Astro Hacker News - Common cleaning sponge found to release trillions of microplastic fibers

smalltorch |next [-]

>Once rinsed down the drain, these fibers can enter wastewater systems. From there, they may pass through treatment plants and end up in rivers, lakes, or oceans.

I don't think anyone is using these types of sponges for the dishes. If you think of it for what it is (fine sandpaper) the sponge isn't making it very far and I don't think there is much of a risk at all.

Suppafly |root |parent |next [-]

I've seen people replace regular sponge with them for basically all of their cleaning needs. I constantly tell people, they work by being abrasive, so you're often slowly ruining whatever you're cleaning with them.

BugsJustFindMe |root |parent |next |previous [-]

You use them with water, which then gets dumped. Dishes aren't relevant.

genxy |root |parent [-]

But they confidently dismissed the research and said don't worry.

|root |parent |next |previous [-]

joinHNtheysaid |root |parent |previous [-]

Eh most treatmant plants fish that out and sell sewage sludge to farmers. That sponge is in next years food.

swagasaurus-rex |next |previous [-]

So are the porous yellow with the rough green back sponges better?

hugo1789 |root |parent [-]

Yes they are. You can easily see it as the sponge keeps its form, whereas the melamine one shrinks on every use.

aaron695 |previous [-]

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