Plastics surround us. Many of our stuff, clothing, electronics, and food packaging are made from plastics. In the last decades, the manufacturer used natural materials such as paper, glass, and cotton, which have been replaced by plastic. We know that this global use of plastics has led to excessive plastic pollution of the environment. However, plastics are not just an environmental problem. They also affect human health.<br />Plastics affect our health in three ways:<br />1. Eating, drinking and breathing microplastics every day. These tiny plastic particles harm the health once they have entered the bodies.<br />2. Plastic products contain chemical additives. These chemicals have been correlated with severe health difficulties such as hormone-related cancers, infertility, and neurodevelopment disorders like ADHD and autism.<br />3. Once microplastics end up in the environment, they attract micro-organisms, such as harmful bacteria (pathogens). If microplastics have these pathogens enter the humen body, they may increase the risk of infection.<br />Microplastics & pathogens<br />Microplastics are plastic particles sub-millimeter size. Some kinds of plastic are even a million times smaller than a millimeter: these are nano plastics. <br />Microplastics have been observed everywhere in our environment. Microplastics also exist much closer to the home. As microplastics are released from our staff like; sofas, carpets, curtains, and other synthetic textiles, they are everywhere in a virtual house. Microplastics have also been found in different consumer products like seafood, honey, drink water, salt, fruits, and vegetables.<br />Due to the contamination of our indoor and outdoor environment by plastics, we eat, drink and breathe plastics every day. Plastics are not biodegradable, and bacteria known to cause human diseases tend to grow on the plastic surface. This raises the pressing question: once in our bodies, do microplastics make us sick? <br />Chemical additives<br />Chemicals in plastics products to give them particular characteristics such as plasticity, color, malleability, durability, or the hardness that some products need. However, some types of these chemicals have been classified as hazardous for human health, as they, have been suspected of disrupting our hormone system. A well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), is bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in polycarbonate bottles, can food liners, plastic containers, and more. Fetuses and children are considered particularly at risk as hormones play a crucial role in their progress. A disturbing fact was shared by endocrinologist Prof. Dr. Laura Vandenberg: “Every child born on this planet is born pre-polluted. With dozens, or perhaps hundreds of chemicals that are found inside of their bodies“.<br />To Reduce Plastic Pollution<br />The best thing to protect the environment is to keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream in the first place. Some small ways can have a significant impact on reducing plastic pollution.<br />1. Stop yourself using disposable plastics.<br />Ninety percent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once and then chucked: grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and coffee-cup lids. Stop using plastic products and replace them with reusable versions. It only takes a few times to bring your own bags to the store, silverware to the office, or travel mug to Starbucks before it becomes a habit.<br />2. Stop buying water.<br />Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are tossed in the trash. Carry a reusable bottle in your bag, and you’ll never be caught having to resort to a Poland Spring or Evian again. If you’re nervous about the quality of your local tap water, look for a model with a built-in filter.<br />3. Boycott microbeads.<br />Those little plastic scrubbers found in so many beauty products—facial scrubs, toothpaste, body washes—might look harmless, but their tiny size allows them to slip through water-treatment plants. Unfortunately, they also look just like food to some marine animals. Opt for products with natural exfoliants, like oatmeal or salt, instead.<br />4. Cook more.<br />Not only is it healthier, but making your own meals doesn’t involve takeout containers or doggy bags. For those times when you do order in or eat out, tell the establishment you don’t need any plastic cutlery or, for some serious extra credit, bring your own food-storage containers to restaurants for leftovers.<br />5. Purchase items secondhand.<br />New toys and electronic gadgets, especially, come with all kinds of plastic packaging—from those frustrating hard-to-crack shells to twisty ties. Search the shelves of thrift stores, neighborhood garage sales, or online postings for items that are just as good when previously used. <br />6. Recycle (duh).<br />It seems obvious, but we’re not doing a great job of it. For example, less than 14 percent of plastic packaging is recycled. Confused about what can and can’t go in the bin? Check out the number on the bottom of the container. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by most curbside recycling companies. Containers marked #2 (HDPE; typically slightly heavier-duty bottles for milk, juice, and laundry detergent) and #5 (PP; plastic cutlery, yogurt and margarine tubs, ketchup bottles) are also recyclable in some areas. For the specifics on your area, check out Earth911.org’s recycling directory.<br />7. Support a bag tax or ban.<br />8. Buy in bulk.<br />Single-serving yogurts, travel-size toiletries, tiny packages of nuts—consider the product-to-packaging ratio of items you tend to buy often and select the bigger container instead of buying several smaller ones over time.<br />9. Put pressure on manufacturers.<br />Though we can make a difference through our own habits, corporations obviously have a much bigger footprint. If you believe a company could be smarter about its packaging, make your voice heard. Write a letter, tweet, or hit them where it hurts: Give your money to a more sustainable competitor.<br />