How are plastics effecting our hormones and health?
Plastic-free July is a global movement that is working on creating a solution to reduce plastic pollution. By making a small change and refusing to use single-use plastic can create a big collective change within communities. Plastic is polluting our streets oceans and communities as well as having a huge effect on our health.
On average people consume roughly 5 g of plastic each week and everyday life. This is about the weight of a credit card according to Australian researchers. This is equivalent to 250 g per year. Most of the plastic enters our body through micro-plastics that we ingest. The amount of micro-plastics varies depending on where you live with Lebanon and the United States having water that contains the most amount of micro-plastics. High levels of exposure to micro-plastics can affect the lungs, liver, brain cells, and endocrine system.
You are likely to be exposed to many plastic products everyday and your everyday life. Nearly everything that we purchase comes in some sort of plastic packaging. Research suggests that all plastics leach chemicals especially if they are scratched or heated. Exposure to these chemicals known as bisphenol A (BPA) can cause disease and cancer.
BPA is a weak synthetic oestrogen known as xenoestrogen. Plastics oestrogen-like activity makes it a big hormone disruptor by blocking or mimicking your bodies normal hormone balance. Sources of xenoestrogens are not limited to just plastics but include pesticides chemicals and contaminated foods and liquids.
Physiology of the reproductive system is complex however the action of xenoestrogens is thought to mimic the effects of oestrogen and trigger their specific receptors, or bind to the hormone receptors and block the natural hormones.
It is likely to be impossible to avoid all plastic products since we are exposed to it and so many different ways in our life but we can reduce our exposure to plastics. Here are some tips to reduce your exposure to plastics:
Carry your own glass, steel, or ceramic water bottle
Reduce the use of canned food you eat; especially if the can is plastic-lined.
Avoid handling carbonless copy cash receipts. These receipts contain BPA
Don’t cook food in plastic containers
Avoid covering food with plastic wrap, instead, put food into a glass container with a lid.
Change plastic storage containers to glass storage containers. Or alternatively, choose BPA free plastic containers.
Look closely at the plastics with the number 7 recycling symbol. These contain BPA.
