Plastic has become essential in our lives. It is indispensable and very necessary when we think about fields such as medicine, transportation, or food safety. However, what we can question is our excessive use of it, especially when it comes to single-use plastics. How is it possible that a material made from petroleum extracted on the other side of the world, a resource that takes millions of years to form, ends up becoming an object that we will use only once, for a takeaway coffee or a quick meal? This overuse has led to plastic waste being found in countless ecosystems, from the most remote environments to our own cellular ecosystem. Today, however, we will not focus on the issue of microplastics, but we will go one step further.
We know that plastics are made up of hundreds of compounds, more than 16,000 different chemicals have been associated with them (you can find the scientific article here). Among these, we find the plasticizers. Plasticizers are chemical substances added to plastics to give them certain properties, such as flexibility or colour. But here lies the problem: in many cases, these compounds are not perfectly bound to the plastic structure itself, and under certain conditions, such as heat or everyday use, they can gradually leach out. When this happens, these compounds do not simply disappear; instead, they are released into the surrounding environment, such as the food stored in a plastic container or the water inside a plastic bottle. Ultimately, they may enter our bodies when we consume food or beverages that have been stored in plastic packaging.
As mentioned earlier, it is difficult to imagine life without plastic. In fact, plastics and their associated compounds can already be found within our own bodies. Recent epidemiological studies have detected these plastic additives in a large proportion of the population, including adults, children, and even unborn babies. And yes, some of these additives can reach the developing fetus through the umbilical cord. Furthermore, certain plasticizers can interfere with our health: the endocrine disruptors.
Impact on Our Endocrine System
According to the Endocrine Society, endocrine disruptors are chemical substances capable of mimicking, blocking, or interfering with our hormones. This is not a minor issue. A quick review of basic biology reminds us that the proper functioning of the endocrine system is crucial for our health. Hormones act as messengers that regulate essential processes such as hunger, growth, and reproduction.
However, decades of research have shown that some compounds found in plastics, including some plasticizers, can act as endocrine disruptors. In other words, they have the ability to alter the normal functioning of our endocrine system (visit this website to learn more). There is now sufficient scientific evidence to state that specific plasticizers are associated with health problems, including reproductive disorders, impaired fetal development, metabolic disturbances (for example: obesity), and even diseases such as diabetes.
Reducing Our Exposure
While the European Union continues to strengthen regulations on these compounds, we can also take simple everyday actions to reduce our exposure. For example:
- If we bring food to work, it is preferable to use glass containers instead of plastic ones, as well as glass or stainless-steel water bottles.
- In the kitchen, it is advisable to avoid plastic utensils and replace them with alternatives such as wood, while prioritizing materials like stainless steel for pots and pans.
- Reduce the consumption of canned foods or foods wrapped in plastic. In fact, two recent Spanish studies have shown how certain compounds can migrate from the food packaging into fish or into potatoes (see the fish and potato studies).
- Whenever possible, choose clothing made from natural fibres such as cotton.
These may seem like small changes, but they can make a meaningful difference, our hormones will undoubtedly thank us!
