By: Marikay Shellman

BPW Colorado Virtual Chair, NFBPWC Environment and Sustainable Development Committee (2022-2024)

Simple Acts: EAT LESS PLASTIC

The average person ingests about a credit card’s amount microplastic per week. It has become so alarming that Consumer Reports’ cover page January 2024, announces “HOW TO EAT LESS PLASTIC.” The Washington Post, World Wildlife Fund, National Geographic, PBS, NPR, Bon Appetit, and EcoWatch are among many publications addressing this dangerous health issue. 

Microplastics, miniscule pieces less than 5 millimeters, are everywhere, not only in our oceans and soils and in the guts of insects and fish, but also in human organs, even in the air we breathe. Synthetic plastic production has grown by more than 400 million tons annually.

Bisphenols, BPAs, and phthalates, which make plastics flexible and durable, have been found to interrupt the regulation and production of hormones leading to the increased risk of diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and neurodevelopmental disorders to name a few. DEHPs, the most studied phthalates, are present in plastic products such as toys, shower curtains, medical devices, packaging film, and garden hoses, are classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen.

Simple ways to avoid microplastics in your day-to-day life

1)Don’t heat food in plastic. Yes, it is so easy to heat leftovers or takeout in those plastic containers. Don’t. The BPAs and phthalates added to Tupperware, takeout boxes, pre-made frozen meals leach easily into your food when heated. Don’t wash plastic containers in the dishwasher as the heated water degrades the plastic.

2)Drink filtered tap water. Although microplastics are in 94% of American tap water, water filters eliminate 100% of known microplastics. Plastic bottled water, soda, and sports drinks are known to be one of the largest sources of microplastic ingestion. Glass or stainless-steel bottles are best as many BPA-free plastic and aluminum water bottles have undisclosed liner materials made from resin, polymer, or epoxy.

3)Avoid plastic food containers. Plastic products with recycling codes 3, 6, and 7 contain phthalate, styrene, and bisphenols which are more damaging than other plastic containers unless they are labeled “greenware” or “biobased”, a safer option. Forego any plastic wrapped items, even peanut butter, and choose glass containers instead. Use wax paper or aluminum or food-grade silicone for wrap. High-fat items such as yogurt, milk, cream, and butter readily leach chemicals from plastics. Although more expensive, purchase these products in glass containers. 

4)Eliminate takeaway cups. The lining in most takeout containers, your morning coffee or tea, are made with HDPE grade plastic which leak estrogenic chemicals and some even contain heavy metals. Bring your own stainless steel or glass reusable cup to your favorite coffee shop, cutting down on waste.

5)Use loose leaf tea instead of tea bags. A majority of tea bags consist of approximately 25% plastic, releasing 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into your drink. Paper tea bags are glued together with polypropylene, another plastic.

6)Beware of the types of fish you eat, especially shellfish. Limit your intake of seafood to cut back on the amount of microplastics you ingest. 386 aquatic species, more than half of which are commercially sold, have been found to contain large amounts of microplastics. These microplastics and nanoplastics move from the fish stomach into its muscle tissue, which is the part that we eat. Unfortunately, ocean plastic continues to grow.

Collectively, we need to reduce our dependence on plastic. Only by increasing our awareness of the plastic crisis and spreading the word can we reduce the presence of microplastics in our food.