Microplastics entering the human body via direct exposures through ingestion or inhalation can lead to an array of health impacts , including inflammation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis, which are linked to an array of negative health outcomes including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ...
How does plastic make people sick?
When plastics and microplastics end up in the environment, they attract micro-organisms , such as harmful bacteria (pathogens). If microplastics containing these pathogens enter our body, they may increase the risk of infection.
What are the harmful effects of plastic?
- Direct toxicity, as in the cases of lead, cadmium, and mercury.
- Carcinogens, as in the case of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
- Endocrine disruption, which can lead to cancers, birth defects, immune system suppression and developmental problems in children.
Do we really need plastic?
Plastic is durable and provides protection from contaminants and the elements. It reduces food waste by preserving food and increasing its shelf life. It protects food against pests, microbes and humidity. Without this protection, food is more likely to get damaged and become unusable.
How does plastic affect humans and animals?
Animals can starve when they ingest too much plastic that they can't digest. When animals ingest plastic waste, it can block their digestive tracts. As a result, they starve. Toxic chemicals in plastic can harm animals' health—and people can ingest these chemicals as they make their way up the food chain.
What are the positive impacts of plastic?
Plastic packaging helps protect and preserve goods , while reducing weight in transportation, which saves fuel and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. From computers and cell phones to televisions and microwaves, durable, lightweight and affordable plastics have helped revolutionize the electronics we rely on every day.
Does plastic leave the body?
Our body likely flushes out some microplastics through urine, bile, feces and other bodily functions , according to a 2018 review of current research on microplastics and human health. ... Research in animals and fish suggests some types of plastic could be more harmful than others, according to Rochman.
Is plastic good or bad?
Plastic is incredibly useful material. In fact, humans have been making forms of plastic for thousands of years. ... The first ‘plastic', Bakelite, was developed in 1907, and the plastics have become ubiquitous ever since. But plastic's strength as a material is also pretty bad for the environment .
Why plastic is bad for humans?
Microplastics entering the human body via direct exposures through ingestion or inhalation can lead to an array of health impacts , including inflammation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis, which are linked to an array of negative health outcomes including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ...
Why can't we get rid of plastic?
Alternatively, plastic can be limited to a single standard to make recycling easier; coloured plastics such as black trays are harder to identify by sorting technologies, slowing down the recycling process. Further, plastic packaging cannot be recycled infinitely because it degrades in quality .
Can we survive without plastic?
Most of us will get along just fine without throwaway plastic in our daily lives. ... As with medical applications, many substitute materials do not provide the protection or stability that single-use plastics do. Single-use plastics are often used to package food and water.
Why you should stop using plastic?
While getting rid of plastic waste is the primary environmental problem , the production process is a leading cause of carbon emissions contributing to global warming. It takes a lot of energy and resources to make plastic, with more than 90% being produced from fossil fuel resources.
What are 3 properties of plastic that make it a useful material?
What are three properties of plastic that make it a useful material? Plastics are generally low cost, easy to manufacture, durable, strong for their weight , electrically and thermally insulative, and resistant to shock, corrosion, chemicals, and water.
Why is plastics useful?
Plastics enable sustainable, durable, long-lasting design and construction in homes , buildings, and infrastructure like bridges. ... Plastic packaging helps protect and preserve goods, while reducing weight in transportation, which saves fuel and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
What are advantages of plastics?
Lighter weight than competing materials reduces fuel consumption during transportation . Good safety and hygiene properties for food packaging. Durability and longevity. Resistance to chemicals, water and impact.
