Microplastics / Chloronitramide

[AdjunctBrewer]

Does anyone know of any studies on microplastics in homebrew when using plastics in the process?

Does anyone know of any studies on chloronitramide in homebrew made with water treated with chloramines and broken down with sulfites?

 

[AdjunctBrewer]

For chloronitramide, it’s a byproduct of chloramines when treated with sulfites. Many homebrewers use carbon filters or campden tablets to remove chloramines from water, which can help reduce risks.

Your statements are self contradicting as Campden tablets are sulfites.

Sulfites, heat, UV and ascorbic acid (among others) all breakdown chloramines. Do all of these methods introduce chloronitramides? Is there a method of chloramine breakdown that does not introduce chloronitramides?

 

[MaxStout]

JanieSchramm's statements are likely AI-generated.

 

[fluketamer]

yes

 

[Ninoid]

Personally, I think that the story about microplastics is a bit overblown. A person takes in all sorts of things throughout their life, whether through air, drink, food, or even touch. Microplastics are just one of those things. In the past, people were poisoned by lead from gasoline, aluminum from perfume, today by microplastics, tomorrow by who knows what. Otherwise, if you manage to protect yourself from everything, you will be attacked by allergies and autoimmune diseases because the body is designed to fight and adapt.

 

[Ninoid]

As far as I've studied the topic of microplastics, the problem arises if the plastic is exposed to temperatures higher than 80 degrees Celsius.

 

[Skeeter686]

As far as I've studied the topic of microplastics, the problem arises if the plastic is exposed to temperatures higher than 80 degrees Celsius.

I certainly don't claim to be an expert, but I believe that microplastics can also become an issue due to freezing, UV exposure, or other factors that cause the plastic to degrade.

Because the original question is related to brewing, you may be correct with the 80°C for plastic equipment engineered for brewing. However, I expect that a lot of people also use equipment that was not engineered for beer / brewing. E.g., transporting beer in reused soft drink bottles or whatnot.

 

[mashdar]

I didn't worry much about micro/nano plastics until I read this
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11100893/
0.3% (w/w) average frontal cortex plastic content is a bit disturbing.

edit: To elaborate, when you figure ~75% is water, that makes tiny plastic shards >1% of the dry mass of your thinking bits.

 

[sibelman]

a bit disturbing

We've seen green text indicating sarcasm. What color should indicate holy-s*** ironic understatement?

 

[Ninoid]

There was no problem with plastic until bottled water was sold.

 

[rlrohan]

I never gave the MNP (micro/nano plastics) issue much thought, other than we as people need to stop using/ discarding so much plastic. But reading just a little bit more about MNPs it seems the problem has already gone too far to reverse. The findings of MNPs in practically all of our food and even rain water and being carried by the air just shows we have been living with this for a long time and will be forever. Don’t know if the about we would ingest from home brew equipment would even mater in the big picture.

 

[dmtaylor]

It’s already too late. I’m afraid we’re all doomed to die.

 

[Broothru]

“ ….even rain water and being carried by the air shows….”

As a former pilot, I’m quite concerned that air shows are contributing to MNPs entering the ecosystem.

 

[rlrohan]

As a former pilot, I’m quite concerned that air shows are contributing to MNPs entering the ecosystem.

Oops. Did a bit of editing. Can’t always type what I’m thinking.