That’s the amount of plastic we consume every month, according to a study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund (Find a link to a A half- rice bowl. download of the study at https://www.wwf.org.au/news/news/2019/revealed-plastic-ingestion-by-people-could-be-equating-to-a-credit-card-a-week#gs.qdb24h) That is equal to about 5 grams of plastic per week or, as stated in another study, about 74,000 microplastic particles a year! Although I knew these facts, it wasn’t until I read the Consumer Report article, How To Eat Less Plastic,(https://www.consumerreports.org/health-wellness/how-to-eat-less-plastic-microplastics-in-food-water/) that I learned the true impact that plastics may have on our health. It is the new lens through which I examine everything I eat and everything I do both in and out of my kitchen.
Plastic is made from fossil fuels (oil and natural gas); but in addition, various chemicals, such as bisphenols and phthalates, are added to make the plastic harder, softer, or more flexible. Although more research is needed to fully understand the health consequences of these chemicals, we have been aware for some time that bisphenol A (BPA) may be harmful to our health, and many producers have proudly advertised that their plastic is BPA-free. However, what they don’t tell us is that they have replaced BPA with other potentially harmful bisphenols, phthalates and styrenes. These chemicals are referred to as “endocrine disrupters” because they can interfere with our endocrine system controlling many of our biological systems, which could result in a number of health problems, such as brain and organ development in children, infertility, cancer, and cardiovascular problems, among others.
And plastic is everywhere! Plastic items tend to break down over time into tiny fragments called microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics. And since only a small percentage (less than 9%) of plastic is recyclable, the vast majority of these small particles ends up in our waterways, our landfills, and in the air we breathe. Microplastics have been found even in Arctic snow and in the sand of Hawaiian beaches. By simply cracking open a plastic bottle, tearing a wrapper off a sandwich, or kicking household dust, we are releasing those same tiny plastic particles -- all of which we could be breathing into our lungs. And when our food comes into contact with plastic and, particularly when the plastic is heated, these chemicals can leach into our food.
Unfortunately we seem to be addicted to plastic and that addiction has been growing exponentially. We have produced over ten billion tons of plastic since the 1950’s. And half of all the plastic ever produced has been made in the last thirteen years. In 2018 the world produced over 400 million tons of new plastic and that production is expected to quadruple by 2050. In a recent study published in Science Advances, researchers found the U.S. produces more plastic waste per person than any other nation, an average of 231lbs of plastic per year.
How can we reduce this reliance and better protect ourselves and our environment? The FDA and other regulatory agencies, unfortunately, have not yet dealt with the long term effects that these chemicals may have, so it is up to us to find ways to cut back on plastic. The article lists several suggestions:
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Drink tap water instead of bottled water
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Heat food in or on the stove or microwave in glass
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Buy and store food in glass, silicone or foil
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Eat fresh food instead of packaged foods
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Vacuum regularly
Karen Goodheart
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