them anyway. They were definitely not microwave safe lol.

[@kikijewell2967]

I do plastic free July, and it's impossible to eliminate plastic entirely, because it's required for ao much of food packaging. Even the glass milk bottles i get have a plastic pull off lid.

[@alsonyang230]

Do you find yourself in a healthier state following Jul (Aug, Sept)? Just curious if stopping plastic usage have any short-term health direct effects.

[@NathanDudani]

​@@alsonyang230 hEaLtHiEr StAtE

[@Un1234l]

Also would like an update if possible

[@santiagomakoszay5090]

THIS IS F****** CRAZY!!! Legislation and businesses should be getting up to speed to finding less harmful solutions. More people should know about this 😣

[@yoursubconscious]

@@santiagomakoszay5090 - isn't common sense?

[@malachiteofmethuselah9713]

You know money and profit will not let that happen. Noone cares about you. They just care about which product you choose.

[@tomwalsh96]

It's been common knowledge for many years. People just don't want to listen

[@gg-gn3re]

we've had less harmful things forever. It's called glass and metal.

[@jamisojo]

​@@yoursubconscious If it is common sense, why aren't we regulating the plastic that is on those things that we are consuming? * Guarantee you that a lot of people don't think this is a problem. And the truth is, it may not be a big enough problem to do much about it. People are going to still appreciate disposable plates and packaging. And people are not dropping dead everywhere from this plastic.

[@thomaswilding8818]

What is the source of your conclusion on microwaving plastic? I followed the link in the description. It took me to a popular article. I searched through and found no literature cited on microwaving plastic.

[@heyjohnsmith]

Yes! What type of plastic is also important, like even quality ones that feels like Glass? Example Tupperware microwave safe bowls? Are they as bad too?

[@fig1]

Here's the link: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942 
 Sorry about that - we just added citations to the video description

[@Nachos-sk7od]

3:50 The Brokeback Mountain quote caught me off guard😳

[@danielswarovski6462]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💯

[@danielleps0]

Same. I didn't expect to burst into laughter watching a video about my inevitable demise.

[@Siriussky22]

0:12 and here I am drinking out of only glass every day, are there still plastics in tap water?

[@Fridelain]

They're everywhere. You can get a Brita filter & pitcher... both are made of plastic.

[@Siriussky22]

@@Fridelain ah seems we can’t escape the plastic

[@HellHunter00]

@@Siriussky22 Indeed. It's in the air, water, land. What we can and probably should do is try to minimise the exposure. Heating plastic like food in a plastic container in the microwave or drinking from a plastic water bottle that has been sitting in a hot car give us megadoses of microplastics. Microplastics leach into food/water stored in them even at room temperature but at a much lower particle density than when it is heated.

[@mms3484]

Oh hell yes

[@geode9512]

Love how we are just guinea pigs

[@cguy2guy511]

Yes we are guinea pigs in this massive petri dish we call Earth.

[@jamisojo]

I don't think this makes us guinea pigs. Also, the suffering due to microplastics is pretty unclear. How many funerals have you been to for victims of microplastics?

[@ahdorbfidks]

@@jamisojo….

[@ahdorbfidks]

get a load of this guy 👆🏾

[@Quantum-Bullet]

not an experiment, it's the life of basically everyone because we develop new things and don't know about the consequences from the start

[@AE1OU]

We are all plastic people.

[@SunDevils1990]

We are turning into LEGOs. 😂

[@aielianna]

Maybe I am Barbie

[@user-rl6fs6rd7m]

I'm so happy that this issue is finally getting more and more exposure, especially thanks to KZbin as a platform

[@MaySpitfire]

Dated a girl who microwaved the entire plastic bag of tortillas every time she wanted one🤢🤮

[@L32C-yg9hm]

Bruh. I can't be with someone that stupid.

[@gaboqv]

red flag

[@nicokelly6453]

Both the bag and the tortillas were suffering...as well as her health, probably.

[@XX-fd1ix]

Idk what's worse; microwaving the entire bag for 1, or microwaving tortillas in the 1st place.

