Health Impact of Plastic
Plastic has a backbone of carbon and an attached hydrogen, with chemicals forming a non-covalent bond with it. A non-covalent bond means that the chemicals just sit on the carbon backbone. e.g. for PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), the fluorine is attracted to the carbon molecule, and just sits on it.
Plastic has 16,000 chemicals that can be attached to it. The chemicals are known to be CARCINOGENS (cause cancer), NEUROTOXICANTS (cause brain diseases) and 1,000 of them are labeled as ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS.
For more information about any of the links between plastic and illnesses, go to the Research page.
Brain Health
Microplastics and its toxins can accumulate in the brain and trigger memory loss and cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. Be mindful of reducing plastic in your daily life.
BBB stands for blood brain barrier, not Better Business Bureau. 🙂 It protects the brain from toxins in the blood. Wen it is disrupted by microplastics in the blood, you get inflammation, neurotoxicity, and neurodegeneration. Neuro means nerves, and your brain is part of your nervous system.Â
Cancer
Cancer cells dividing uncontrolleably is linked to plastic and its chemical additives. To minimize your risk of cancer, you need to reduce your plastic use.
Recent studies show that microplastics exposure promotes te proliferation of skin cancer while causing damage to normal skin. When possible, choose clothes made of natural materials like cotton, wool, silk and linen. Avoid personal care products with harmful chemicals.
Endocrine Disruptors
The Endocrine System
The endocrine system produces hormones. Other than the sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, we have a number of other glands that produce hormones to regulate everything in our body.Â
Research has found that the BPA and phthlates (endocrine disrupting chemicals) in plastic increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the pancreas does not secret enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces, leading to high blood sugar. PFAS and pesticides are linked to Type 1 diabetes. If you have diabetes, try reducing plastic usage as a remedy.
The thymus gland sits between your lungs. It trains special white blood cells called T-cells to fight infection and disease. It is an important part of your immune system. Exposure to microplastics triggers an inflammatory response and causes your body not to be able to fight diseases like cancer, heart diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals like Bisphenol A and phthlates in plastic can block or impair the production of normal thyroid hormones. This can lead to hypothyroidism and other thyroid diseases. The thyroid controls our body temperature, heart rate and brain development. Reduce plastic use to lower your risk.
These 4 glands behind your thyroid are part of your endocrine system. They regulate the calcium level in your bones, teeth, muscles and nerves. Effects of manoplastics include overproduction of the parathyroid hormones, which can lead to osteoporosis.
Other than filtering waste products from your blood and excreting them in urine, your kidneys also produce hormones to control your red blood cell production, your blood pressure, and the absorption of calcium and phosphate for bone health. Microplastics can disrupt those hormones, which leads to illnesses.
Microplastics can affect your metabolism, leading to obesity. Specifically, chemicals in plastic, like BPA, disturb hormone signaling and influence lipid metabolism by disrupting adipose tissue on a cellular level. Adipose means storage of fat. Adipose tissue is a critical endocrine organ under your skin and around your organs.
Reproductive Health
Some fertility clinics are asking couples to reduce plastic use. Microplastics have been linked to infertility for both men and women.
A lot more microplastics are found in the placentas of pre-term births, making it likely the cause.
Child Health
2023 study at Rutgers NJ Medical School found that the detox of two plasticizers, Bisphenol A and phthlates, is reduced in autistic spectrum and attention deficit children.
The microplastics in our bodies are being passed on to our children and grandchildren. Microplastics are found in the newborn poop. in the mom’s breast milk, and in the placenta, potentially affecting the fetus and the pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to microplastics has been linked to autism and adhd.Â
Microplastics are found in breast milk. Reducing your own plastic usage would also protect your baby. Adverse effects of microplastics stay with the child resulting in higher risks of major health problems as they grow older.
Other
