Plastics are made up of polymer and can be molded, extruded, or pressed into any objects of various shapes. Plastics have been used widely across the globe as it is easy to manufacture, cost effective and is of longer durability. When we look around, we can find at least 4 materials made from plastic, the chair you are sitting in, the phone cover you carry around, the pen you are writing with or the food package you are snacking in. The world has been enjoying plastic but foreseen the epidemic of plastics.
Plastic contains and drains hazardous chemicals that have potential to affect human health as well as the environment. Plastic pose Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threatens human health by disrupting the body’s hormone system. EDCs can lead to neurological impairment in the development of children and of fetuses, reproductive disorders, cancer and diabetes. Exposure to plastics during pregnancy has also been found to increase the risk of birth complications, lung patches and childhood cancer. Long term exposure to plastic particles and its associates have shown to exhaust thyroid endocrine function by weakening its drivers.
Human health risks from plastics are due to monomeric building blocks of plastic namely bisphenol A, their additives such as plasticizers or from their combination. Bisphenol A (BPA) is best known as the monomeric building block of polycarbonate plastics. However, it is also used frequently as an additive to other plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). During the polymerization of BPA some of the monomers are left unbound and these unbound molecules can be released from food containers into food over time. The draining process of molecules is also accelerated by repeated washing of containers and when storing in them acidic or basic items that break down the polymer. As a result, reusable water bottles, baby bottles, and the inner linings of food cans, all made by using BPA, are known to drain the controversial monomer into food over time. Therefore, to prevent plastic epidemic it is crucial to embrace ecofriendly and sustainable alternatives.
