Today’s speaker was Lois Kraus. Lois is Co-chair of the Westfield Green Team and a retired science teacher and current board of NJ Science Convention, Rutgers Tree Steward, Rutgers Master Gardener and Rutgers Environmental Steward.
Her topic was omnipresent plastics in our society and the increasing danger they pose to the environment and our physical health.
Here are a few of the dangers:
1. Chemical leaching and migration of bisphenol can lead to infertility, certain cancers, metabolic disorders and neurological issues.
2. Plasticizers used to make plastics flexible (used in food packaging films, containers, and some utensils) can cause hormone imbalances, reproductive issues in men, and neurodevelopmental issues.
3. Other Additives: Various other chemicals added for color, stability, or other properties can leach, with potentially unknown or understudied health effects.
4. The ingestion of microplastics and nano plastics and through dermal absorption can also lead to a host of issues including these chemical depositing in the brain and other vital organs causing inflammation and system effects.
Single use food packaging and utensils, especially when exposed to heat, exacerbates leeching.
Vulnerable populations include infants, pregnant women and people with preexisting conditions.
Lois offered a few suggestions: bring your own container when buying coffee (NJ law no requires stores to use clients’ containers if requested), skip the stuff – when ordering out, request no plastic utensils (use your own), and support legislation to require manufacturers to use less plastic in packaging - roughly 40% of all packaging is unnecessary and wasteful.
The ever-increasing reliance on plastic packaging and utensils may pose a significant and multifaceted threat to human health.
We appreciate Lois bringing this serious matter to our attention.