First, I was curious about the history behind plastic. The mass production of plastic began during World War 2 because it remains cheap to produce. This is a common theme I notice in the consumer world, choosing short term profit over long term detrimental effects. Convenience is costly. As of 2024, there are “eight gigatons of accumulated plastic on Earth, two times as much weight of all existing animal life on our planet,” according to the Examiner News online website. One of the main concerns with plastic consumption is the release of tiny particles into the air that impact all living organisms. The website also highlights the risks of the following chemicals, such as, “formaldehyde, mercury, toluene, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), phthalates, bisphenol A (endocrine disruptors that interfere with our hormones) and vinyl chloride among them.” Because of the more recent rapid use of plastic, studies are discovering growing numbers of health effects from a cellular and molecular level, but so far the discoveries are not good news. Among those health effects are listed in an article titled the “Health Effects of Microplastic Exposures: Current Issues and Perspectives in South Korea,” it explains that “oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, carcinogenicity, altered metabolism” can be caused by chronic exposure to microplastic. However, it is important to reiterate that humans are not the only victims; other living organisms in the soil, ocean, and air are too. With that being said, I will try my best to find ways to reduce my plastic consumption by reusing glass containers from my grocery hauls, use beeswax wrap as an alternative to other plastic bags, and commit to using washable dishcloths since paper towels are often wrapped in plastic. I will continue to learn about other plastic alternatives that have been common items in my household.
