Effects of disposable plastic usage on human health

Plastic civilisation has made its usage to be everywhere, at home for domestic purposes, in hospitals and in pharmaceutical and building industries; this is the age of plastic owing to the industrial development of fossil fuel. Nylon is used to wrap food both hot and cold, we have them also in food and beverage containers, as well as disposable plates. Chemical addictives are used during plastic production and they have tremendous environmental and health effects on human beings as a result of the release of high content pollutants into the environment. These toxic chemicals, which are referred to as Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) dwell long in the environment with the ability to travel vast distances via air and water. They are carcinogenic, neurotoxin and hormone disruptive in nature, while released as waste, find their ways into the ecology through water, land and air.

While it is true that plastics are cheap, durable and effective in packaging with low maintenance cost, the long term ecological problem and adverse health impact cannot be underplayed. When plastics products are burnt or heats up, it releases dioxins and other poisonous chemicals into the air which may cause respiratory problems to man when inhaled. If the release of these toxins into the environment is not being mitigated, all terrestrial and aquatic life they come into contact with can die, thereby disrupting the ecosystem.

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Attempt to destroy plastic waste through burning is also damaging to the atmosphere because air, land and water are involved. BPA is an industrial chemical found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, which are used in food and beverages containers, water bottles and other consumer goods.

When plastics are heated, chemicals such as Bisphenol  A. (BPA) which cause cancer and disrupt the hormonal systems of the body is released into food and drinks.   Health complications such as endometriosis, neurological damage, birth defects, child developmental disorders, and reproductive damages occur in the process.

Reduction, re-use and recycling of plastics are all what the campaign is about, because it is difficult to get cheap alternatives or completely rid ourselves of the use of plastic products. We should, in as much as possible avoid using plastics around food and drinks.  Alternatively, we recommend that foods and drinks should be served in glass, steel or ceramic products.

In view of the above, the following precautions should be taken in the use of plastics:  Food  should not be cooked inside  plastic containers, especially those without PLA,  neither should it be used as roasting or steaming bags, and we should note that  hot food or drink  should not be put inside plastics. Bottle water and food warmers are made of plastics, therefore we need to ascertain and be sure that they are packaged with safe plastic materials. The American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) is planning to give clear and easy identification to PLA plastics.

In conclusion, while plastics civilisation cannot be jettisoned overnight because of its affordability, durability and usefulness, there is need for policy shift considering its adverse effect on human life, and the ecology.   Regulations on production, handling and disposal of plastics are imperative for sustainable development.

Fashona, Esther Folake

Ibadan.