The plastic
product comes in different shapes, colours and sizes. These modern days,
virtually every household item contains one plastic element or the other.
Form
the baby’s feeding bottle to toys, plates, cups, cutleries, lunch baskets,
freezer bags, buckets and large water containers, plastic wares seem to have
taken over in the households.
Big
companies with offices that have water dispenser and many portable utilities
like the waste bins, among others are handy. In most restaurants, you are serving
mostly with a plastic and a take away pack.
At various
occasions such as weddings, birthdays, burials, different designs of plastics
are usually handed out as gifts, which are usually printed.
A food
packaging and beverage industry makes use of the plastic products, because of
their durability and availability.
However, in
recent times, concerns have been raised about the safety of plastic goods, with
the advent of new diseases pointed out by the researchers.
Studies
published variously in the scientific journals such as Environmental Health
Perspectives and Toxicology Letters among others; reveal that the main chemical
in the plastic that poses risk to the human health is Bisphenol-A-BPA- which
has been linked to the growth of precancerous lesions and abnormal development
of reproductive systems in animals.
Hot foods in
the plastic were seen to be increasing the amount of the BPA that has
transferred to the food, researchers say.
Another
chemical that could endanger is the Polystyrene, also known as the Styrofoam,
used to make cups, plates, spoons, and bowls, take away packs etc. researchers
say polystyrene is known to leach tyrene into hot foods, and this can damage
the nervous system and has been linked to cancer.
Phthalates
are substances added to the plastics to increase their flexibility,
transparency, longetivity, durability and they are mostly used in polyvinyl
chloride products.
Already
banned in the United State of America, Canada, European Union, scientists
describe phthalates as one of the groups of “gender bending” chemicals that
causes male 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.
It is been
observed that it is not easy no to use the plastic products due to some
important reasons stated by some people after survey been carried out in recent
weeks. Users should take the following advise to remain safe in using plastic
products:
- Avoid heating plastics, leaving them in the sun, putting hot materials in them or them through other stresses if you are planning to eat or drink their contents.
- When possible opt for glass, porcelain, ceramics, or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot foods or liquid.
- For the babies, use glass feeding bottles and other safe ware that are not plastic.
- Store food in glass rather than plastic.
- Hand wash plastic to reduce wear and tear.
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