THE CONS OF PLASTIC

Sydney Territo terrisyd000@hsestudents.org

Whenever I bring my lunch to school, it almost always ends up coming in plastic containers or bags. While this is fairly common among students, it should not be. 8lastic not only has a bad eff ect on students’ health, but when it ends up in the garbage can, it aff ects the land that it ends up in. Plastic containers are usually made of a mix of diff erent types of polymers made with long carbon chains, according to Ecolife, a website used as a resource for green living. The most common polymer used in Tupperware-esque containers and plastic beverage bottles is polyethylene, which makes a more fl exible plastic using a compound called Bisphenol A, or BPA. A lot of plastics have been criticized since they leach BPA, which mimics the hormone estrogen and has been directly linked by CertiChem and PlastiPure researchers to reproductive cancers and developmental problems with sex organs, such as reduced sperm count, early puberty in women and birth defects in fetuses. While many companies have now started selling BPA free products, it may not be as safe as one would think. In a study done by geneticist 8atricia Hunt about the reproductive eff ects of BPA on mice, she discovered that BPA-containing plastics and BPA-free plastics were not so diff erent. +ompanies started using *isphenol S in place of BPA, which acts almost exactly like BPA, causing the same genetic defects. In an experiment by CertiChem about estrogenic plastics, their lab techs took various plastic products and tested to see what chemicals were leached out after a series of longevity tests. Estrogenic chemicals were leached out of 70% of the products in the preliminary alcohol/ saltwater soak, and 95% leached chemicals after women and birth defects in fetuses. used as a resource for green living. The most common polymer used in Tupperware-esque containers and plastic beverage bottles is polyethylene, which makes a more fl exible plastic using a compound called Bisphenol A, or BPA. A lot of plastics have been criticized since which mimics the hormone estrogen researchers problems with sex organs, such as reduced sperm count, early puberty in women and birth defects in fetuses. containers and plastic beverage bottles is polyethylene, which makes a more fl exible plastic using a compound called Bisphenol A, or BPA. A lot of plastics have been criticized since organs, such as reduced sperm count, early puberty in women and birth defects in fetuses.

going through the stress of being exposed to microwaves, dishwashers and sunlight. Plastic is not only dangerous when it comes to people using it day to day. In a study done by the =S Environmental 8rotection )gency E8) summaribing the eff ects of plastic on aYuatic life and the organisms that depend on it, they found fl ame retardants in plastics such as 8*,E, which is a chemical used to slow ignition rate of fl ammable products, to be possible neurotoxins, carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. In waterways like Geist Reservoir, the idea of it being full of chemicals that could cause cancer is pretty terrifying, especially since a lot of people live on the water and swim in it.

Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the amount of plastic

being used. In an article by the 6ational :esources ,efense Council about using less plastic products, they recommend avoiding one-use plastics, stop buying bottled water and recycling. In an article by North Carolina State =niversity, they recommend using glass containers, canning jars, silicone containers, cloth sacks for dry food like sandwiches and stainless steel bowls for storage. My family started to buy and use Pyrex glass containers for food storage, which works just as well as plastic and keeps BPA out of our foods. These containers also make for fantastic soup storage, since they all come with lids that seal them. My family has a fairly large collection of them now, and I would fully recommend them as plastic container substitutes. Plastic harms our waterways, bodies and future children, so I suggest that anyone wanting to save the Earth switch to less harmful products. Consider changing from plastic to readily available, easy to use containers like glass containers or cloth sacks, which will work just as well, and be better for overall health and the planet. being full of chemicals that could cause cancer is pretty terrifying, especially since a lot of people live on the water and swim in it.

Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the amount of plastic

being used. In an article by the 6ational :esources ,efense Council about using less plastic products, State =niversity, they recommend using glass containers, canning jars, silicone containers, cloth sacks for dry food like sandwiches and stainless steel bowls for storage. carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. In waterways like Geist Reservoir, the idea of it being full of chemicals that could cause cancer is being full of chemicals that could cause cancer is pretty terrifying, especially since a lot of people live on the water and swim in it.

Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the amount of plastic

being used. In an article by the containers, canning jars, silicone containers, cloth sacks for dry food like sandwiches and stainless steel bowls for storage.

The tupperware spreads out, covering the Earth, representing a world covered in plastic. Avoiding plastics like these can reduce the amount found in our oceans and on our land. Photo by Sydney Territo.