[We Are Living in the Plastic Age
We are very much living in the Plastic Age. Whether it’s our food supply and how it’s packaged, our dwellings, furnishings, and clothing, or even our environment, there is almost no avoiding plastic in some way, shape, or form. While plastic makes our lives easier in countless ways, there’s also no denying that plastics are choking our environment. And leaders can’t agree on how to tame this monster we have created.
Plastics also affect our health in ways we are only just beginning to understand. Microplastics and nanoplastics – incredibly tiny bits of plastic that break off and shed from larger products – have made their way into many of the tissues of our bodies, including our brain, reproductive organs (both male and female), and cardiovascular system.
“It’s much more pervasive than meets the eye,” Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the director of environmental pediatrics and the vice chair for pediatric research at NYU School of Medicine, recently told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta on his podcast Chasing Life. Trasande has spent the last two decades studying how environmental exposures, including to microplastics, affect our health.
You can eat, inhale, and absorb plastic in many ways, Trasande said. “We eat a lot of plastic. We inhale a lot of plastic” in the form of dust. “We literally use cosmetics that resorb in our body… We’ve just come to accept plastic as normal. And it’s not normal.”
The additives that Trasande is worried about include phthalates (used in personal care products and food packaging), bisphenols (used in aluminum can linings and thermal paper receipts), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), so-called forever chemicals because they don’t break down easily in the environment.
As it turns out, many of these added chemicals (not to mention the unintentional impurities) are not good for our bodies. The main concern: disruption of the endocrine system.
So, what can you do to reduce your exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics? Trasande has these five tips:
1. Avoid cans with BPA and other chemicals: While bisphenol A (BPA) is no longer present in the packaging for most products, industry data show it is still used about 5% of the time, possibly more.
2. Check the little recycling number on your bottle or container: Numbers 3, 6, and 7 are associated with plastics that contain phthalates, styrene, and other chemicals that can leach into your food.
3. Heat and harsh cleansers are not good for plastic: Avoid using microwave and dishwasher-safe plastic containers, and instead opt for glass, stainless steel, or fresh.
4. Vacuum regularly with a HEPA filter and use a wet mop: Tiny micro and nanoplastics can accumulate in dust, and a HEPA filter can help reduce the amount of bacteria and viruses in your home.
5. Use stainless steel or cast iron instead of non-stick pots and pans: Non-stick coatings contain PFAS, which have been linked to health problems.
Remember, it’s not about perfection – it’s about taking small steps towards reducing your exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics.
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