What are Phthalates? A very simple question to some but it brings forth many controversial questions for how they are used. Some may not know what phthalates are but everyone comes across them at least one a day. According to the American Chemistry Council, “Phthalates are the primary plasticizer in use today because of performance, cost, durability, and overall product sustainability benefits.” Phthalates are very harmful to the body, but thanks to research and the advancements in technology over the years, a certain type of bacteria has been found to break down these substances. Phthalates are used still in plastics even after the recognitions of its harmful effects on the body. Because phthalates are not bonded to the backbone of plastic, it can escape to reach the environment. Example of products that contain phthalates are beverage containers, food wraps, baby toys and cosmetics. Several ways a person might absorb phthalates would be through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact (Spendlove). This shows that the concerns of most aware people are not considered when it comes to profit. Because of the many pros that outweigh the cons, many organizations and producers still choose to use this harmful substance. Consumers still choose these products because of how useful and convenient they are without the knowledge that these items they buy are harmful to them. It has been proven that these “particularly harmful components of many plastics that have been known to leach into the environment and into human bodies” (Savedge). This is a very realistic threat that proves to harm our health and it also has an ability to bring us to our graves at a faster rate. It is necessary for people to use items that contains phthalates sparingly. It is also important that people do personal research on the everyday necessities that they use and if they are living a better
Did you know, the personal care products you use every day have dozens of toxic chemicals that link to cancer, asthma, learning disabilities, and more? A campaign community working to build a healthier planet called The Story of Stuff and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, created a seven minute film called Chemicals in Beauty Products: The Story of Cosmetics. The purpose of this campaign film is to inform its viewers, specifically women and moms, about the toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo, that we may not know about. It addresses the top harmful chemicals that we are putting into our bodies, the products they are most likely found in, and
Humans are among the many terrestrial mammals affected by the endocrine-disrupting capabilities of bisphenol A. The majority of human exposure comes from consumption of BPA from food products packaged in polycarbonate plastics (Crain et al., 2007). Laboratory studies done on mice indicate that exposure to high concentrations of BPA can cause pregnancy complications, reproductive organ defects, obesity, early puberty, and cancer (reviewed by Flint et al., 2012).
Everyday millions of Americans come in contact with many different forms of plastics and think nothing about it. Whether its drinking from water bottles purchased at your local super market to eating leftovers from food storage containers in your refrigerator, plastics are everywhere in the world and it seems as if they’re here to stay. But have you heard of the chemical Bisphernol-A? Also known as BPA, this chemical compound is found in just about every plastic that you come in contact with and has created quite the uproar in the media over the last several years in question on its safety for consumer use. Scientists from around the world believe that BPA is the cause of many adverse health effects found in infants and adults, but the scientists aren’t the only ones voicing their opinions on the subject. Many concerned consumers in light of recent studies on the controversial BPA chemical are worried about what they themselves and their families are ingesting and exactly how it is affecting them. This problem amongst consumers has been so great that many companies such as Wal-Mart have demanded the removal of baby and infant products that contain the controversial chemical BPA from their store shelves.
National Center for Manufacturing Sciences. (2004, August 11). Environmental Roadmapping Initiative. Retrieved October 14, 2011, from Plastics Impacts, Risks and Regulations: http://ecm.ncms.org/ERI/new/IRRPlastics.htm
In a small reaction tube, the tetraphenylcyclopentadienone (0.110 g, 0.28 mmol) was added into the dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate (0.1 mL) and nitrobenzene (1 mL) along with a boiling stick. The color of the mixed solution was purple. The solution was then heated to reflux until it turned into a tan color. After the color change has occurred, ethanol (3 mL) was stirred into the small reaction tube. After that, the small reaction tube was placed in an ice bath until the solid was formed at the bottom of the tube. Then, the solution with the precipitate was filtered through vacuum filtration and washed with ethanol. The precipitate then was dried and weighed. The final product was dimethyl tertraphenylpthalate (0.086 g, 0.172mmol, 61.42%).
Most of the necessities humans need are provided in supermarkets, in fact supermarkets have become a necessity for our everyday life. They are now the main source of water, food, clothes and everyday tools. Therefore, the plastic bags demanded and supplied in this industry increase every day. In the past decade, we produced as much plastic as we did in the whole twentieth century (Freinkel, 2011). This exponential increase of a non-biodegradable material has negatively impacted our environment immensely. Plastic production requires our dwindling fossil fuel resources, robs away animal lives, litters our beautiful landscapes and even affects our very own well-being. Hence, if plastic production doesn’t diminish immediately, we will suffer great
The use of inhalants is a growing problem among teenagers. Inhaling, also called “huffing,” can severely damage someone. Teenagers aren’t the only ones subject to its influence. Adult use is on the rise and younger kids are getting into it. These deadly substances are not something that you have to buy off the street. These are everyday products found in your home. The ease of accessibility is scary since things like paint, markers, and glue are used to get high.
