• MindTraveller@lemmy.ca
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    5 months ago

    Do the prints slowly release microplastics into the water that kill the urchins?

    • ElongatedMuskrat@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      If they used PLA(made of cornstarch) which is common for fdm 3d printing then theres no threat of microplastics from what ive read. it is biodegradable, but very slowly.

      • MadBigote@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        I doubt it’s 100% cornsarch. I work in the plastics industry and there’s all sorts of travesties going on. We also have a line of cornstarch-made products, but they’re all scams when it comes to “recycling” and “being biodegradable”.

        There’s definitely plastic in it.

        • Aux@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          I don’t know what you are doing in the plastics industry, but it seems that you don’t understand what words “biodegradable” and “plastic” mean.

      • fleet@lemmy.ca
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        5 months ago

        From what I’ve read PLA is only biodegradable under very specific conditions. I looked into it and you have to send it to a recycling center designed for PLA and its expensive to do so. I would assume microplastics would still be present too. Even though it can be sourced from plant matter its still plastic.

        • Aux@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          PLA is digestible, it doesn’t pose a microplastic threat. If it gets into you, it’ll become a part of your poop.

    • Maalus@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      About the same level of concern that feeding your dog dry food is. If not even smaller.