@Typo-MAGAshiv

Back in the day I thought we should have a Mrs Archwinger appreciation day.

As the alchemists showed, unsolvable problems contributed majorly to the advance of human knowledge.

I like how @Kloi sums up the current state of affairs.

What's left out, though, is men's need for love. (Men need love but can't find it, because women are incapable of it, while women find love but can't feel content because they are gluttonous by nature).

Until 100 years ago, a man was supposed to enter marriage with a woman after he made her submitt. The taming of the shrew was a prerequisite.

Now, capitalism has found that it can squeeze more surplus out of the family if it constantly excites the shrew. There's no reprieve for the man. (Typo, you've read Esther Vilar's second book, The polygamous sex, right? It's a bit dated, no evopsych back then, but it's impressive how she is able to grasp the gist of the difference in male/female love using 70s sociological notions and a humanitarian perspective).

The sad fact is that a relationship that is not supposed to last "till death do us part" necessarily turns into an antagonism of who can extract the most out of it. And women, having a more integrated psychopathic mode, are more equipped for that.

Key Study (2019, McGill University) Researchers steeped a single plastic ("silken") teabag (made of nylon and PET) at 95°C (brewing temperature) and found it released:

~11.6 billion microplastics

~3.1 billion nanoplastics

per cup. These particles matched the bag's material composition (confirmed via FTIR and XPS spectroscopy). The levels were orders of magnitude higher than microplastics reported in other foods/drinks at the time.

Subsequent studies have found similar (or varying) high releases:

Polypropylene bags: Up to ~1.2 billion particles per milliliter (hundreds of billions per cup, depending on volume).

Nylon-6: ~8 million per milliliter.

Some cellulose/paper bags: Still ~135 million per milliliter (due to coatings, heat-sealing plastics, or fibers).

Even "bioplastic" (e.g., PLA) or composite bags can release significant amounts when steeped in hot water. Heat, agitation, and brewing time increase release.

Not All Teabags

Traditional paper teabags often contain small amounts of plastic (polypropylene) for heat-sealing edges or gluing strings/tags. These can still shed particles, though typically fewer than fully plastic "pyramid" or silken sachets.

Truly plastic-free options exist: Some brands use 100% plant fibers (e.g., abaca, wood pulp, cotton) with stitching or folding instead of heat-sealing/glue. These release far fewer (or negligible) microplastics from the bag itself. Loose-leaf tea with a metal/plastic-free infuser avoids the issue entirely.

Many companies (e.g., some UK brands like PG Tips or Yorkshire) have phased out plastics, but transparency varies. Always check for explicit "plastic-free" or "compostable without plastic" claims, and verify via the brand's site.

Health Context Microplastics and nanoplastics are now ubiquitous (in water, food, air, and human tissues), and tea can be a notable source for regular drinkers. Particles this small can potentially be absorbed by intestinal cells. However, the long-term human health risks of this specific exposure level are still under study—acute toxicity was observed in water fleas, but human data is limited.