ACT NOW TO PROTECT YOUR HORMONE HEALTH

PLASTIC isn’t only bad for the environment, it can be dangerous for your health, too — many believe that damaged and worn plastic can leach potentially harmful toxic chemicals into your food, the water supply and even the air.

For decades, alternative health practitioners have been warning that chemicals in plastic — such as bisphenol A (BPA), flame retardants, plasticisers, stabilisers, colour pigments and lubricants — which are often added during processing, can leak out over time, particularly if the item is old or repeatedly heated.

These, they say, can cause untold damage to our health if they get into our food, the water system (by putting plastics through the dishwasher or by washing synthetic clothing) and even the air. And serious scientific studies are now suggesting that plastic might not be as safe as previously thought.

For instance, it is now widely accepted that BPA can disrupt our hormones. In many countries it is banned in baby bottles and toys because youngsters and pregnant women are believed to be at an increased risk. But EU regulations insist low exposure is not harmful for the rest of us.

Scientists at Exeter University recently discovered that 90 per cent of teenagers have BPA in their bodies, while University of Plymouth researchers found that old plastic toys can be chronically toxic. This lends weight to many people’s fears.

At the very least, many scientists advise caution when plastic that is heated (such as in the microwave) or damaged is used for food.