We Have To Stop Using Plastic Containers - Here Is Why
Jan 01, 2019
According to EcoWatch, an online platform that curates environmental news from a variety of sources, 50% of the plastic used in the United States is not being recycled; instead, it is being thrown in the trash and carted off to landfills where it may or may not biodegrade.
Also, plastics make up 10% of the total waste generated each year. All that being said, is there a way to eliminate plastic from our lives, should we make a concerted effort to only products packaged in 100% biodegradable plastics?
In this article, we will take a closer look at plastic containers and the health and environmental impact of using them.
Avoiding Plastic Containers
Whether we are talking about carrying bags, water bottles, or food storage containers, they each benefit our lives in one way or another. However, there are safe alternatives when it comes to packaging food, including porcelain, glass containers, silicone, and cloth food sacks, to name a few.
As far as plastics are concerned, they are not all created equal. If you insist on using plastic, consider using BPA-free plastic as they don't expose you to health risks, and they are 100% biodegradable.
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If you insist on using plastic, consider using BPA-free plastic as they don't expose you to health risks, and they are 100 percent biodegradable. BPA plastics, on the other hand, can be harmful as they allow chemical substances to leach into foods, and they do not biodegrade as quickly after they find their way into landfills.
If you opt to use non-BPA plastics, here are a few tips that can help you avoid the health risks that come with plastic exposure:
Use recyclable shopping bags whenever possible
Use glass food storage containers instead of plastic
Avoid leaving plastic containers in direct sunlight
Opt for glass bottles instead of plastic for water and other beverages
Plastic Containers and Health Risks
Although they offer unparalleled convenience, plastics can be harmful to our health in a variety of ways. Most of the dangers associated with plastics can be attributed to phthalates.
If you're not familiar with phthalates, it is a compound used to increase the flexibility and pliability of plastics; however, exposure to this compound has been linked to ingestion and can be absorbed through the skin where it may cause even more health problems.
Also, studies have shown that even low-level exposure to phthalates may result in genital defects and reproductive problems among adults.
To further illustrate this point, a study conducted by the Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed research and news publication, concluded that phthalates can alter DNA and even human sperm.
Plastic Food Containers and Harmful Chemicals
While it is rarely the topic of conversation, harmful chemicals can leach into foods stored in plastic containers, especially when placed in a microwave as intense heat triggers more chemicals to leach into foods. The same holds true for plastics that are exposed to hot water as in the case for most plastic travel mugs, for example.
Studies have found that once these chemicals leach into foods, they can prompt the release of an estrogen-like compound that could compromise one's health.
How do you avoid contaminants leaching into your foods? Well, you should make it a point to avoid exposing your plastic containers to hot water and also discarding your old ones.
Beyond that, you will want to wash and store them between each use. Lastly, if you were not aware, all plastic containers have a number that denotes the quality of the plastic. As such, you should aim for using plastics that contain the numbers 2, 4, and 5. Plastic containers that contain these numbers, usually located on the bottom of the container, have been deemed safe for food storage.
Chemicals in Plastic Contributes to Weight Gain
BPA plastic containers are notorious for producing the estrogen-like compound in the body, which has been linked to not only insulin resistance but also weight gain. In fact, according to a study conducted by Health Canada, BPA exposure has been linked to excess fat cells that over time contributes to weight gain.
To further put this into context, BPA exposure increases the number of fat cells, which, in turn, increases the amount of fat being stored in the body.
How Plastic Impacts the Environment
It's no secret that a large percentage of plastics that make it into our landfills are not biodegradable, which is to say they can remain there for years before they a completely broken down.
To say that is a significant environmental problem would a gross understatement. When biodegradable plastics are left in our landfills, they, over time, start to pollute not only the land but also air and water.
In summation, plastic containers are a great way to store food and beverages; however, what they offer in the way of convenience is offset by the negative impact they have on our health and the environment.
What are your thoughts on this manner? Do you have any other tip to reduce plastic usage on a daily basis? Let us know - and don't forget to send this article to your friends, to encourage them to avoid plastic!