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We Go Green By Eliminating Plastic Products
We Go Green By Eliminating Plastic Products

Video: We Go Green By Eliminating Plastic Products

Video: We Go Green By Eliminating Plastic Products
Video: The War on Plastic isn’t working – recycling myths exposed 2024, March
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plastic products reason to say no effects on the environment
plastic products reason to say no effects on the environment
plastic products are everywhere environmental hazards
plastic products are everywhere environmental hazards

Plastic products are everywhere! Walk your eyes around your kitchen or office and you'll find that you're surrounded by plastic: water bottles, straws, disposable utensils and so on. These are just a few of the examples of single-use plastic products that harm the environment and our health. But completely eliminating plastic from your lifestyle is not a realistic approach at all. So, let's take a look at some strategies that can encourage you to significantly reduce plastic use.

The production of plastic products loses all measure

excessive plastic production environment hazards
excessive plastic production environment hazards

The popularity of plastic, which began to increase in the 1950s, has now grown out of control. According to research, around 900 tons of plastic items have been produced worldwide and there is no sign that the process will slow down. In addition, degradation in this way takes up to 400 years.

Most plastic products are disposable

single-use plastic products hazards disposal
single-use plastic products hazards disposal

Did you know that about half of the annual production of plastic is for single use? This includes items such as plastic bags, wrappers, water bottles and straws. In addition, some of them like liquid laundry detergents, for example, are not recyclable at all. That's why, several companies are committing to reduce single-use plastic products by offering detergent in capsules made from biodegradable plant-based ingredients and packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes. Even the royal family has embraced the green trend by banning the use of straws in Buckingham Palace.

Plastic products end up in our oceans and affect marine life

plastic products ocean pollution underwater life
plastic products ocean pollution underwater life

Every piece of plastic ever made will remain in the environment in one form or another, and most often ends up in the oceans. Our plastic consumption directly affects underwater life including fish which is primarily a major food source for humans. Disturbing research results indicate that between 4 and 12 million metric tonnes of plastic has been released from the oceans, and that number will double in the next decade. Pretty scary statistic, isn't it?

north pacific waste vortex pollution oceans plastic
north pacific waste vortex pollution oceans plastic

Have you heard of the North Pacific Garbage Vortex? It is an area between Hawaii and California that extends over an area exceeding 1.5 km 2 and where debris floating in the Pacific Ocean accumulates. A rather worrying fact that pushes us to exclude plastic products from our daily lives!

microplastics hazards birds sea animals
microplastics hazards birds sea animals

Microplastics dispersed in the environment also influence marine life as they can be easily ingested by fish and birds. Floating on the surface of the water or buried in the sand, these particles are considered a food source by seabirds, turtles and marine mammals, posing a serious threat to marine habitats, wildlife, flora and ecosystem balance.

plastic products pollution oceans marine animals
plastic products pollution oceans marine animals

Did you know that around 700 species of marine animals are affected by marine debris mostly plastic? A rather alarming problem which continues to worry many organizations organizing more and more often cleanings of beaches. In addition to swallowing plastic products, marine animals also become victims of entanglement. According to Greenpeace, these are all known species of sea turtles, 54% of marine mammals and 56% of seabirds.

plastic products coral reef death pollution oceans
plastic products coral reef death pollution oceans

Living ecosystems that breathe and are home to 25% of marine life, coral reefs are disappearing due to the excessive use of plastic products, most often ending up in the ocean. By studying 159 coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region, scientists have found the presence of 11.1 billion plastic objects intermingled among the corals. Plastic deprives reefs of oxygen and light and releases toxins that invade bacteria which in turn kill pretty corals.

The harmful effects of BPA on human health

bisphenol A plastic products A human health
bisphenol A plastic products A human health

BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical used in the production of plastic since the 1960s, which very often comes into direct contact with food. Numerous studies prove that BPA interacts with estrogen receptors which could cause endocrine disorders including female and male infertility, precocious puberty, breast and prostate cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome. So read the labels carefully and only favor products marked "BPA Free".

