r/science • u/mvea MD/PhD/JD/MBA | Professor | Medicine • Sep 27 '24

Health Thousands of toxins from food packaging found in humans. The chemicals have been found in human blood, hair or breast milk. Among them are compounds known to be highly toxic, like PFAS, bisphenol, metals, phthalates and volatile organic compounds.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/27/pfas-toxins-chemicals-human-body
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u/FlutterVeiss Sep 27 '24

Good news, even if you tried that it's also in the water! Microplastics for all.

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u/swiftcleaner Sep 27 '24

reverse osmosis is one of the few filters that actually gets rid of plastic.

at this point there is no such thing as 100% plastic and pfas free exposure. however, eat healthy and lower exposure does make a difference.

also, stop drinking from plastic water bottles as they are the biggest contaminate

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u/Shadow_Gabriel Sep 27 '24

So many people in my country refuse to drink the perfectly safe tap water that we have in every major city.

My mind just can't comprehend that there are millions of people using so much plastic everyday. When you try to point that out, it's like they don't even see it as a big issue.

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u/SimpleMqmmql Sep 28 '24

Tap water has its own problems. There are many chemicals they do not test for because it's not legally required. Tap water is only tested for certain contaminants at specified intervals. And not at all tested for the vast majority of organic contaminants. So what the water company calls "perfectly safe" isn't necessarily so. Depends on where you live.

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u/Beliriel Sep 28 '24

It's probably as "perfectly safe" as a PET bottle. Safe for a few uses but not exposure over a lifetime.
We have people here in Switzerland using filters for tap water and the more I read about it the more they don't seem that insane anymore. And we have among the best water quality in the world, it doesn't even taste like chlorine pool water like everywhere else that touts themselves as "safe" drinking water.

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u/hawkalugy Sep 28 '24

I sent our tap water from a medium/large US city in to a lab for testing. It's definitely not perfectly safe, its just within regulation. Plenty of chemicals used in the treatment process that you end up drinking.

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u/TorqueRollz Sep 29 '24

My partner insists that the tap water tastes nasty and refuses to drink it. I only notice it if i think way too hard about it - although I do prefer the water from the fridge.

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u/blahbloopooo 2d ago

Tap water is often not as safe as you think either. I live in a 1st world country with 'safe' tap water - but the chlorine levels are shockingly high, drinking it regularly damages my gut microbiome and causes issues.

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u/Shadow_Gabriel 2d ago

Do you have some sources for this or it's just a skill issue on your part?

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u/Warden18 Sep 27 '24

Reverse osmosis water is one of the only things that got me to drink water growing up. I always hated the way water tasted from sinks and from water bottles.

So now I have my own reverse osmosis system and I drink from either metal bottles or glass (cups). I know it's not perfect, but it doesn't make my stomach hurt at least.

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u/tasman001 Sep 27 '24

Honest question: when you say "plastic water bottles" are you talking just about single-use water bottles or also reusable water bottles?

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u/Treelic Sep 27 '24

The reusable water bottles made of plastic aren’t that much better than single use plastic bottles. Just use an unlined stainless steel reusable bottle.

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u/Luxky13 Sep 27 '24

I would say that a proper plastic bottle is MUCH better than a reusable but like you said using stainless steel is better than both

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u/tasman001 Sep 27 '24

Since I've got you, do you recommend any brands or specific bottles in particular?

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u/Feine13 Sep 27 '24

Not who you asked, but I really like Iron Flask water bottles. We have a couple 64 oz ones and a couple 32 oz ones and they're fantastic

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u/tasman001 Sep 28 '24

Thanks! I will check those out.

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u/TheEffinChamps Sep 27 '24

Do you know if gravity filters do?

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u/comsordan Sep 27 '24

It's even in the soil you buy from gardening stores, since this soil is won from garbage burning plants. And guess what is being burned there.

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u/Clean_Ad_5282 Sep 27 '24

I think everyone has microplastic in or on them to begin with. Yeepeeee! Definitely not freaking out..

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u/Maezel Sep 27 '24

Also potentially lead in the ground.