[@markus_selloi]

​@@TWrzalekmost weird, specific reason to not do that lol

[@ElectricNed]

And people think I was being extra for not drinking bottled water. Stainless bottle and glass containers for life!

[@coltenhunter2000]

Tiny bits of glass or sand probably isn’t better for you

[@cact0s_ulion405]

@@coltenhunter2000 Haven't done any research on it (Yet; Will research and come back on this) but I'm almost certain the glass that could break off (Not entirely sure but I don't think glass really does that) wouldn't be sharp, which is the only bad thing it could do. Chemically glass is very unreactive, and plastics are basically full of a variety of chemicals so of course they're gonna be more reactive and, as the video says, can interfere with our body's processes. Sand I'm not so sure but well ceramics aren't just sand, and ceramics themselves aren't dangerous. Both ceramics and glass can be dangerous if they break (As it causes sharp edges) but if they don't, and are in the smaller range (which they would be if they're leeching off of a bottle) they're definitely 'better for you'.

[@ElectricNed]

@@coltenhunter2000 Read a book

[@yoursubconscious]

heat and cold bottles have their fair share, but heating plastic...common sense! (yes, even when you just finished cooking and want to store it, all the same).

[@GrandTerr]

I've never heard of anything like that, are you really defending plastic use? ​@@coltenhunter2000

[@wealthonmainstreet]

Watching this as I’m microwaving my tv dinner and drinking a bottle water 😂

[@akiofujimitsu1046]

I know this is a serious video about micro plastics but, I find it cute that the UCSF lady has an ocarina, some origami, a Totoro figure, lord of the rings books and what looks like manga on the shelf behind her.

[@juno7266]

I love how there are citations! I can tell people about this and pull up the actual papers for proof

[@MrLennart1976]

That's why we outlawed phtalates in plastic in europe a long ago. We had these concerns 20 years ago and acted on them.

[@jamisojo]

When are you guys going to figure out how to have enough refrigeration?

[@yolanda6392]

@@jamisojowhat does this mean

[@Firehawk0469]

Shhhh! Americans hate it when you tell them how other countries do things better

[@shroomer3867]

Bro thinks Europe doesn’t have any fridges or something 💀

[@swiggy382]

i’ve only ever microwaved ceramics and glass, growing up my mom always said that microwaving food or drinks in plastic causes the chemicals to leach. that always made sense to me. now seeing that maybe that wasn’t normal

[@ManusCamus]

Thank you for the jazz music!

[@andywu5879]

Like the experts said, they are everywhere. You will keep and continue eating micro plastics. So stop panicking, just enjoy your life.

[@Dudeguymansir]

I prefer the term micro confetti 🎉 it’s more festive

[@cactustree505]

I use wide mouth canning jars with metal lids instead of plastic storage bags. They freeze, too. If you freeze liquids like soup, do not tighten the lid until after the liquid has frozen.

[@tankgojet2468]

Scary video, but after watching this, human nature of out of sight out of mind, we continue to live with plastics.

[@walnutclipzz]

Amazing work University of California. We need more videos like this from well educated professionals to the general public. So proud to live in California

[@cobrapond]

Also probably should not be using a drip coffee maker or a Keurig machine either nearly all the internals of those are plastic with hot water running through them.

[@Shreds1016]

The companies and factories should also learn this. Customers are always the ones who get blamed first rather than the factories.

[@DavidDLee]

I avoided microwaving plastic containers / trays for decades

[@user-_o]

I'm definitely full of micro plastics. Drinking bottled water everyday, plastic literally in everything else as well. My grandma microwaves with plastic 80% of the time as well she's literally doing that downstairs right now. Almost everything I eat probably has some micro plastic either when cooking/preparing comes in contact with plastic or the packaging is plastic. Then there's also the clothes I wear those got plastic as well. Lets see in 10 or 20 or whatever number years the effect of all these plastics are.

[@orion10x10]

Tap water instead of bottled!? What about PFAS and leaded pipes??? How are experts recommending anyone use Americas water infrastructure for drinking water when considering the prevalence of leaded pipes???

