However, in recent times,
concerns are being expressed about the safety of plastic goods, what with the
advent of certain new diseases that scientists link to exposure to plastic
products.
Design technologists say
plastics can be found in natural substances or they may be man-made. Most of
the plastics used today are man-made, and they are known as synthetic plastics,
they explain.
Experts say natural plastic
products occur in such things as animal’s horns, animal’s milk, insects, plants
and trees.
According to online portal,
design-technology.org, although some plastics are made from renewable
resources, most are made from crude oil. Coal and natural gas are also used to
produce plastics.
Plastic
ware made from plants are referred to as bioplastics and they decay more easily
in the environment; unlike the ones made from petrochemicals which are
biodegradable.
Researchers
say plastics may appear dumb on the table or while being held, yet they wreak
havoc on health more than people know.
For
one, environmentalists can’t stand plastic products mainly because they stay
very long in the environment, and getting rid of them is a real headache, as
some plastics cannot be recycled.
Studies
published variously in scientific journals such as Environmental Health
Perspectives and Toxicology Letters, among others, reveal that the main
chemical in plastics that poses health to human health is bisphenol-A — BPA —
which has been linked to the growth of precancerous lesions and abnormal
development of reproductive systems in animals.
Reproductive
Endocrinologist, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru describes BPA as oestrogen-like chemical
that mimics the body’s hormones and disrupts the workings of endocrine system.
“The
endocrine system and the hormones it releases are instrumental in regulating
mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, as well as sexual
function and reproductive processes. Called endocrine disruptors, these
chemicals falsely tell the body’s cells that the hormone oestrogen is around,
potentially causing all sorts of troubling developmental and reproductive
consequences,” Ashiru posits.
Heating
food in plastic ware seems to increase the amount of BPA that’s transferred to
food, researchers say. They also note that migration increases when plastic
touches fatty, salty, or acidic foods; while some animal studies report effects
of BPA in altering the structure of human cells in foetuses and newborns
exposed to it.
Another
chemical to be feared is polystyrene, also known as styrofoam, used to make
cups, plates, bowls, take-away containers, meat trays and more. Scientists say
polystyrene is known to leach styrene into hot foods, and this can damage the
nervous system and has been linked to cancer.
Phthalates
are substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency,
durability and longevity and they are mostly used in polyvinyl chloride
products. Scientists say PVC goods contain toxic chemicals, including Di-2-ethylhexyl
phthalate.
Already
banned in the United States, Canada and EU, scientists describe phthalates as
one of the groups of “gender-bending” chemicals that cause males of many
species to become more female. When they disrupt the endocrine systems, scientists
warn, they can cause testicular cancer, genital deformations, low sperm counts
and infertility.
Again,
home goods such as soft, flexible plastic flooring like vinyl; or the padded
play-mat floors for kids that are often used in day care centres and
kindergartens, have been linked to chronic diseases, including allergies,
asthma and autism.
Some
housewives that Healthwise spoke to confess that, for economic reasons, there’s
no how they could use glass ware for kids, whether at home or when going to
school, as they may have to replace them on a regular basis.
Experts
agree, though, that where it is impossible to do without using plastic ware,
users should take the following steps to remain safe:
What to avoid
- Avoid heating plastics, leaving them in the sun, putting hot materials in them or putting them through other stresses if you’re planning to eat or drink their contents.
- When possible, opt for glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.
- For babies, use glass feeding bottles and other safe ware that are not plastic.
- Store food in glass or Pyrex containers, rather than plastic.
- Discard scratched or worn plastic containers.
- Hand wash plastics to reduce wear and tear.
Source:
punchng.com
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