A dangerous cocktail of chemicals is found in the bodies of mammals, affecting human cellular structure, laboratory animals and marine fauna, while the effects on humans are still unknown.
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The news that microplastics were found in breast milk is shocking. Not long ago, another piece of news highlighted the magnitude of the problem. Scientists have found a toxic cocktail of chemicals (specifically polychlorinated biphenyls used in plastics and paints) that are now being passed from whales and dolphins to their babies, affecting their brains. These are just some of the harmful effects that the use of plastics has caused in the environment. In particular, microplastics were detected in 75% of breast milk samples from 34 healthy udders examined in Rome.
Earlier ones investigations had proven that phthalates found in plastics toxically affect human cellular structure, laboratory animals and marine fauna, but the effects on humans are still unknown, let alone on the sensitive group of infants. And it may be that the mothers' consumption of food and drinks from plastic packaging could not be correlated with microplastics found in breast milk, but microplastics are everywhere and people are exposed to them all the time.
Items that last… centuries
The fact is that most consumers do not recognize the different categories of widely used plastics in packaging, nor the substances they contain and to which they are exposed.
PET: First on the list, due to their widespread use, is the PET category. They are the most recognizable plastics, shiny and smooth, made of polyethylene terephthalate or polyester. Light in construction and durable, water, soft drinks, juices, oils, but also many packaged products, such as jams or sauces, are packaged in PET.
HDPE: Then there are the HDPE packages, made of thermoplastic polymer, a derivative of petroleum, which, due to its flexibility, finds a wide variety of uses. From ice cream, margarine or even juice bottles, freezer bags and cases, the high resistance of this particular plastic makes it particularly popular. But along with durability, its lifespan is equally long.
PVC: Next on the list, are PVC or polyvinyl chloride. Like HDPE, it is a thermoplastic with a long list of applications, which due to its chemical formula can be flexible as well as rigid, with excellent strength while being permeable to oxygen. And it's this formula that allows it to be on metal lids, beverage packaging and even foil or wrappers.
The three categories above are impossible not to have in a kitchen.
LDPE: Next on the list is low density polyethylene, known as LDPE. Due to its low density, as a material it is translucent, flexible and durable. From laboratory equipment and computer plastic parts, LDPE is also widely used in food packaging, such as plastic coffee cups and pouches, plastic food storage films, frozen food packaging and flexible lids.
PP: Then comes the PP category. If you like potato chips or other snacks with similar packaging, then you often come into contact with this plastic. You are also likely to find it in yogurt packages or all plastic packages that are sealed with aluminum foil to keep the product fresh. As a thermoplastic created by combining propylene monomers, its ability to withstand heat makes it indispensable for microwaveable packaging.
PS: Penultimate is the PS type, a rigid and transparent type, mainly known for hard disposable cups and cutlery and egg cartons.
Other plastics: As the last, the category of plastics also known as "other plastics" is mentioned, which includes baby bottles and baby bottles. At this point, many will wonder, if all the above categories are more reminiscent of single-use packaging, then tappers, multi-purpose storage containers, to which category they belong. Most tapers belong to the LDPE or PP categories, which are considered safe for multiple use.
According to The Green Guide, an environmental magazine, and National Geographic Security, HDPE, LDPE and PP are indeed the safest grades for multiple use. But consumers should be aware that companies produce multi-purpose plastics with different types of plastics. For example, category seven plastics have been shown to leach BPA or bisphenol A, a hormone-disrupting toxicant, into food. Also, PET (or PETE) bottles are safe for single use. When reused they emit carcinogenic phthalates, just as category three packaging (PVC) releases dioxins into food and category six plastics have been linked to substances that cause skin diseases, eye and respiratory irritation, depression and fatigue and damage in the central nervous system.
It's just everywhere…
Using glass containers is clearly a reliable solution for food storage. But plastics are everywhere, from water bottles to most toys used by children. And every time a water bottle is crushed and broken, every time a bag of snacks ends up on the ground and decomposes, every time a package of toast is opened or crumpled to fit into the garbage bag, plastic, regardless of category, releases microplastics .
Now scientists are revealing that these tiny particles, found from Mount Everest and the oceans to forests and inner cities, are so embedded in our food that even bottle-fed infants likely ingest millions microplastics as they have even been found in cow's milk.
For the scientific team of the Vrije University of Amsterdam, all this is the tip of the iceberg in relation to the pollution caused by microplastics. The team detected microplastics in human blood in March, but says it is so far impossible to predict the extent of the damage they cause to the body. So is there a way to reverse the damage being done? Large companies will hardly reject a material that is low in cost, light and at the same time "considered" safe.
So there are simple steps we can all take to apply pressure indirectly: 90% of the plastics we use are disposable. By weaning ourselves from these plastics (water bottles, supermarket bags, plastic film, etc.) we win to a large extent our addiction. Let's consider how much our health and the environment gains by not taking bottled water at our exits, but tap water, since every year, almost 20 billion plastic bottles are thrown in the trash. Also, we can boycott microbeads. It is not widely known, but there are many cosmetics, such as scrubs, but also toothpastes that contain microparticles that end up in water. By buying second hand items but above all by recycling correctly, we ensure a clean and better future.
*Cover photo: Scott Laserow