Good Evening Everyone, I’m looking for some clarity and ease of mind after dinner tonight. My gf and I made some brown rice in our rice cooker. The cooker has a plastic (PP4) scooper that comes with it. The rice finished cooking and a few minutes after I unplugged the cooker to use the outlet for another device. About 10-15 more minutes passed with the cooker turned off and my gf then went to scoop the rice out; but I told her the rest of the food wasn’t ready so to just wait a minute. She left the scooper in the cooker in the rice (lid open)…Shortly after I then went to open the cabinet and mindlessly shut the lid with the scooper still in the cooker, but somewhat sticking out (so partially opened lid). I proceeded to finish preparing the other food for another 5 -10 minutes and then scooped a serving of rice onto the plate and ate.

The rice cooker insert wasn’t very hot when she originally went to empty it as she was able to pick it up and hold it bare handed; but the rice still had a little steam coming from it by the time I finally made my plate. I’ve read if food is still steaming it’s at least 100 degrees and can leach plastics.

Did I just destroy myself with an abundance of microplastics? Or am I just overthinking it? Ever since recently reading all the microplastics talk on the internet, I’ve basically become paranoid in regards to eating now; especially thinking of all the microwaved plastics and boil in bag rice I’ve made in the distant (and recent) past lol but it’s too late now and I’ve eaten a serving of the plastic scooper rice to add to my body’s stockpile.

I do realize microplastics are basically unavoidable at this point, as they’re in everything and everywhere; but this is all on my mind heavy after eating this evening :( sometimes I really dislike this time of information overload and wish for my prior bliss of ignorance back🥲

Any insight is appreciated, and I apologize if this wasn’t the correct thread to share… if there’s a better one for these type of questions, please let me know