BPA causes birth defects and miscarriages

bisphenol A dangers babies malformations miscarriages
bisphenol A dangers babies malformations miscarriages

As mentioned above, BPA can exert a negative impact on the female reproductive system causing chromosomal and birth defects as well as miscarriages. University researchers found that monkeys exposed to BPA showed signs of reproductive abnormalities, which increased the risk of miscarriage or offspring with Down syndrome.

Bisphenol A is dangerous for children

plastic products BPA dangers children
plastic products BPA dangers children

A recent study reveals that the use of plastic containers to store or heat food in microwaves, could pose a potential risk to the health of children. Bisphenol A may disrupt hormones, growth and development while increasing the risk of obesity in children. And in this vein, many doctors advise parents to avoid the use of plastic containers, especially for heating food.

For your information, BPA is widely known as an endocrine disruptor and can even interact with metabolism.

BPA affects thyroid function

BPA risks thyroid function human health
BPA risks thyroid function human health

Bisphenol A possesses the ability to modify thyroid hormones whose function is to regulate energy in the body. According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, BPA is closely linked to autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's disease.

Plastic products containing BPA increase risk of diabetes and heart disease

bisphenol A heart disease diabetes
bisphenol A heart disease diabetes

Exposure to chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system, such as BPA, can increase your risk for diabetes. This organic compound can also damage the heart by causing disorders such as arrhythmia and atherosclerosis.

The intestines are also affected by bisphenol A

A recent study has shown that BPA is associated with irritable bowel syndrome by affecting the metabolism of microbial amino acids. In addition, exposure to bisphenol A increases the risk of colon inflammation.

Bottled water is full of microplastics

bottled water dangers microplastics human health
bottled water dangers microplastics human health

As already clarified, birds confuse the microplastic floating on the surface of bodies of water with food, which influences their well-being. But did you know that these particles are also present in bottled water? So, here is another fact that will push you to give up plastic products. A recent study, performed on 259 water bottles from 11 different brands, found that around 93% of them contained plastic contamination. Instead, prefer stainless steel bottles.

Phthalates are able to slow down brain development

slow brain development BPA dangers
slow brain development BPA dangers

A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that phthalates can alter the brains of rats. In addition, the team found that the babies of women consuming foods fortified with phthalates during pregnancy have a significant lack of neurons and synapses in the medial prefrontal cortex. This disrupts cognitive functions such as memory, decision making, conflict, error detection and so on.

Plastic products promote Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease adverse effects of BPA
Alzheimer's disease adverse effects of BPA

Plastic promotes the formation of toxic brain proteins that are closely linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease, explains Dr. Jennie Ann Freiman. According to her, the brains of people with this disease are full of plastic particles.

Can shoes be toxic?

toxic shoe plastics
toxic shoe plastics

Being very fashionable, plastic shoes can indeed cause long term health problems. Scientists have found that plastic-based flip-flops and sandals have "disturbing concentrations" of harmful chemicals, namely phthalates.

Eliminate plastic food containers

plastic food containers human health hazards
plastic food containers human health hazards

As a rule, plastic itself does not pose a health risk. Rather, it is the chemicals that are contained therein and whose objective is to make the material more flexible and more resistant. With use, these compounds gradually begin to degrade, to migrate to food and therefore appear on our plates. Not to mention factors like heat and fatty and salty foods that contribute to the aging of the container. To lead a green and healthy life, consider swapping plastic products for glass ones.

Plastic dust in our meals?

plastic dust human health hazards
plastic dust human health hazards

According to scientific research from Heriot-Watt University, humans are likely to swallow more than 100 microparticles of plastic with every meal, no matter how clean their home. They come from synthetic fabrics and upholstery that mix with dust and finally end up on our plates. Experts say that a person can swallow up to 68,000 potentially dangerous plastic fibers annually.

Beauty products also have a negative influence on the environment

beauty products polluting the environment
beauty products polluting the environment

Single-use plastic products are not the only ones that pollute the environment. Billions of shampoo and conditioner bottles are thrown away every year around the world. It is therefore not at all surprising that we come across more and more often ecological packaging.

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