[@Arkar-pl9ku]

Or god forbid you live in anyplace that can’t be remotely considered a “1st world” country

[@J777F]

the music makes the plastic look kinda chill 😎

[@magnessskippton2509]

You mentioned in the video about the accumulation of microplastics in meat(fat). But the studies you cited in the notes, have nothing to do with microplastics ... how are they relevant?

[@huener]

In college I met someone in the dorms who would throw a plastic water bottle in the microwave to make tea or something. I frantically asked her what on earth she was doing and explained that breaks down the plastic and really helps it leach into the water, but she just kind of laughed and explained that her whole family has always used plastic in the microwave. Two months later she got confirmation from her doctor that her liver was absolutely riddled with tumors. For other reasons we stopped talking to each other, and I'm not 100% sure that the tumors were caused by the constant microwaving of plastic, but I'm also sure that it certainly didnt help, and that she didnt exhibit any other dangerous behaviors like excessive drinking. The two are now so linked in my brain that I will fully decant a microwave meal before cooking.

[@petertwining5729]

Thankyou a great video appreciate it, a definite change is in order moving forward. 😊

[@Bawbalicious]

About the read meat part... The link between red meat consumption and negative health outcomes has not been proven to be repeatable. I'm mostly vegetarian so trust me I wanted it to be true, but meta analysis confirms that if there is a link, it's very weak.

[@visualpun650]

How about using those plastic dome covers that reduce splatter? They don’t usually touch your food.

[@shaggydawg5419]

I have the same question. There are no glass cover. They're all plastic cover and I use one at home. I hope it is ok.

[@o_o8203]

Probably not. Liquid condenses on them and likely drips down onto your food. Just use a wet paper towel maybe?

[@shaggydawg5419]

@@RadioStaring we're talking about plastic covers to prevent food splatter. Not talking about lids.

[@whatrtheodds]

I just use a plate

[@Un1234l]

​@@whatrtheodds Smart. I'm an idiot

[@orpal]

I go to a refill shop here in Denver for shampoo, lotion etc. refill into recycled glass jugs.

[@orion10x10]

Okay I'll stop using a plastic spoon to stir 🥲 my water is still "filtered" through a plastic filter. Everything else I use is glass. I hate it here.

[@Gamepro5]

Even if the container says microwave safe??

[@rogeredrinn4592]

What about prepackaged meals that come in plastic trays?

[@cyncyn5014]

Cook your meals and freeze them in glass containers. Many glass containers are able to be used in the oven too. So cook your meal in the over, let it cool, and then throw it in the freezer.

[@Sentient_Blob]

Put the meals on a ceramic plate before microwaving

[@ArtyMars]

If they say on the packets it’s microwave safe plastic its FINE, some plastics are heat safe and stable under extreme temps

[@rogeredrinn4592]

@@ArtyMars The food items are intended to be microwaved with specific instructions for microwave settings. Thank you

[@Un1234l]

​@@cyncyn5014 Borosilicate glass are durable and safe whether going from hot to cold or vice versa

[@almondwine]

The microplastics in our body are mostly coming from car tires. The share we consume from individual small actions like microwaving will never get close to what we get from synthetic rubber tire wear.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

Are you saying I should stop licking tires?

[@almondwine]

@@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou I mean, I'm a nut-based wine and not a nutritionist... but I think I would advise against licking tires.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

@@almondwine Damn, they don't teach you this stuff in school. 😮‍💨

[@jjk9o9]

I drinking water from glass bottles and in general use only glass and ceramic for food.

[@MrPruske]

Plastic pipes in the house?

[@ryanesaki]

tap water may not make much of a difference now since most of the plumbing in the US has switched over to PEX which is just plastic tubing.

[@xponen]

If plastic doesn't contain phthalates, are the microplastics it produces still harmful?

[@TheWebstaff]

Maybe m, more research needed.

[@o_o8203]

Plastics are petrochemical cocktails. They are likely not safe in any way.

