# Inhaling microplastics in cars **URL:** \ **Category:** Safety\ **Created:** [August 11, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436 "2025-08-11T22:31:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/1 "2025-08-11T22:31:15Z")
> ‘The median concentration of total suspended indoor MPs for the residential environment was 528 MPs/m3 and 2,238 MPs/m3 in the car cabin environment. The predominant polymer type in the residential environment was polyethylene (PE), and polyamide in the car cabin environment.’ > ‘people in developed nations spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, including 5% in cars’ > **[Human exposure to PM10 microplastics in indoor air](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0328011)** > > The ubiquitous presence of airborne microplastics (MPs) in different indoor environments prompts serious concerns about the degree to which we inhale these particles and their potential impact on human health. Previous studies have mostly targeted MP... ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 11:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/2 "2025-08-12T11:32:45Z")
People are already drinking it. Microplastics are everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 11:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/3 "2025-08-12T11:36:35Z")
Fascinating study. For years I have always wondered: If and whenever you smelled something - anything: microplastics, exhaust fumes, curry spice, cigarette smoke, flatulence, cakes in a bakery, a public restroom with several toilets used but left unflushed, cotton candy at a fair, etc - were you also inhaling (some of) it? ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/4 "2025-08-12T12:47:29Z")
I imagine level rises much higher when ac is set to recirc mode. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/5 "2025-08-12T13:27:40Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > were you also inhaling (some of) it? Naturally. You can’t smell it without filling your nasal passages with it. And our sense of smell isn’t all that good compared to other animals. Imagine if it was… so by the time you smell it, lots of particles have already invaded your body without you knowing it… ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/6 "2025-08-12T14:10:33Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > were you also inhaling (some of) it? As @TwinTurbo wrote, of course. Close the lid before you flush the toilet. That will keep the aerosol created by flush turbulence inside the bowl. If you are in a public place without a seat, get out ASAP before flushing. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/7 "2025-08-12T14:53:54Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > If you are in a public place without a seat, get out ASAP before flushing. So use the toilet and don’t flush it?? NO thanks, I will flush and hold my breath or something, using the bathroom and not flushing should be a fine involved… If you are that scared, stay home… ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/8 "2025-08-12T15:03:57Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > get out ASAP before flushing Light fuse and get away 😄 ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/9 "2025-08-12T15:08:05Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > Light fuse and get away 😄 That’s what Keith Moon would have done! ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/10 "2025-08-12T19:39:47Z")
I meant flush and run. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/11 "2025-08-12T19:43:56Z")
Well, you did say, in all fairness, _ **get out ASAP before flushing** _… lol ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/12 "2025-08-12T20:10:38Z")
And in all fairness you can’t spell worth a hoot….lol ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/13 "2025-08-12T21:11:18Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > And in all fairness you can’t spell worth a hoot….lol **But I own it** and have said many many many times I can not spell and even joked about it, and have even said when I am wrong about something, more than I can say for most on here… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/14 "2025-08-12T21:23:20Z")
Gotta wonder how anyone survived past 1950. I guess I know what happened to me. In 1970, first day in the barracks, all the stools had been plugged up by the former jokers. I was the only one that cleared them all and got them working. Must have inhaled some bad stuff. Nobody even said thank you. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/15 "2025-08-12T22:28:36Z")
> [@bing](#): > > In 1970, first day in the barracks, Thanks for bravely serving! > [@bing](#): > > all the stools had been plugged up by the former jokers. I was the only one that cleared them all and got them working. Y’know, at my most recent job, there were times when I felt like I’d rather deal with porcelain heads than with the human variety…. 😂 At least toilets don’t give me attitude, and stay fixed for a long time until stupid is done to them. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/16 "2025-08-13T13:23:00Z")
When archaeologists dig us up 2000 years from now they will find a plastic outline of a corpse, no linen wrapped mummies for our generation. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/17 "2025-08-13T14:10:57Z")
Some friends and I used to joke that in the distant future, the plastics we discarded will be viewed as a source of stored energy, similar to how we view oil today. I stumbled on a plastic mine, I’m rich beyond my wildest dreams of avarice!! 😄 ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/18 "2025-08-13T16:09:36Z")
I hope they just find dust where I am at. At work we were taking business continuation planning seriously and would make sure records etc were all backed up. Then someone said what good is having all this historical information if we don’t have the old computer software to read it? Duh. At a time when software was changing all the time. I know I still have documents on floppy disc, hard disk, etc. that no way would be able to read. If the IRS ever came calling for 20 years ago, I’d be in a world of hurt. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/19 "2025-08-13T16:17:56Z")
Kudos to you guys that can remember these finer details from cars owned back in the 60s or 70s. I just know I had a right outside mirror restriction since I was 17 so I had to add one to a lot of cars I owned until they became more or less standard equipment. Nothing really fancy on my cars, the stock chrome plated mirror you could mount on either side… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436/20 "2025-08-13T17:16:46Z")
I absolutely can’t remember if my 59 Pontiac had duals or not or even my 68 dart. I know for my 74 olds I bought the temp fender mounted mirrors to pull the camper. Such is old age. Clear on some decades, and fuzzy on others. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/inhaling-microplastics-in-cars/201436.md?page=2)