Orlando, Florida (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Plastic is ubiquitous and popular for its convenience and cost.
But researchers warn that these tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, can pose serious health risks — and now a new study sheds light on some of the dangers.
Plastic isn’t just an environmental problem – it’s also a problem for our health: studies have shown that tiny pieces and chemicals like BPA and phthalates can end up in our bodies.
“So these chemicals are not bound to anything in the product that makes them inactive or that makes them unable to migrate out of the product,” said Dr. Jennifer Adibi of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at plaque removed from the carotid arteries of 257 people. More than half had measurable levels of microplastics, and in subsequent health checks, this group had a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. Microplastics have also been linked to a number of other health problems.
So what can you do to protect yourself?
“The key is to really learn what the sources are and what the alternatives are for those products,” Adibi said.
Here are some helpful tips: Use glass, ceramic or paper plates in the microwave instead of plastic containers.
Buy plastics that are labeled “BPA-free” and avoid plastics with recycling codes 3 or 7, which may be made with BPA.
Doctors say phthalates are sometimes found in beauty and skin care products, and they recommend avoiding highly processed foods like chicken nuggets and heating powdered milk in glass containers rather than plastic bottles.
Contributors to this news report include producer Lindsay Daly and editor/videographer Kyle Fisher.
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