31 JUL 2018: With all the plastics that have been flying around over the last 50 years, one might guess that we would have morphed into a society of Barbie and Ken dolls with perfectly quaffed hairstyles and disproportionate body types. I’m sorry to report that instead, we have been saddled with obesity, fertility issues, and mood disorders. We really pulled the short straw on this one, too bad a ban on single-use plastics wasn’t in place before we had to make our selection.

The production of plastics has skyrocketed as a cost-effective solution for industry, but these solutions have come with a hefty price. Plastics do not break down.

This means every single vinyl record, toothbrush, and flashy butterfly clip produced back the 80’s, are still kicking around in some landfill or body of water today, and for many years to come. But beyond industrial uses and fad fashion trends, plastics are found in many common household items too. Obvious examples include plastic wrap, plastic food containers, and water bottles, but plastics are also hiding in the lining of canned foods, cosmetics, and cashier receipts.

While the environmental concerns are grave, its destruction goes far beyond our waters and marine life.

Obviously we would never order a side of plastic to munch on at the pub, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t ingesting it, and we cannot afford to confuse familiarity with safety. Toxic chemicals such as BPA and Phthalates are found within the plastic structure and leach out into the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe when they are exposed to heat and acidity. This means the hotter the temperature, the more acidic, and the longer your food is sitting in its plastic container, the more undesirable ingredients you consume.

Interestingly, plastic lids on to-go coffee cups are one of the most harmful exposures to plastics and their chemicals. This is because coffee is hot, acidic, and something most people enjoy at least once per day. Request your coffee be served without a plastic lid, or better yet, bring your own reusable coffee mug – one that is ceramic or all metal. Be careful as some metal coffee thermoses are still plastic on the inside.

Believe me when I say you don’t want your daily half sweet non-fat soy latte with no whip to also come with extra BPA and Phthalates. These are the two culprits that we are advised to avoid, mainly due to their ability to mimic the estrogen hormone. Hormones are chemical messengers of the body, they communicate important messages that keep the orchestra of body systems working together to maintain balance, health, and happiness.

In today’s plastic-laden world we are inundated by estrogen impostors, or fake messages, that disturb the peace. The Centres For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 92% of people tested in the US had detectable levels of BPA in their bodies. This long term consistent exposure has been associated with hormonal imbalance, infertility, low sperm count, as well as heart disease and diabetes.

FYI, buying BPA free plastic materials may not be good enough. The BPA free products often have BPS in its place. Researchers are finding that BPS may cause similar problems, of course, minus the bad press.

Chasing toxic substances in plastic is like playing whack-a-mole. Before you have a chance to whack one, another pops up elsewhere. Your best bet is to eliminate plastics as much as you can and use your purchasing power to vote for safer alternatives.

Opt for glass or stainless-steel food containers, reusable beeswax wraps instead of cling wrap, keep a fork in your bag to avoid plastic cutlery at fast food restaurants, use a reusable water bottle, avoid plastic lids or straws on your coffee and soft drink cups, even bringing your own reusable shopping bag helps. Yes, it may take a bit of extra care or forethought, but it’s worth the investment. Don’t let Barbie fool you, life in plastic, is far from fantastic.

So, for the sake of your health, and the preservation of the beautiful world around us, say no to plastic.