Warning: A Clear and Plastic Danger
Plastics are everywhere… Not only do plastics become a threat to our natural environment, but to our very bodies as well. The sad part is, we may never have any cause for an alarm since these have evolved into one of our modern day basic essentials.
What you don’t know cannot harm you and perhaps, this is true with plastics. They are just into every aspect of your life: from soft vinyl toys, baby’s products, perfume, makeup, car dashboard, your favorite drinking bottle, nail polish, toothbrush, adhesives, PVC flooring, pesticides, building materials, medical tubing, IV bags, garden hoses, paints, and all those plastic and rubber products we use and wear. Can you imagine a life without them?
Perhaps, we have been so used to these products that we are oblivious to the dangers we are exposed to. Clearly, studies have already been made on the dangers of compounds in plastics, which have disrupted children’s hormones, making them reach puberty at early ages. This is not normal.
There are also reports of hormonal imbalances caused by endocrine disrupters such as the chemical Bisphenol-A ( or BPA ) that makes polycarbonate plastic clear and almost unbreakable, and Phthalates which are industrial chemicals used in many cosmetics, toys, medical devices, and many more.
These compounds can leak from the plastic products, with wear and tear. Phtalates can be absorbed easily through skin exposure or inhalation. The compounds in plastics can wreak havoc to a person’s hormones, making their risk greater for kidneys, lungs, liver, and reproductive system diseases – not to mention, cancer. One can only wonder the increase rate of breasts and prostate cancers each year. Can the harmful compounds in plastic be held responsible?
A few months back, I’ve come across an insightful revelation about phtalates in the site: Our Stolen Future. For many years, there have been debates about the serious harm of plastics and yet, the campaign seems to have taken a slump throughout these years. Those who are running the plastic industry have been constantly denying these risks, based on insubstantial evidence, even if the European Union countries have already taken up a strict ban and campaign on it.
The Good News: A group of researchers in China have discovered microbes that will treat industrial waste waters that have been polluted with Phthalates. We can only hope for better things to come in the future.
For now, all we can do is be cautious and stay alert. Here are ways to reduce your
risk of exposure:
1. If you can’t help using food storage and utensils made of plastic, be sure to make
sure they are BPA and phthalate-free.
2. Don’t let these endocrine disrupters leach out with frequent rubbing, scratching,
and boiling. Wash them in warm, soapy water – instead of using your dishwasher.
3. Microwave and Plastics are a big NO! Even if the label says it’s microwave-safe,
you risk leaching out the harmful compounds into your food.
4. Dispose your plastics when they are worn, scratched, or hazy-looking. You are
at higher risk of chemical contamination.
5. Make your tea or coffee in a glass or a stainless-steel percolator – rather than the
usual plastic appliance you use for making them.
6. Read and know your labels. It may take time, but, it is for your own good. Always
choose natural, toxin-free skincare products.
In the end, when the buying stops – the production of these harmful plastics will
stop too. It is up to us to force better rules to have a healthier alternative, since
our very lives depend on it.
Open Your Eyes..
