Source: Environmental Science and Technology. Benchmarking the in vitro toxicity and chemical composition of plastic consumer products.
Martin Wagner. Lifestyle changes can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and help protect nature. Plastic trash is a rapidly growing environmental problem. But a biodegradable and natural material could replace plastic packaging and eliminate this problem. Here from a river bed in Ukraine. Contact Martin Wagner. Picking up a plastic bag from the beach makes a bigger difference than you might imagine. Privacy Policy The Privacy Statement is about how this website collects and uses visitor information.
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The information collected by Google Analytics is stored on Google servers in the U. With endocrine disruptors, small doses can be problematic. With these chemicals, using any at all is a problem. There are many ingredients in plastic that scientists agree are not harmful, but this study reveals that there are many chemicals that have just not been adequately studied. More than million metric tonnes are produced worldwide every year, adding to the billions of metric tonnes that are clogging up our landfills and oceans.
The harmful chemicals the researchers identified were found in many plastic objects we use everyday, including toys, medical devices, masks, food packaging, and textiles. They also eventually invade our ecosystems, where they can harm both people and animals. Some plastics end up in the ocean, where sea animals mistake them for food, and eventually become part of the human food chain.
Chemicals can also be released in recycling processes, which means they can make recycled plastic unsafe. So why are plastics so jam-packed with chemicals? Plastic is a cheap substance that can be transformed into almost any material you can imagine, from silk-like synthetic fabrics to sturdy furniture. To create these different materials, factories use additives to give the plastic its desired properties, such as antioxidants to prevent degradation, flame retardants, and plasticizers to reduce brittleness.
Most milk jugs, detergent and juice bottles, butter tubs, and toiletries containers are made of HDPE. Usually opaque in color, this plastic is considered safe and has low risk of leaching. It is picked up by most recycling programs. Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. It is used to make food wrap, bottles for cooking oil, shower curtains, inflatable mattresses, and the common plumbing pipes. PVC, although tough in terms of strength, it is not considered safe for cooking or heating.
PVC contains softening chemicals called phthalates that interfere with hormonal development. Never cook using food wrap, especially in a microwave oven. Check the labels of inflatable, baby toys, etc.
This plastic is rarely accepted by recycling programs. Low-density polyethylene LDPE is used to make grocery bags, some food wraps, squeezable bottles, and bread bags.
This plastic is considered to be relatively safe. The problem with LDPE is mainly an environmental one: It is not recyclable via curbside and other recycling programs.
We suggest reusing them as grocery or doggie bags rather than throwing them away after one use. Of course, one would ideally have reusable totes for groceries use biodegradable poop bags. Here's the list of products that each code comprises. Some products: Polyester fabric, bottles of water, beer, juices, mouthwash, jam etc.
Harms: PET is known to leach antimony trioxide and phthalates. Both of these are dangerous to health. While antimony may contribute to cancer development, skin problems, menstrual and pregnancy issues, phthalates are endocrine disruptors.
Some products: Polythenes, opaque containers of milk, juice and water, some medicine bottles, shampoo and detergent bottles, cereal boxes. Harms: Although it is usually considered safe for usage in limited quantity, studies have shown that code 2 plastics can leach nonylphenol, especially when exposed to sunlight, which is an endocrine disruptor.
Some products: PVC used in toys, packaging, etc, bottles of mouthwash, shampoo and squeeze bottles, oil jars, shower curtains, used in flooring, carpet backing, loose leaf binders, wire insulation, window frames and other construction materials, medical tubes, blood bags. Harms: It is the most toxic and the most harmful form of plastic.
It contains bisphenol A BPA , lead, phthalates, mercury, dioxins and cadmium. It can cause endocrine disruption, ADHD, asthma and allergies in children and is also known to be carcinogenic in nature, contributing to various types of cancer, such as that of the breast.
If it is burnt, it releases dioxins, one of the most toxic chemicals known. They can cause cancers and are organic pollutants. Some products: Film applications, bags for grocery, bread, frozen food and garbage, beverage cups, squeeze bottles, food containers, wire cables.
Harms: Comparatively safer, however it is still known to leach endocrine disruptor nonylphenol, particularly under sunlight. Some products: Food containers, such as that of cheese, yogurt, ketchup and syrups, bottle caps, straws, baby bottles, diapers, sanitary pads, many parts in appliances and cars.
Harms: This type is relatively safe and stable but can leach plastic additives and has been linked with causation of occupational asthma. Some products: Egg cartons, food packaging and containers, disposable cutlery, CDs and DVDs, medicine bottles, hangers, test tubes, smoke detectors, petri dishes.
Harms: Code 6 plastics can leach styrene, a chemical that is also present in second hand cigarette smoke, which is known to be a carcinogen. It can also impact one's nervous system and brain. Some studies that were conducted on animals also showed that code 6 plastics can harm lungs, liver, genes and negatively affect one's immune system. Some products: Water bottles, water storage containers, baby bottles, cups, baking bags, ketchup and juice containers, eyeglass lenses, car parts, CDs, DVDs, lab equipment.
It is also carcinogenic in nature and can cause breast cancer and prostate cancer. It is also responsible for infertility, diabetes, obesity, metabolic disorders and resistance to chemotherapy. Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox. A weekly guide to the biggest developments in health, medicine and wellbeing delivered to your inbox.
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