In more recent studies chemicals such as BPA and BPS that have been used as plasticizing agents are considered poison. Bisphenol A has hormone like properties that are cause for concern when used in food storage and packaging, and consumer goods such as baby bottles, water bottles, and so on. Bisphenol S has similar endocrine disrupting properties to BPA. The FDA approves them as safe, but several countries outside the US have banned their use in many consumer goods and packaging of foods.
Plastic, it does not break down, it has chemicals that mimic hormones in a negative way, and it is considered unhealthy and possibly dangerous to store and package food and drinks in it. It is a very unnatural substance to exist in our natural world. It is potentially dangerous to us as humans, but also the environment if it is left to leak toxic chemicals, and to the animals that may try to ingest it, get stuck in it, or drink water from it that has been contaminated by BPS and BPA.
Just how harmful is plastic to the environment, and how much damage is being done? In 2010 a study was conducted with a new method of measuring how much plastic ends up in the ocean each year. The result was much worse than previously anticipated. 8 million tons of plastic trash ended up floating in the ocean in 2010. The top offending countries for dumping plastic waste into the ocean
It is estimated that if present garbage practices throughout the world remain the same, and don't worsen which is likely, the amount will rise to 155 million tons of plastic waste by 2025. Plastic has become increasingly dominant in consumer goods, for better or worse, which means that the likelihood of it not being disposed of properly and ending up in the wrong place, like the ocean, is also increasing.
Over 700 species of marine wildlife have been negatively impacted by trying to ingest ocean plastics. These plastics have been found everywhere, along the coasts, in the deep sea, even buried in Arctic ice. There are movements working on locating where mass amounts of plastic garbage collect and in what amounts, since most of the waste is unaccounted for. The wildlife is being impacted by plastic when trying to consume it, or getting pieces stuck on their limbs, and growing to the point it can't be removed, not to mention the toxic and hormonal chemicals that are seeping into the ocean waters because of all the plastic floating around for and not decomposing.
Plastic, a man made substance that will never break down, but will continue to negatively impact the environment if not properly disposed of. Is it really so hard to hang on to a water bottle until the nearest recycle or trash bin is found? There are public trash cans almost everywhere, what is the thrill obtained from throwing plastic waste into the ocean rather than walk three feet to the nearest trash can? Perhaps some of the countries on the highest offender list should be educated in the negative side effects of so much plastic entering the environment and staying there. Alternatives to plastic could also make a difference. Substances such as paper are far more biodegradable, if not treated with chemicals, and glass is an excellent reusable packaging and storing material.
The world needs to heal, and for that to happen, it is time to let go of negative consumer goods, like plastic, that are only used because they are inexpensive to make, and start looking at other possibilities. The earth is important. Treating the earth and the oceans like our own personal waste disposal is disrespectful to the other lives we share the planet with, and it is only hurting us in the long run. As a whole, global effort, we can still change the fate of our beautiful planet, even if that means changing our own lifestyles and taking the harder path rather than mass manufacturing.
Let us save the world together!
Information from National Geographic article 'Eight Million Tons of Plastic Dumped in Ocean Every Year' by Laura Parker, published February 13, 2015
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