What Diseases Are Caused By Plastic? - Fixanswer

LONDON (Reuters) – A study has for the first time linked a common chemical used in everyday products such as plastic drink containers and baby bottles to health problems, specifically

heart disease and diabetes

.

How does plastic affect human health?

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 plastic is bad for health?

Studies have found that

certain chemicals in plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the food and beverages we eat

. Some of these chemicals have been linked to health problems such as metabolic disorders (including obesity) and reduced fertility.

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.

Does plastic leach estrogen?

But a new study says that even if they don't contain BPA,

most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals

. Most plastic products, from sippy cups to food wraps, can release chemicals that act like the sex hormone estrogen, according to a study in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Are all plastics toxic?

Most of the plastics that consumers encounter in daily life—including plastic wrap, bath mats, yogurt containers, and coffee cup lids—contain

potentially toxic chemicals

, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Is black plastic toxic?

Black plastics are basically not recyclable due to their color. They can also

contain unregulated amounts of toxic chemicals

including heavy metals and flame retardants which means they could be hazardous to your health.

How do you remove plastic from your body?

Do: Drink tap water. …
Do: Heat food in or on the stove, or by microwaving in glass. …
Do: Buy and store food in glass, silicone, or foil. …
Do: Eat fresh food as much as possible.

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.

How much plastic do we eat?

In a year, that amounts to the plastic in a firefighter's helmet. At this rate of consumption, in a decade, we could be eating 2.5kg (5.5 lb) in plastic, the equivalent of over two sizeable pieces of plastic pipe. And over a lifetime, we consume

about 20kg (44 lb) of microplastic

.

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.

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.

How can we avoid plastic?

Avoid single-use plastics such as drinking straws. …
If you go shopping, remember to take a cloth bag. …
Recycle chewing gum… it's also make of plastic! …
Buy more bulk food and fewer packaged products. …
Replace plastic Tupperware for glass or steel containers.

Is drinking out of plastic cups bad for you?

The short answer:

No, not all of them

. Time to scour your cupboard and root out those old plastic containers, cups and sports bottles. Recent studies have suggested that a chemical called bisphenol-A (a.k.a. BPA) — which is found in plastic containers — is hazardous to your health.

How long does BPA stay in your body?

When ingested, unconjugated BPA—the biologically active form of BPA—has historically been thought to be rapidly conjugated in the liver and then excreted through bile or urine, with a

half life of approximately 5.3 hours

[38–40].