HISHAM EXPLORER MEDIA
5 Reasons to Quit Using Plastic Bottles and Plastic Bags
There are many, many reasons why you should stop using plastic bottles and plastic bags. Here are just five of them.
1) They Are Polluting Our Oceans
Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste get dumped into our oceans. Many of these plastics don’t biodegrade for thousands of years, causing serious damage to animals that ingest them. Even birds, who we love so much for their aesthetic beauty, are getting caught up in this mess. When a bird ingests a plastic or drinks from a bottle with plastic particles in it, they can die from internal bleeding or starvation because their stomachs are full. We need to do more as human beings if we want to preserve life on Earth!
2) They are Killing Wildlife
Plastic is a pretty durable material, but it doesn’t take long for it to break down in our environment. Like many other plastics, when PET bottles break down they leach dangerous chemicals into soil, water and food supplies—especially when they are eaten by wildlife. At least 267 species have been affected by plastic pollution so far, according to a study published in 2015 by Orb Media. By one estimate , up to 5 trillion plastic pieces are littering the world’s oceans right now. We don’t even know what that means for marine life yet—but we can probably be pretty sure it isn’t good.
3) Recycling is Not the Answer
The best way to protect our oceans is by using less plastic. Recycling is a good option for some, but it’s not a solution. It simply replaces one kind of waste with another. For example, just because plastic bottles can be recycled doesn’t mean they actually are—about 50 percent get thrown away rather than recycled. If we all took responsibility for keeping our plastic out of landfills and oceans, we could make a real difference in preserving our precious marine life. The simple act of refusing single-use plastic items like bags, straws, cups, utensils (like disposable wooden chopsticks), food containers (like those popular little salad dressing cups at restaurants), and especially bottled water makes an enormous impact!
4) Even BPA Free Plastics are Dangerous
A lot of plastic products come with a BPA free label, but you can never be sure whether or not it actually contains BPA. The only way to know for sure is by reading labels—and even then, companies aren’t required to list any ingredients on their products. It gets worse: just because a product doesn’t contain estrogen-disrupting chemicals like BPA or phthalates, that doesn’t mean its chemical makeup is safe. Many experts now say that plastics in general should be avoided entirely—especially if they leach into your food or beverages.
5) Plastic Is Linked to Many Health Problems
Studies show that using plastic bottles can increase your risk of obesity, cancer, infertility, diabetes, heart disease and more. One of the worst offenders is bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that lines many canned goods as well as plastics. This toxic chemical may also increase your risk of chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or osteoporosis. According to an investigation by Consumer Reports in 2014, BPA has been detected in 93 percent of people tested; more than two-thirds had levels indicating recent exposure. While we don’t yet know exactly how BPA harms our health, experts believe it can lead to problems with reproductive development and hormone disruption—and may even trigger obesity by increasing our insulin response after eating sugary foods.
6] Plastic caused diseases
Studies have linked plastic chemicals—BPA in particular—to a wide range of health problems. But even if you’re not using plastic bottles or anything else made with plastic, you’re still at risk for exposure through air, water, and food sources. And exposure isn’t necessarily worse when it comes from something that’s bottled up; some research has found higher levels of phthalates (chemicals used in plastics) in people exposed through air and dust than those who were directly exposed by handling products made with them. The number of health risks posed by these chemicals is enough to make you want to quit your habit right now. Your overall well-being could be at stake!
7] plastic was baanned in which states
In 1993, these states (with California leading) banned retail stores from providing single-use plastic bags: California, Hawaii, New York City, Suffolk County in New York State. In 1994, D.C. banned them.
8] plastic was made up of
PET, PE, PP and PVC. . PET or polyethylene terephthalate plastic is used for bottling water. PE or polyethylene is a thin plastic sheeting that is often used for grocery bags or food wraps.