Micro-plastics are getting a lot of attention these days. And for good reason. With the rapid expansion of the use of plastics in virtually every area of our lives over the last few decades, plastics are everywhere.
Unfortunately, plastics don’t degrade over time, like natural materials do. Instead, they just break into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming so tiny that they are invisible to the naked eye. These bits of plastic, generally ranging in size from 5 millimeters down to just one nanometer, have been found all over the world–in land, in the air, and in water.
These tiny plastic bits—known as micro-plastics—have found their way into the bodies of most, if not all, humans, through food and water, through breathing, and through skin contact.
Much more needs to be learned about the impacts these micro-plastics have on our bodies. But many scientists are concerned that they may be disrupting our immune system and hormonal balance, and contributing to cardiovascular disease and other health problems.
Micro-plastics are so widespread in the environment that they have also been found in the bodies of fish, birds, and many other animals, even in remote corners of the world.
To help protect ourselves, we should work to avoid ingesting micro-plastics. And we should try to keep plastic out of the environment in the first place, because it will eventually find its way into the bodies of humans and other animals in the form of micro-plastics.
Here are some steps you can take to keep micro-plastics out of the environment and, therefore, out of your own body:
- Refrain from heating food and drinks in plastic. Plastic containers ‘shed’ more bits of plastic when heated, so heating a plastic container and then eating or drinking the contents means you ingest micro-plastics. Instead, heat food and drinks in glass, metal, or ceramic containers.
- Stop buying/using bottled water. Plastic water bottles eventually end up as micro-plastics in the landfill and in waterways. Water bottles made of metal and other non-plastic materials are now easy to find. Metal water bottles with Riderwood’s logo will soon be available.
- Do not put plastic objects into your dishwasher. The hot water running through the machine will leach out bits of plastic, which will end up in the environment.
- When eating at restaurants here at Riderwood, and outside, bring your own containers for leftovers. The containers Riderwood provides are lined with plastic, and most of the containers provided by outside restaurants are all plastic.
- Don’t cut food on plastic cutting boards. Use bamboo or wooden boards instead.
- Replace plastic food storage containers with containers made of glass, metal, or ceramic.
- Even synthetic clothing contributes to micro-plastics in the environment. Nylon, polyester, and acrylic clothing shed micro-plastics, especially during washing. Try to wash synthetic clothes less often. And even better, replace them with natural fabrics like cotton, wool, and linen.
- Avoid purchasing products packaged in plastic. Admittedly, this is a challenge. But some sellers are replacing plastic packaging with non-plastics. And when you have a choice, choose the non-plastic. For example, in some stores milk is sold in both plastic containers and paper ones. Choose paper.