[@fig1]

Hey @xponen, we shared your question with the UCSF team and they said that evidence shows that many types of plastic, even those without phthalates, are harmful because they can do things like mimic hormones and cause harm to our reproductive, respiratory, and digestive systems. Plus plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene, which you’ll find in plastic water bottles, are harder to break down, and accumulate in our bodies as microplastics. Plastics do vary in how they break down under various conditions (heat, cold, time, sunlight, etc.), One of the reasons it’s a hard question to answer is that there are tens of thousands of chemicals that manufacturers choose from to formulate a given plastic. But only a couple dozen of these chemicals have been studied enough for us to understand how they break down and how they affect our health, and even fewer are subject to safety regulations. Here’s how Prof. Tracey Woodruff explains it: “The evidence base is not very big. I think once we have more evidence, we're just gonna see that there are way more health effects that we haven't identified yet … We see this time and time again, it's happened with perfluorinated chemicals and flame retardants and phthalates. You basically have to have a lot of people being affected and us being able to measure it before policy acts. And the ideal way is to act before we have, you know, basically people who have tragically been harmed by these and then we after the fact say, gosh, we really need to deal with this.”

[@adrees]

I heard from another video that if you boil water, it helps precipitate the plastics out of the water where they can fall down to the bottom, but then when you pour it, doesn’t it just go with the water? We need a better system.

[@TheWebstaff]

Water from pipe made of HDPE? Is HDPE better than plastic bottles?

[@matthewleconey9813]

The point is studies show lower concentrations of microplastics in tap water vs water bottles. The problem with plastic water bottles is that they are flexible and easily deformed which results in many more microplastics being released than relatively static piping systems for drinking water.

[@mightylotan]

Are there any good container alternatives that can go from freezer to microwave? Glass can crack

[@Jaiysful]

So 90% of vid isn't about the title, microwaving plastic was just 10% and at the end of the vid.

[@spud6213]

I really like that they prioritised giving us the take away of what we can do to help immediately in the title

[@huevos808]

So even if I microwave a bpa free plastic tupple ware container, I’ll get micro plastics?

[@CharlesGorby]

Not this video getting recommended to me while I'm eating food in a plastic container which I just microwaved...

[@Allaiya.]

What about those meal prep containers? I reheat those. Should I switch to glass with silicone lids?

[@uvaldopalomares8416]

They need to stop making and selling plastic.

[@TaigiTWeseDiplomat--Formosan]

People would die from that😢

[@WatchThis2025]

Um, everything you come in contact with has a plastic component to it

[@asandax6]

Look at any random direction where ever you are and the first product you'll see has plastic (99% chance)

[@michaelrains64295]

Or you could stop buying it if you don’t wish to use it and not be an authoritarian trying to rule others actions.

[@CaptainLian]

​@@michaelrains64295Kinda impossible if 99% of products somewhat utilize plastic in some form or another. Isn't that authoritarian on its own right?

[@kurticusmaximus]

I started cooking those “steam in bag” veggies in glass bowls. I don’t know why it took so long to make the connection that steaming in plastic is a bad idea.

[@joelface]

We need our governments to do more to be proactive in regulating plastics and informing the public of these issues. We need more companies to focus on switching over to plastic alternatives, even when doing so comes with some downsides. The public will be receptive to those changes when they're informed of the health implications of microplastics! We do NOT want to see what a couple more generations of plastic use will do to humans, let alone the rest of life on earth.

[@valevisa8429]

Good luck fighting plastic pollution if Trump comes back in power.

[@joelface]

@@valevisa8429 while I agree with your sentiment, I don’t live in the US. It’s definitely a global problem and every country needs to do what they can.

[@Un1234l]

​@@valevisa8429 Why? What's this actual policy and platform that will increase plastic pollution? No fear mongering BS please.

[@valevisa8429]

@@Un1234l Him and the republicans are fierce opponents of EPA.

[@vaelegoro7782]

There are brands that are doing their best to make them hard to reuse their plastics like some container lids that litterally are designed to only fit on their brand of container even though it looks the right size it will break if put on the wrong container or container/lids that are hard to actually clean especially by hand so that might help a little

[@FMFvideos]

Can I freeze food in plastic?

[@westbccoast]

Yes, heat breaks down plastic, this is old news. Also I think the older day plastics are different than the newer plastics. I would hope most people use glass containers to heat their food.

