Health Repercussions From Plastics
Since the invention of the world’s first man-made plastic in 1862, plastics have come a long way from their humble beginnings and now serve endless uses in our everyday lives. They are in the cars we drive, computers we use, and walls of the homes we occupy. While plastic has proven to be useful in the creation of numerous products, there have also been many concerns raised in recent years regarding the impact they have on the environment and our health.
Almost every type of plastic created has been linked to adverse health effects in humans, or has been suspected to do so. Let's learn more about these health repercussions from plastics.
Plastics have now become virtually inescapable – humans will eat over 40 pounds of plastic in their lifetimes, and 1 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic pollution.
What are Plastics?
Plastics are a group of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made up of polymers that can be molded while soft and then hardened into solid objects. A polymer is a substance made of many repeating units.
Plastics take on many forms in today’s society. Some of the most common ones include:
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam).
These materials are used to make a wide variety of goods, ranging from water bottles, grocery bags, and food containers to plumbing pipes, furniture, and toys. There are many products that currently have to be made with plastic-containing parts, but there are also a lot of unnecessary single-use plastics made that are thrown away almost immediately. Single-use plastics have a greater negative impact on the planet than long-term use products containing plastic. Out of all the plastic made each year, around 50% of it is single-use.
Plastic’s Impact on the Environment
It’s no secret that plastic has been wreaking havoc on the environment. A lot of us have heard the stories of sea turtles dying from eating plastic bags that look like jellyfish, and getting things like 6 pack plastic rings trapped around their bodies. Marine wildlife suffers a lot from plastic pollution because plastic is dumped into the oceans at a rate of 10 million tons/year, which is equivalent to more than 1 full garbage truckload/minute. Researchers have estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic than there are fish in the ocean.
Almost all marine birds have eaten plastic, which causes them to die in most cases. Fish are also becoming contaminated with plastic, which hurts them and also means less quality food for the other wildlife and humans that consume them. Chlorinated plastics can release dangerous chemicals into our soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources. This can cause many negative effects on the species that consume that water.
Health Repercussions From Plastics
Microplastics within our body is a bad thing, because it can damage our cells, cause allergic reactions, lung irritation, dizziness, organ damage, and more. Recently, microplastics have been discovered for the first time in human blood.
If we must use plastic water bottles, it is advisable to keep them out of the sun and extreme heat. This is because bisphenol A (BPA) can be leached into the water under those conditions. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor. An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that interferes with the endocrine system which can cause health problems, including a higher risk of certain cancers, diabetes, birth defects, and reduced fertility. BPA is not only found in water bottles, but in many other household items like canned foods, foods packaged in plastic-lined cardboard boxes, wine produced in vats lined with epoxy resin, and more.
Since plastic exists in so many products we use on a daily basis, this is very concerning and a reason why experts have recommended switching to healthier alternatives.
Alternatives for Common Plastic Items
While large manufacturing companies create the most waste, we as consumers can decide what products we want to buy. Because of consumer demand and environmental advocates, more companies are opting for environmentally friendly alternatives to common plastic items, or making their products easier to be recycled.
Some easy ways to reduce single-use plastics could include some of these swaps:
Cloth grocery bags instead of plastic ones
Glass or stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic bottles
Purchasing food in bulk and produce at a farmer’s market to reduce plastic packaging
Buying deli and bakery items wrapped in paper instead of plastic
Bringing glass containers with you to take restaurant leftovers home
Using a reusable silicone or metal straw (or no straw at all)
Candles, incense, or oils for home fragrance instead of air fresheners/plastic plug-ins
Buying soaps, cleaners, and toiletries in glass or paper packaging
Waxy paper, glass containers, or reusable silicone bags to store food
Matches instead of plastic lighters
Packaging accounts for over 40% of total plastic usage in the end-use market segment, so basically anything you frequently buy/use that can be purchased in non-plastic/reusable packaging is a great alternative to single-use plastic, and can make a huge difference!
In Conclusion…
Plastics are a concern because of their wide-reaching effects on the environment and on our health. While they are necessary in many cases and weaved into almost every aspect of our daily lives, there are some positive changes that can be made by large corporations in order to keep humans, the environment, and wildlife safe. While we as consumers can advocate and lobby for change within these companies, we can also take personal action by avoiding unnecessary plastic products and buying alternatives to plastic. These are great ways to show consumer demand for more environmentally and health-friendly options.