What's Wrong with Plastic?

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Plastic is deadly to people and wildlife and harmful to environment. Here are just some of the numbers and and how they result in tragic consequences. This is why I recommend rejecting plastic wherever possible and buying biodegradable and non-toxic materials instead. 

*We’ve produced more plastic in the last 10 years than in the entire last century. Almost 400 million tons of plastic is still being produced each year despite all we know about how toxic it is.

*Plastic makes up 80 percent of all ocean pollution.

*An estimated 10 million tons of plastic enters the world’s oceans every year. 

*An estimated 170 million particles of plastic are afloat in the oceans right now and that number is expected to triple in 20 years if nothing is done. 

*By 2050, just 27 years from now, scientists estimate plastic in the ocean will outweigh all fish in the ocean.

Millions of sea animals -- including birds -- are killed annually from plastic. It kills in several ways. 

-Entanglement, which can cause death via suffocation, starvation and vulnerability.

-Ingestion, which causes blocked digestive tracts and organ damage. 

-Pierced organs.

-Exposure to plastic's toxic chemicals. 

How about humans? 

*Many plastics contain phthalates, hormone-disrupting chemicals that damage our endocrine and reproductive systems. They can also cause cardiovascular, liver, kidney and genital diseases due to their toxicity and are also believed to be a risk factor for allergies, obesity and autoimmune diseases. A shocking 80 percent of all babies already have phthalates in their bodies.

*BPAs or Bisphenal A, is another toxic chemical found in some plastics. An estimated 93 percent of adults have BPAs in their urine. BPAs' health effects are believed to include harm to the prostate glands and brains of fetuses and children, behavioral issues, cardiovascular disease, risk for type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. 

*PBDEs are flame-retardant chemicals commonly used on foams like polyurethane foam found in furniture, mattresses, car seats and carpet pads. This stuff bioaccumulates in the body and is nasty! It’s believed to be toxic to the thyroid, liver and pancreas, possibly cause cancer, neurological disorders and behavioral problems, and have adverse effects on cognitive development. 

*PVC is considered the most toxic and environmentally-damaging of all plastics. That’s the white plastic piping common is many homes and buildings. Often just called vinyl, it's also used in furniture, cars, toys, housewares, packaging, hospital supplies and more. It’s toxic throughout its life cycle, from manufacture to use to disposal and beyond as its toxic chemicals continue to contaminate the environment. Some of PVC’s toxic chemicals bioaccumulate in the body (we can’t get rid of them) and cause such health problem as damaged immunity, cancer, infertility, impaired development and more. Two of the worst chemicals PVCs use and release are chlorine and dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals ever produced. 

The manufacturing alone of plastics contaminates the environment, releasing carcinogenic and other toxic substances into the, air and often water sources and the soil. 

And of course, plastic is not biodegradable. It can stick around hundreds even thousands of years. It does slowly erode over time and that just adds to the dangers by continually depositing microplastics into the environment, some of which ends up in the tissues of animals and in the water we drink. Microplastics entering the human body though ingestion or inhalation can cause numerous health impacts including inflammation, DNA damage, cancer, cardiovascular disease, bowel disease nervous system damage, stroke and auto-immune conditions, to name just a few. One major source of microplastics is synthetic clothing and fabric like polyester and fleece. Choosing plant-based fabrics can help.