[@fig1]

Hey @FMFvideos we shared your question with the UCSF team and they wouldn’t recommend freezing food in plastic. Plastic containers can expand when frozen and release chemicals into the food. Opt for silicone or glass containers if you can!

[@FMFvideos]

@@fig1 But glass can break when frozen

[@fig1]

@@FMFvideos It can, so it's best to use freezer-safe glass which is usually tempered

[@weldonyoung1013]

Having trouble undrstanding your video - mircowaving plastics only got about 2 sentences near 4:00 . Sure micro-plastics can be found in all those places you state, but just how much plastic does microwaving a prepackage meal release? I stopped getting some convenient brands dishes due to plastic "films" being released into the food.

[@elementneon]

This did not really get into the fact that there are different types of plastics, all marked by their plastic type, that a person can lookup (if they do not recall off-hand) to see if that plastic type should be microwaved or not. Sure, ideally no plastic is microwaved, but some are terrible whereas others leach extremely little if not being heated to extreme levels. Also this knowledge of micro-plastics has been mainstream for decades, I grew up being told to prefer ceramic or paper dishes.

[@ArruVision]

Yup, just like ”wood” or ”metal” there are dozens of varieties with quite dissimilar properties. If we ever figure out the specific health risks beyond hand-waving about hormones, these differences will be crucial.

[@elementneon]

@@ArruVision Exactly, "plastic" is such a wide-spread term that covers a lot of different products. I would not be surprised if a decade from now we begin learning that the gum we used to chew as children is somehow bad for us, or xantham gum in general which is used to cook a number of food products. Even though we do not like to believe it, we are still rather young in our scientific knowledge of the human body, still have quite a bit of work left to understand the bodies of peoples around the world.

[@alexanderstone9463]

This exactly. I recall reading about an article that said that microplastics were found in the reproductive system dogs where their presence proportionally decreased the sperm count. However when you actually dug deeper into the article, it wasn’t all microplastics that did that, just PVC, and there was no information on whether it was caused by the PVC itself or the numerous additives that we shove in it (or used to).

[@HeyJD123]

This video doesn't mention microwave safe plastic, which is supposed to release less/no microplastics when heated

[@fig1]

Hey @HeyJD123, thanks for posting this comment. We ran it by the team at UCSF and this is what they had to say: Even if a material is labeled as “microwave safe,” it doesn’t mean the material won’t leach harmful chemicals into your food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required to evaluate the safety of microwaves and chemicals approved as food additives. But these safety evaluation processes are often inadequate. This means that plastic food packaging, including microwaveable trays, may contain harmful chemicals like di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)-a chemical known to be a male reproductive toxicant, which the FDA considers safe for use in food packaging and food contact materials. Essentially, when you can, remove your food from plastic trays and cook it in glass or ceramic instead.

[@HeyJD123]

@@fig1 Wow thanks for the thorough reply. I'll be sure to look into DEHP more too

[@lonefighterpilot]

I’m going to keep doing it

[@backwashh]

Okay so we’ve been doing that for years so how do we detox the microplastics out of our system

[@backwashh]

@@RadioStaring yay letsgive our microplastics to others

[@qedro]

@@backwashh 😅🤣

[@harperwelch5147]

We all know the source of plastics. Obviously. This is about the effect of them on our bodies. No glaring omissions here.

[@SadSmash547]

So am I just screwed if I use one of those plastic Brita filters? California tap water isn't exactly drinkable.

[@SonnyDarvish]

Are all plastic types going to degrade in a microwave? I only use plastic containers with microwave logo with the defrost mode, not blast it with 800 watts to steam.

[@xostler]

I wouldn’t trust packaging claims. Only after the 2nd -3rd independent tests are they reliable, but even then another factor come up.

[@fig1]

Hey, we shared your question with UCSF microplastics researcher Tracey Woodruff and she said that in general, all plastics shed particles when they're heated, so it's best not to microwave any food in plastic. Our understanding is that "microwave-safe" labels typically refer to whether a tub will melt or crack in the microwave. Tracey notes that there isn't any formal evaluation or monitoring done by the government around plastic-shedding, so you can't really know if that aspect has been tested.

