Where Plastics Are Hiding

Plastics are everywhere in the modern world, yeah, tell me something I don’t know, right?! What we don’t realise is that plastics that we ingest are present in much more than just our water bottles and food packaging. They are so ubiquitous that it is practically impossible to avoid them. If you like the smell of a new car or your partner's perfume, you might change your mind. 

Let’s explore how we most likely get in contact with them and what they do to our bodies.

BPA Free

BPA (bisphenol A) was invented in 1930 for the purpose of birth control. Only later they discovered plastic can be made out of them which was a great business. The scientific community was convinced they don’t leach until more research confirmed the opposite.

There is a lot of leaching into liquids and food in plastic containers even at room temperature, but it especially occurs if you heat them up.

When the plastics are BPA-free it usually means they are made of BPS or BPF (or any other letter at the end), which is just a differently manipulated molecule to satisfy the government regulations, but it isn’t any better for health.

Regardless of bisphenols, all plastics contain chemicals called phthalates. It is well established in the research that both bisphenols and phthalates act like estrogen in the body. They mess up the hormonal balance by binding to the same receptors as estrogen without performing the same role. It might take years to experience negative health results, but lowered testosterone is a pretty immediate reaction. Increased depression, anxiety, infertility and lower sex drive might be just some of the symptoms.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy for males is a massive business today. 20-30 years ago only one in 20 males under 40 would come for a testosterone injection, now 80% of the patients are under 40! As a result of lower testosterone, today's male population is experiencing lower sex drive, lower bone density and changes in facial structure as well as general apathy for life which is accompanied by depression.

Lower testosterone is a major problem and is related to other issues of modern lifestyle such as not enough exercise, vitamin D and magnesium deficiencies and inflammation due to processed foods.

Off-gassing

If you love the smell of a new car and spend a lot of time sitting in it and enjoying the smell, let me tell you what is hitting your nostrils is the off-gassing of plastics. Off-gassing is the airborne release of a chemical, a chemical in vapour form. Whenever you smell a product, it's off-gassing. It happens the most when a product is new.

Probably the most pernicious are gasses from a new mattress because you spend so much time inhaling those toxic chemicals before they diminish. Plastic mattress covers for newborns are also very problematic since they are off-gassing to the point that they increase the risk of cancer in the long term says the researcher Dr Anthony Jay.

Research on daycare centres showed levels of off-gassing in concerning levels for causing cancer. These levels are way beyond the levels of hormonal disruption and toddlers and staff are exposed to them on a daily basis.

Other estrogens We Are Bombarded With

Estrogen-mimicking chemicals don’t stop with plastics. We also consume them in soy products and inhale them in all sorts of petroleum-based fragrances. They don’t wash off that easily either, what’s worse people often use other fragranced products for washing (body wash, soap, shampoo, etc) which just adds to the problem.

Dermal uptake from laundry detergents is also significant and the chemicals are shown in your blood levels.

One study on sunscreen found that after only one application of sunscreen, seven days later the blood levels of a compound called oxybenzone were above government safety limits! And these limits are set on cancer-causing levels. The threshold for the effects of lowered testosterone is much, much lower.

Parabens are a family of chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetic products. Luckily, paraben-free beauty products are becoming more and more popular, but if you carefully read the label you might find that your skin-care product contains some form of paraben. A study on mice has shown they accelerate ageing. So the very product that is temporarily making you look younger is actually doing the opposite.

Conclusion

In modern life, you will be exposed to plastic and other fake estrogens no matter how hard you try not to. Whether it’s while you work out in a gym filled with equipment smell, perfumes and other chemicals, a coffee cup lid, toys, a new book or a magazine, a shower curtain, a polyester t-shirt (another petroleum-based plastic) or your plastic bed cover.

It is highly recommended to properly air all new products before using them. You can open all windows of a car and let the air dilute the smell before sitting in it, especially on a hot summer day. Absolutely avoid drinking anything out of a plastic container and storing food in it, especially if there is a chance it will get exposed to room temperature or higher. Use cosmetics without artificial fragrances, preferably with essential oils.

Eating well and sweating through exercise or sauna can greatly mitigate the negative effects. Studies recommend at least 10 minutes of sweating three times a week. We expel these chemicals through sweat much more efficiently than through urine.

Don’t rely on your government or the capitalistic market to protect your health. It is up to you to be aware of the consequences of exposure to plastic, of things you can do to reduce the amount of exposure and to protect the ones that are ignorant or unable to protect themselves like small children.

Source:

Fitness Confidential Podcast with Vinnie Tortorich featuring Dr Anthony Jay