DROWNING IN PLASTIC
Is it hiding where you least expect it?
From the cling film we wrap our food in, to the teabags we dunk every morning, plastic pervades every part of our lives. We manufacture more than 400 tons of plastic globally each year, so it’s not surprising it has now made its way into our food chain.
Not long ago, shocking images were splashed up on our screens showing the inside of a fish stuffed with waste plastic. Worrying reports may now indicate that we could be going the same way. While we’re not accidentally chomping down on plastic bags and earbuds, these microplastics are still getting into our systems.
Microplastics are just that – micro.
They range in size from 5mm to 10 nanometres, so are easily ingested and absorbed by our gut. And they are found everywhere. Just one litre of bottled water contains almost a quarter of a million nanoplastic fragments*.
Damaging our health
It’s thought that once microplastics enter our bloodstream, they attach themselves to red blood cells, impacting their ability to carry oxygen around our bodies** – and can even lodge in our organs. Recent investigations, led by a team from Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull, discovered plastics in the deepest part of patients’ lungs. The jury’s still out on the exact long-term
health implications of consuming plastic, particularly when debating how much is too much plastic. However, there’s enough scientific evidence to cause concern.
The health worries not only stem from microplastics, but also the chemicals contained in plastic, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach out, and which some studies have linked to a higher risk of heart disease, breast cancer and diabetes. Studies have found that these toxic chemicals can alter hormone activity in the body, disrupting reproduction, growth and cognitive function. It’s thought microplastics can also act as vessels for pathogens to enter the body and increase the spread of disease.
The debate rages on
At present, the evidence is suggestive, not conclusive. The European Food Safety Authority and the Food Standards Agency stated in 2015 that, at current levels, there’s insufficient evidence of adverse health effects of BPA.
However, Breast Cancer UK is worried enough to be calling for a ban on the use of BPA in all food and drink packaging. There’s a significant amount of scientific evidence that shows, even at low levels of exposure, that BPA has an adverse effect
on the development of breast tissue, says Dr Margaret Wexler, head of science at the charity Breast Cancer UK. ‘Laboratory experiments show that BPA has the ability to transform normal breast cells into cells of a more cancerous or malignant nature.’ Until we know more, Breast Cancer UK believes it’s safer to try to reduce our plastic use.
Registered nutritionist Caroline Sherlock agrees. She believes there’s enough uncertainty to make a case for reducing our exposure to plastic, particularly for those with a higher cancer risk, hormonal conditions, or with a gut dysfunction such as constipation, which can mean toxins aren’t readily eliminated from the body.
While this debate continues, what should we do? While it’s pretty much impossible to eliminate all contact with plastic, there are things we can do to minimise our exposure to it.