"Here’s to the Polypropylene Makers" by jefftk
Published: February 27, 2026
Duration: 4:12
Six years ago, as covid-19 was rapidly spreading through the US, mysister was working as a medical resident. One day she was handed anN95 and told to "guard it with her life", because there weren'tany more coming.
N95s are made from meltblown polypropylene, produced from plasticpellets manufactured in a small number of chemical plants. Buildingmore would take too long: we needed these plants producing allthe pellets they could.
Braskem America operated plants in Marcus Hook PA and Neal WV. Ifthere were infections on-site, the whole operation would need to shutdown, and the factories that turned...
N95s are made from meltblown polypropylene, produced from plasticpellets manufactured in a small number of chemical plants. Buildingmore would take too long: we needed these plants producing allthe pellets they could.
Braskem America operated plants in Marcus Hook PA and Neal WV. Ifthere were infections on-site, the whole operation would need to shutdown, and the factories that turned...