Plastic: Throwing Away Life

More Plastic Than Fish?

According to earthday.org, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. You’ve probably seen the images of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, or seen the videos. It’s a telltale sign that as we enjoy the convenience of throw away plastic items; the convenience comes at a price.

Can We Be Eating Plastic?

Many scientists show photographs and share their evidence that many of our fish and sea animals have nanoparticles of plastic in their body tissues, which we may be absorbing when we eat them.

Plastics negatively impact our environment, and they negatively affect our health. Our hormones especially are disrupted by various compounds in plastics. 

Facts that Show the Dangers of Plastic

1. A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey produced by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that BPA was found in 93% of urine samples taken from people above the age of six.
2. Breast milk of most women in the developed world contains dozens of compounds including BPA that have been linked to negative health effects.
3. Growing literature links many Phthalates, which are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break, with a variety of adverse outcomes including weight gain and insulin resistance, decreased levels of sex hormones, and other consequences for the human reproductive system both for females and males.

To see the entire list of 10 facts, go to earthday.org. You can also see the cited sources for this information.

What Plastic is Made From

Plastics are made from oil, which is carbon-rich. There are large molecules that make up plastics called polymers, which is why so many plastics start with the prefix “poly.” There are hazards involved in the manufacturing of plastics, the human use of plastics, and even in recycling plastics. It’s an all-around harmful experience for ourselves and our environment. If it’s bad for the environment, then it’s bad for us.

Xenoestrogens

One of the most troublesome things with plastic is the disruption that it brings to our hormones and overall health. Xenoestrogens are a sub-category of endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen. Becoming dominant in estrogen as a woman is a risk factor for female cancers, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, ovarian cysts, irregular periods, and bothersome PMS symptoms. For men, xenoestrogens cause an imbalance of male and female hormones, which causes them to lose some of their “manly traits.”

Reducing Plastics and Protecting Our Health

I don’t share this information to create paranoia, but to create awareness. We are living in a society where plastic is used in virtually everything. There are times when we don’t have much of a choice, but when we do have a choice, it’s best to avoid it. Here are some of the mainstay practices I implement in my own life to reduce plastic use and protect my family and my own health:

1. Store food in glass containers as much as possible. This is especially true for leftovers. Do not put hot food in plastic containers! There is no such thing as microwave or heat safe with plastic. Also, be sure to remove plastic lids that come with glass containers when re-heating. If you must use a microwave, use silicon covers that can be used for both storage and re-heating. There’s also glass covers you can buy that will last you a long time.
2. Avoid using plastic wrap or plastic bags as much as possible. There are great alternatives that save your money, our environment, and your health. Here are some reusable bags similar to those that I use in my son’s lunch. I’ve had my reusable bags for 10 years.
3. In place of plastic wrap, check out this reusable food wrap made from beeswax and jojoba oil.
4. Instead of buying plastic bottles of water, get a good water filter and use glass or stainless steel bottles.
5. Use reusable shopping bags instead of getting plastic bags at the grocery store or wherever you are shopping. I have received many cloth bags over the years that I use for shopping, but here’s some inexpensive ones you can get!

I first realized the negative impact of plastic on the environment when I was graduating college in 2006. From then on, I’ve become more aware of how we cannot separate ourselves from what happens in the environment. Our surroundings are not “out there” but inside each of us. We are directly connected to the conditions in our waters, soil, and animal chain. Please don’t hesitate to use the contact form below to reach out to me!