Introduction:
Plastic bags are a danger in everyday life, they are found almost everywhere like grocery stores, markets, any big market etc. Although plastic bags are convenient, they silently harm people a lot. In this article, we will know how plastic bags affect our body.
Plastic is toxic:
In our daily life, we use plastic bags almost every day. We even store food leftovers in them. This is not good at all because plastic contains a lot of toxic substances and microplastics.
**Plastic bags are made from polyethylene, which is a by-product of petroleum. With sunlight, heat or time, they release toxic chemicals.
For example,
*Bisphenol A (BPA)
*Phthalates
**Dioxin.
Its chemicals mix with water or food and harm our body, especially during reuse.
Microplastics invade our bodies silently:
Plastic disappears. It breaks down into tiny particles called microplastics, which are smaller than sand and harm our bodies.
*With the water we drink
*With the oxygen we inhale
*With the salt we eat
*With the seafood we eat
*With the bottles we drink water from. Microplastics enter the bloodstream, lungs and even brain tissue.
*Which disrupt hormones
*Damage our cells
*Cause inflammation.
Hormonal Imbalance:
Our body has a chemical system called the endocrine system. It is like a fine tuning mechanism. Plastics release endocrine disruptors like BPA that mimic human hormones,
such as:
*Mood swings
*Early puberty in children
*Fertility problems
*Diabetes or thyroid problems.
**Exposure to chemicals has been linked to reduced sperm count and reproductive problems in both men and women
Cancer caused by plastic:
Many chemicals in plastic are known to be carcinogens. If plastic bags are burned, they release dioxins and furans. Which float in the air and these pollutants enter our body through our breathing.
For example–
* Damage to the body’s lungs
* Increases the risk of respiratory diseases
* Liver, breast and prostate cancer.
Food Pollution From Bags to Body:
Many people store hot food or fried food in plastic bags. Street vendors prepare many foods in plastic bags. Chemicals released due to heat enter our body with food and cause a lot of harm to us.
For example,
slow growth
*Allergies
*Behavioral changes
*Immune system damage
Effects of plastic on pregnant women and children:
Exposure to plastic toxins can spread between a pregnant woman and her unborn child through the placenta,
which can result in –
*Birth defects
*Brain development problems
*Low birth weight*Premature birth, etc.
How to protect yourself from plastic bags:
*Use jute bags when shopping for clothes
*Avoid cooking in plastic microwaves
*Use steel utensils for work
*Drink filtered water. If we follow these few rules, we can protect our family from plastic