Are plastics harmful?

Convenient, yes. Sturdy and shatter-proof, yes. Harmless, no.

Research has shown the chemicals and molecules in plastics are hazardous to your health. Check out this article in the recent issue of Time. We are exposed to hundreds of synthetic chemicals in our daily lives, but I am particularly weary of BPA (bisphenol A) and phthalates. BPA is ubiquitous in plastics (as well as the lining of cans for canned foods, CDs, eyeglasses) and started getting some attention in the 1990s. Both BPA (a synthetic estrogen) and phthalates (esters of phthalic acid) are used to make plastics more durable and flexible. They are also endocrine disrupters, meaning they mess with the normal function of hormones in your body. For example, some studies have shown a possible correlation between BPA and higher incidence of miscarriages. In addition, there are myriad health problems on the rise in society (some of which is unexplained) - obesity, diabetes, autism, ADD, etc. These all have possible connections to harmful environmental exposures.


It is really pretty scary. Aaron has learned about some of these connections in his genetics courses at Duke - making it all the more real for us. Researchers found the link between BPA and genetic abnormalities by accident. They were conducting studies on mice, and found that their control group (those without any treatment), not the experimental group, had the abnormaliites. Eventually, they linked this bizarre finding back to new plastic water bottles that the control group had been given, water bottles that were leaching BPA into the mice's drinking water. Ick!

Recently, the CDC found BPA in 92-93% of Americans' urine. It is everywhere. So, what do we do? Ideally, Aaron and I would love to go plastic-free, but that is not an easy transition. We threw out all plastics in our kitchen marked with 3, 6, and 7 (the number in the triangle symbol at the bottom of the container). We also don't wash ANY plastics, no matter the #, in the dishwasher or use them in the freezer. The molecules in plastics are more likely to leach out chemicals when heated or frozen. Last, we try to eat less processed food, which is more likely to have harmful additives, and incorporate more fresh and homemade foods into our diet. We have not yet eliminated our exposure to plastic, disposable dishes and replaced our tupperware with other, safter storage containers, but we are working on it.

Are you totally freaked out yet? I think we will learn a lot more about the health effects of highly industrialized societies in years to come - similar to the info we know now about BPA and phthalates. Convenience comes at a cost. Just how high is it?

Other reading: NY Op-Ed about BPA, 11/09; Steps to reduce BPA exposure/USA Today, 01/10; EPA summary of phthalates, 2007; EPA Action Plan for BPA, 2010; Pictures from here