There is also debate on how much better biodegradable plastics are in the first place. This is because as biodegradable plastics break down, they break up into smaller and smaller pieces, but never quite disappear. This leaves the potential that the plastic would continue entering the food chain. But although biodegradable plastics aren’t perfect, they are still much safer than standard plastic and present a much lower risk. In addition, by making the shift to ban single use plastics, research towards better plastic alternatives will speed up and better solutions will become available. Over time, these new alternatives to plastics may spread to other items that aren’t single use, making an even greater impact on the health of humans and the
The US Container Recycling Institute estimates that 67 million plastic water bottles are discarded every day, which is enough to wrap around the planet 149 times each year. Therefore, plastic water bottles should be banned from public use. The usage of water bottles should be suppressed because they are incredibly dangerous, wasteful, expensive, and rarely recycled. Researchers have stated that plastic bottles containing water can contain many harmful chemicals. After close examination of the plastic, researchers have concluded that some plastics contain chemicals, such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens, which may leach into the water, especially after being stagnant for long periods of time.
Nearly “about 60 to 80 percent of the trash found in the ocean is plastic.” People think, well if plastic is floating in the ocean how does it effect me? The persistent bio accumulative toxic is typically found in plastic when it photo-degrades. When the plastic is consumed by fish in the sea, their bodies become contaminated and with fish being human prey, humans will eventually be affected by these chemicals due to the process known as Bioaccumulation. A chemist by the name Saido, had conducted a study and found that when plastic is decomposed in to micro-plastic it then releases PS Oligomer and Bisphenol A (BPA), both harsh chemical pollutants that can damage the reproductive system. Unfortunately those aren't the only harsh chemicals, during the study researchers found that plastic also released a synthetic chemical known as Styrene.() Styrene is known to be a human carcinogen and with that this raises huge concerns in both humans health and Marine life. One compound of styrene is trimer, which is typically found when the plastic decomposes due to excessive heat resulting in that chemical to be released. Trimer is also classified as a carcinogen which means this is also detrimental to both animals and human life. Fortunately today scientists are discovering new ways to prevent plastic from entering the ocean though it may take a lot of cleaning up, it’s a
Although companies across the globe continue to produce multiple polycarbonate #7 plastic products with BPA, more is being noticed about the adverse health effects to humans can be harmful. Testing on mice has proven that some exposure to BPA can be linked to Cancer and neurological disorders. In countries which have banned the use of BPA in different products, would agree that this chemical is toxic and dangerous. However, as long countries like the United States, who do not currently support banning BPA countrywide due to limited scientific data to back all claims, BPA will continue to be a global issue which continues to be hidden in the dark and a mystery globally
The methodology adopted in this paper was the following. First, the composition and the life cycle of plastics were briefly discussed. Second, the benefits from plastics were elucidated and their inevitability in India established. Third, the ecological harms and health hazards caused by plastics were elaborated. Fourth, the viability of command-and-control measures for addressing these harms and hazards was 21 investigated. Finally, the competence of market-based solutions in this regard was
Some examples of harmful toxins with difficult names include diethanolamine (DEA), formaldehyde, glucocorticoids, and triethanolamine (TEA). We are exposed to toxic chemicals in many ways. We may breathe them in as sprays and powders, swallow chemicals on our lips and, even rub them on our skin. According to a team of researchers who conducted a study on the relationship between exposure to phthalates and DNA damage on human sperm, “cosmetics frequently contain enhancers that allow ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. Studies have found health problems in people exposed to common fragrance and sunscreen ingredients, including increased risk of sperm damage, feminization of the male reproductive system and low birth weight in girls” (Duty et al. 1164). There should be regulations banning toxic chemicals from personal care and beauty products because toxins are bad for our health (1), the consumer faith in cosmetic companies are suffering (2), and other countries recognized the effects and banned it while America has not
These fragments absorb all the toxins that pollute waterways, contaminate soil, and sicken animals (which are then consumed). Plastic trash also absorbs organic pollutants such as BPA. They take centuries to decompose while sitting in landfills, amounting to billions of environmentally poisonous time bombs. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound used to create polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are found in a wide range of products, but food and drink containers are the most concerning.
Various medical journals, research papers, and critics have pushed to ensure that people aren’t exposed to these harmful chemicals, by increasing overall public awareness. Currently, there is a steadily growing stigma against plastics, resulting in many people opting to use safer alternatives to plastics for utensils and liquid containers (glass and metal water bottles over plastic). If asked, almost any person would say no to the question of, “Would you be ok with plastics in the drinking water, or in your food?” However, most people don’t realize that the careless disposal of plastics in waterways and oceans results in the creation of microplastics, which fish and other wildlife consume. Microplastics are mainly formed in the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”: the Pacific Ocean’s currents cause millions of tons of plastics to slowly degrade from the extensive exposure to sunlight and abrasion from water. As a result,