[@SonnyDarvish]

@@fig1 thank you so much ☺️

[@TheWebstaff]

​@@fig1I recommend foil trays if your microwaving food and don't want to deal with micro plastics.

[@rasengan124]

@@TheWebstaffsurely you’re not talking about ALUMINUM FOIL in the microwave, right???

[@Lynk56]

How bad is using plastic products when dealing with hot/boiling water?

[@kmk1508]

humanity is doomed

[@NaN-se8ye]

So what to use to meal prep and freeze the food? Sometimes I prepare 12-16 containers of food and store it in the freezer. Container manufacturer claims that they are both freeze and microwave safe, so I do defrost and heat these meals in the microwave. Is there any other way to safely do the same?

[@loumoon7660]

I’m long gone. I’ve been doing this since I was born 😂

[@FetzAV-m6r]

Oh gosh we are doomed...

[@tsbrownie]

I'm counting on microplastics to protect me from the zombie virus.

[@aniruddhasharma5738]

Even microwave safe plastic containers?

[@aniruddhasharma5738]

@@RadioStaring okay. Fair point.

[@ruzzelladrian907]

Can we tell grocery stores not to put their packs of plastic bottles outside the store exposed to sunlight? That's how the plastic leeches into the water.

[@shuriKen469]

there's plenty of plastic containers that say microwave safe and reusable on them and beats buying stacks of tupperware. how deadly could that get?

[@ilikeplantsandvideogames8625]

Is it just me or am I the only one who doesn't microwave plastic because it feels like common sense but couldn't explain why?

[@varoonnone7159]

I used to use two plastic tupperwares so much in the microwave, they twisted with heat 🫤 Then I switched to glass tupperwares I just hope I flushed out the ingested past plastic

[@houstongigs]

Instructions are not clear... will keep microwaving maruchan cups since it's Styrofoam, so that's safe, right?

[@user-bi6eg1lo7v]

I didn't know polyester and nylon contained plastics--thanks pointing that out. Now, I know why my pillow coverings stink so bad throughout the years after multiple washings. Time to replace them healthier and environmentally friendly made ones.

[@cyncyn5014]

Also check out your shower curtains. That's a high danger area since the warm water will cause those particles to leech into the environment. It's going to be costly to replace the curtains, but worth it!

[@XIIchiron78]

"contain" more like "are" plastic. Nylon and polyester (PET) are just kinds of plastic. Microfleece fabrics are also generally made of those, or some type of acrylic. Actually probably so are your carpets, rugs, curtains, socks, blankets...

[@kais2345]

linen, linen/cotton blend or just straight cotton are great for bedding and in my opinion way more comfortable.

[@whatrtheodds]

Cotton bedding is the way to go :) ❤

[@jmckendry84]

Polyester and nylon don't contain plastic...they ARE plastic!

[@jer1776]

Looks more and more like microplastics are becoming the leaded paint of modern time

[@BadThrusher]

No one has ever thought of banning plastics?

[@matt9060]

Figured this out years ago. I only use glass containers for food

[@Iowa599]

I'll keep microwaving my TV dinners in the plastic trays because I'm trying to become plastic.

[@belugaflying]

Username checks

[@GrandTerr]

Is it your strategy for hiding from ai? Pretending to be plastic?

[@Iowa599]

@@GrandTerr no, silly, that's impossible! To live longer, possibly forever!

[@StarCrusher.]

It's fantastic

[@stevenmitchell1]

​@@Iowa599 Another Midwestern rocket scientist.

[@instantbeansoup]

That’s why I eat the whole tupperware. At least it’s macro plastic

[@Quantum-Bullet]

What about microwaveable plastic, not as bad?

[@anthonydarr2823]

And I just got done eating my hot food in a plastic container

[@vulcan4d]

I always loved drinking out of glass bottles, never cans or plastics. I never heated my food in plastics as my mom always warned me. Just stop buying food in plastics and you are fine. Studies also show chemicals from the plastics mix I to the contents, heated or not.

[@silvahawk]

The thing is, even the water filter in my fridge also has an outer plastic shell, so I'm not sure if it's that much better than bottled water

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

Buy a proper water filter.