In a study published in June in Environmental Science & Technology, Hussain and his colleagues reported that, when microwaved, these containers released millions of bits of plastic, called microplastics, and even tinier nanoplastics.
[…]
Once they’ve snuck past the body’s defense systems, “the chemicals used in plastics hack hormones,” says Leonardo Trasand, a professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the director of the Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards. Hormones are signaling molecules underlying basically everything the body does, so these chemicals, called endocrine disruptors, have the potential to mess with everything from metabolismto sexual development and fertility.
[…]
Judith Enck, a former EPA regional administrator and the president of Beyond Plastics, a policy and advocacy group against plastic pollution, stopped microwaving plastic 30 years ago. She thinks that you should, too: “My goodness, especially if you have kids or if you’re pregnant, do not put plastic in the microwave.”
“It’s a pain in the neck,” she acknowledges, but “even this one study should be a wake-up call—not just to new parents but to the FDA. They need to be far more proactive.” Transand agrees: “The FDA is glacially behind.”
[…]
“I don’t believe that there are microwave-safe plastics.” Trasand and Enck agree that while independent studies should continue testing how much plastic is being released from food packaging, there is already enough evidence to show that “microwave-safe plastic” isn’t really safe. “I think the FDA needs to tell companies that they can no longer say any plastic is microwavable,” says Enck.
I’m sorry :(
Oh you rascal, you know we can’t stay mad at you.
Chef Mike!
Microwaving plastic releases microplastics and nanoplastics that some researchers consider harmful.
Saved you a click.
How in the fuck does microwaving produce UV radiation?
Isn’t all radiation– from colours we can see all the way to microwave and nuclear – just the frequency of wavelengths? Like radio is light waves? So Uv light being a longer wavelength, when it passes through different materials, say plastics, it can be slowed down and distorted, bringing it into the spectrum of UV light?
I don’t know, I’m not a physicist, but that would be my guess. I’d love for someone with knowledge to educate me here.
I do know a thing or two since i studied in this subject (no not microwavology), thats why that caught my eye.
Im pretty sure they meant IR radiation.
The problem here is that in order to change a microwave to UV, you need to add energy to it. Generally, diffraction and distortion of light waves don’t change what part of the spectrum they’re on - that’s why water doesn’t change the color of light passing through it. The wavelength changes, but critically, the frequency doesn’t, and frequency is really what defines the energy of a given photon, which in turn defines the part of the spectrum it’s on. So if the microwave is turning into UV somehow, that means it has to be stealing energy from the container or food, which would make the food colder.
I’d expect the only UV rays that would be emitted within a properly functioning microwave would be from the appliance light bulb inside of it if it’s still an incandescent design or from the food/container itself if it gets sufficiently hot. I’m not sure of any mechanism in the magnetron that would make UV in any substantial amounts.
Are containers made of silicone safe?
This was my first question as well
I wonder about hot food in plastic containers? I try to avoid but some places my family loves puts piping hot food in plastic.
It’s a combination of heat, UV irradiation, and hydrolysis that happens within a microwave and affects said plastic containers.
However the article refers towards polypropylene as the main cause of concern, due to its amorphous nature, it tends to break into microplastics and nanoplastics.
The earlier tends to be discarded by our kidneys (at a cost), the latter can get through membranes due its size and cause different types of trouble.
I really would not do that, just given what I have read (that the plastic breaks down when heated, which is what the food would do).
I wouldn’t do it at home. I’m wondering about restaurants that do this. Idk but I’m sure it isn’t good.
I have a set of nesting glass containers like this that only cost like $40 for the whole set. You can probably find similar sets for cheaper; that was the first google result I found.
Just dump the contents from your plastic container into one of those and voilà – no more nanoplastics. :)
e: oh, it just occurred to me you weren’t talking about reheating in their packaging, but how it’s served. I suppose if it were me and I knew them well, I might try to gently mention to them that their packaging isn’t great, and maybe suggest they look into a paper-based option instead. More likely I’d puss out and never say anything, because I’m a social coward. Best of luck to you, and I’d say never reheat in the package they give you.
