The
presence of plastics in our every aspect of our lives is becoming a greater
concern for many people. We know that fish are eating plastics, then we eat the fish, there are microplastics in bottled water and recently it has become apparent that plastic particles are in the air we breathe. Plastics are in every aspect of our lives, but what we do not know is the
impact they will have on our health.
Many of the chemicals that make up
plastics are dangerous to human health. They can be endocrine disrupters or even
cancerous. When plastic is warmed, the chemicals in its makeup begin to leach
into their surroundings, whether that is water or fatty tissue of an animal.
A recent study found that microplastics were present in the deepest crevices of the ocean. Where did those micro plastics come from? The study determined that they were
from clothing particles breaking off in household washing machines and going
through the water systems. Another study found that women in remote locations,
such as native Alaskans, have higher levels of pollutant in their breast milk than the average woman. Meaning there is no where on earth safe
from plastics.