Consumers Concerned about Effects of Plastics on Human Health and the Environment
Published: 17 July 2008
Category: Bisphenol A (BPA), Packaging CONCERNS, Phthalates, Recycling, Sustainability
According to “TIME,” consumers are concerned about chemicals leaching out of some common types of plastic and the potential harmful effects on the human body as well as what the plastic garbage is doing to the environment. The U.S. reportedly produced 28 million tons of plastic waste in 2005, 27 million tons of which ended up in landfills. The plastic chemical BPA is allegedly found in everything from baby bottles to can linings, while phthalates are found in children’s toys as well as vinyl shower curtains. These chemicals can reportedly get inside us through the food, water and bits of dust we consume or even by being absorbed through our skin.