We eat and drink plastic hundreds of time every day - it's in our water, our air and the dust in our house.
Plastic ingestion is a significant problem that we face today. Plastic has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, and it is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
While we are aware of the dangers of plastic pollution to the environment, we often overlook the dangers of consuming plastic. In this blog post, we will discuss why we should not eat or drink plastic and the toxic effects it can have on our health.
Plastics contain many toxic chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and others. These chemicals can leach into food and drinks from plastic containers and packaging. Plastic containers can also release chemicals into the environment, contaminating soil, air, and water.
One of the most well-known toxic chemicals found in plastic is BPA. BPA is a chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It can mimic estrogen and disrupt the endocrine system, which can lead to adverse effects on reproductive health, developmental disorders, and cancer (Rochester, 2013).
Another group of chemicals found in plastic is phthalates. Phthalates are used as plasticizers, which make plastics flexible and durable. Phthalates have been linked to hormonal disruption, obesity, asthma, and reproductive health problems (Koch & Calafat, 2009).
PFAS are a class of chemicals used in many consumer products, including food packaging, cookware, and textiles. These chemicals are persistent and bioaccumulative, meaning they accumulate in the environment and our bodies. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to various health problems, including cancer, immune system dysfunction, and developmental delays (Grandjean & Clapp, 2020).
Plastics also contain other chemicals that can be harmful to human health. For example, additives used in plastic production, such as flame retardants and stabilizers, have been linked to cancer, reproductive health problems, and developmental disorders (Buckley et al., 2017).
@taborplace Replying to @taborplace great video @kearaangela i’ll dig into another big study - but wanted to give you a shoutout first - Its 💯💯 guaranteed that if you use plastic to cook or hold food - you will end up eating & drinking it. We drink & eat tons of plastic everyday- although we ingest it other ways too, diet is by far our main source of ingestion. But there’s lots of cheap & long-lasting SAFE alternatives: - Glass - Borosilicate glass - Silicone - Cast-iron - Wood - Ceramic 🤢Endocrine disruptors cause: infertility in ourselves and our children, diabetes, obesity, neurological disorders, higher miscarriage rates, Auti$m disorders, suppressed immune response and and CANCER. 🫣 When you eat plastics it’s contaminating our environment even more because you excrete them and they go into the water supply. 🍔 Every time you purchase something NOT in plastic you are telling manufacturers that they need to give you more options- things packed in glass or cardboard. ☠️Individual plastic chemicals, such as bisphenol A and phthalates, have received much scientific and public attention. However, plastics are not composed of single compounds but contain a wide variety of chemicals: (1) more than 4000 chemicals have been associated with plastic packaging alone. (2) These include starting substances such as monomers, oligomers, and polymers as well as additives, including plasticizers, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, and pigments. In addition, plastics contain an unknown number of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), that is, impurities of the starting substances and additives as well as intermediates, and reaction and breakdown products formed during processing. (3) The total number of plastic chemicals, consisting of intentionally and non-intentionally added substances, is unknown as is their mixture toxicity. #plasticisbad #endocrinedisruptingchemicals #endocrinedisruptors #toxicchemicals #pfas #foreverchemicals #bpas #bisphenols #hormoneimbalance #hormonedisruptor #phthalates #lowtoxliving #foodpackaging #plasticpackaging ♬ original sound - Beatrice, CEO of Tabor Place
When we eat or drink from plastic containers, we increase our exposure to these toxic chemicals. Even when plastic is labeled as "BPA-free," it may still contain other harmful chemicals, such as phthalates or PFAS. Additionally, plastic particles can also be ingested through seafood and other sources, leading to health risks.
The health risks associated with plastic consumption are not limited to humans. Plastic pollution also harms animals, both on land and in the ocean. Wildlife can ingest plastic, leading to digestive problems, starvation, and death. Chemicals found in plastic can also disrupt the endocrine systems of animals, leading to reproductive health problems and developmental disorders (Rochester, 2013).
In conclusion, plastic pollution is a severe problem, and consuming plastic can have toxic effects on our health. Chemicals found in plastic, such as BPA, phthalates, and PFAS, have been linked to various health problems, including cancer, reproductive health problems, and developmental disorders. We must take steps to reduce our use of plastic and find alternatives that are safe for human and animal health.
References:
Buckley, J. P., Palmieri, M. A., Matuszewski, J. M., Herring, A. H., Baird, D. D., & Hartmann, K. E. (2017). Consumer product exposures associated with urinary phthalate levels in pregnant women. Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 27(3), 249-254.
Grandjean, P., & Clapp, R. (2020). Perfluorinated alkylated substances: emerging insights into health risks. New solutions: a journal of environmental