this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2023
40 points (75.6% liked)
Technology
57435 readers
3274 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related content.
- Be excellent to each another!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
Approved Bots
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Microwave ovens do not generate ultraviolet light. They operate in the, well, microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
I'm not saying microwaving plastic poses no risks, but this mistake makes me doubt the veracity of some of the more sensationalist claims in the article.
Wired articles are generally about interesting topics but take a sensationalist click-bait approach. I usually just skim the headline and look up the info somewhere more reputable if it sounds important.
For example, here's some info from the USDA:
So...
Don't microwave plastics that were not designed to be microwaved.
Ground breaking.
In a past study, I saw that even microwave-safe plastics leak harmful chemicals into the food
Perhaps, but that's not what this research has concluded.
Makes sense, hydrocarbons and heat generally means cancer. They like to make all kinds of things that your body doesn't like.
damn immigrants taking our food
THEY TOOK JER FOOD!
So it's only a problem if you melt your bowl. Sounds like a nothing
So in theory so long as you don’t microwave too long you should be fine? I’ve never left a plastic container in long enough for it to warp or melt
Not really, even if it gets hot but doesn't warp it can still release harmful chemicals. I don't think it's as hard of a rule as not microwaving metal but it should definitely be minimized.
It also says they microwaved the baby food in its plastic container for 3 minutes on High before checking to see the amount of microplastics in the results.
Not sure about you guys, but I've had some experience with baby food in the last decade and can confirm that is FUCKING INSANE!
Baby food is for... well, babies. And therefore is in baby portions. Like an ounce or two of easily digestible liquids, like liquified peas. Putting a couple ounces of liquid peas in the microwave for 3 minutes on High is not going to end well, no matter what type of container you're using.
"We need a sensationalist headline to rile people up" "Ok, I'll get ChatGPT to whip up some bullshit about microwaving plastic and how it fucks up all the food!" "Awesome"
"Hey boss, we got called out by people who have common sense" "Oh well, they're not our target audience anyway, our targeted demographic will forget all about this when you post the next article, they have the memory of goldfish, fuck em"
angry Brits have entered the chat
Maybe those angry Brits could invent a kettle that heats water up with 120V faster than a microwave can if they've got a problem with the method of water heating.
The linked study itself doesn’t make that claim either although I didn’t pay to see the detailed version.
So xrays basically? 😏