I’m guessing it has less to do with heat (unless you’re bringing it close to the melting point) and more to with microwaves breaking down plastics at the microscopic level.
That makes sense. I use glass Tupperware at home and always cringe when my husband brings home the plastic ware from a restaurant piping hot.
From the article: “In general, they found that hotter storage temperatures cause more plastic particles to leak into food. For example, one polypropylene container released over 400,000 more microplastics per square centimeter after being left in a hot room than after being stored in a refrigerator (which still caused nearly 50,000 microplastics and 11.5 million nanoplastics per square centimeter to shed into the stored fluid). “I got terrified seeing the amount of microplastics under the microscope,” Hussain says.”
More wired clickbait bs. It boils down to “don’t microwave plastics that aren’t microwave safe” What a fucking revelation
I don’t believe that there are microwave-safe plastics
That’s literally NOT what it’s saying? They literally are saying, verbatim, that they don’t think ANY plastic we know of is microwave safe. Are you dumb or intentionally trying to mislead people?
Yes.
It boils down to “don’t microwave plastics that aren’t microwave safe” What a fucking revelation
The main plastic the article calls into question is polypropylene. I’ve got bad news for you. Its used frequently in microwavable food products and sold as “microwave safe”. Polypropylene is recycle symbol #5.
Here’s a perfect example. That cup of rice is #5 plastic, polypropylene. You can see the package says right on it “Microwave for one minute”. This isn’t the only product I’ve seen with a polypropylene container. [Here’s another one for BBQ pulled pork][https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e3feab61-a642-4e10-b989-886ca0f15460_2.297431bc8c2879925c1f462a195db2ad.jpeg] you can even see on the package itself in the bottom right hand corner at the recycling symbol it says its polypropylene. And if you look at the preparation instructions it gives microwave directions.
I can’t speak to the science in the article, but it certainly is talking about a plastic that consumers are regularly told is safe to microwave.
@thorbot definitely didn’t read the article
I hate Wired as much as the next Zippie, but they’re just passing on the info here. And what plastics are microwave safe?
Boland disagrees: “I don’t believe that there are microwave-safe plastics.” Trasand and Enck agree that while independent studies should continue testing how much plastic is being released from food packaging, there is already enough evidence to show that “microwave-safe plastic” isn’t really safe. “I think the FDA needs to tell companies that they can no longer say any plastic is microwavable,” says Enck.
That’s right, Bubba. Doughnut. Goose-egg. Nada
Here’s the academic study published this year.
If you don’t have academic credentials to log in (and I suspect you don’t), LPT you can email or tweet the study’s authors and they’ll happily send you access for free.
Just to add more emphasis, they’ll happily send it because they often just as (if not significantly more) pissed at the systems in place to keep academic papers out of public circulation so corporations can pocket the money.
Y’all are microwaving plastic??
There are tons of foods packaged in plastic that are (according to the directions) meant to be microwaved, never mind people heating up leftovers in takeout containers or whatever. It’s super common. And even if you never do it yourself, I can almost guarantee that your favourite restaurant does so you’re still consuming foods microwaved in plastic one way or another.
Shit, I just had steam in bag brussel sprouts the other day.
while i am a bit sceptic of the value of this article, no i dont. I have never in my life put plastic in the microwave and never in my life did i think that this would be a good idea. Not because of conviction or anything but because i developed a fight and flight reaction towards heating plastic.
I’m literally doing it as we speak. :(
e: I’ve been buying Steamables because I’m disabled and can’t easily cook. For those who don’t know, it’s basically a meal in a plastic bag, that you microwave for six minutes, and apparently the literal worst thing you can do.
Now I think of it, as a disabled and poor person, I’m struggling to think of a meal I can make that isn’t riddled with plastics. I guess we’re doomed.
Do you have friends who could bring you meals? I always make too much, and would happily do this
No, but honestly at 54, I’m probably 87% microplastics at this point anyhow lol.
Huel or Soylent isn’t too expensive (if you get the powder) and I’d say it tastes reasonable. Huel especially has some great ingredients in it.
Yes. People. Stahp.
So, microwave on paper plates. Got it.
Glass is better. It’s known to be more molecularly stable in the microwave.
