The news on plastics just keeps getting worse, with each new study documenting yet another link between plastics and disease. While the focus has been on bisphenol-A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor linked to everything from birth defects to cancers, evidence is growing that many of the chemicals replacing it are just as toxic.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce your body’s exposure to plastics.
• For hot liquids, like coffee or tea, and for water, purchase and carry with you a reusable steel or glass mug or canteen.
“The cost for bottled water is approximately 25 times higher than tap water, as 90% of the cost for bottled water comes from manufacturing the bottle, label, and cap.” – Society of Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability
Skip the straw or use a steel straw, like the Norwex Stainless Steel Drinking Straw.
• Wear natural fibers; microplastic in oceans around the world has been traced to the synthetic plastics in clothes.
• For leftovers and takeout, see if you can bring your own glass or metal container.
• Buy wooden or metal toys instead of plastic.
• Bring reusable metal, wood or bamboo flatware.
• Swap out plastic food containers with glass Pyrex and mason jars.
• Skip the canned food and aluminum soda cans – the cans are lined with BPA or similar plastics.
• Get a cloth shower curtain – PVC shower curtains contain a number of toxic chemicals.
• Encourage change by avoiding items packaged in plastic or overpackaged – buy items sold in glass jars or paper boxes.
• Minimize your handling of cash register receipts, or avoid them altogether if you can.
“Cash register receipts may be the best avenue for BPA to get into your body. The thermal paper most receipts are printed on contains up to 1,000 times more BPA than your average can of food. This BPA is loosely bound to the paper and can readily migrate through your skin and into your bloodstream.” – MindBodyGreen.com
Other great resources on avoiding toxic plastics:
Nine Tips To Use Less Plastic, Eat Better & Keep Toxins Out Of Your Body (MindBodyGreen.com)
Why You Should Avoid Plastics and a Primer on BPA (RealFoodWholeHealth.com)
Plastic Awareness Info (OneMoreGeneration.org)
I did not know about the cash register receipts! 😮
We were surprised to find this out too, Karen. Here’s an interesting article on the topic from HowStuffWorks.com: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/avoid-bpa-exposure-from-cash-register-receipts.htm
I didn’t know that about receipts! wow!
Wow even receipts! That’s surprising!
I’ve noticed more and more stores are introducing paperless receipts as an option! I had no idea about BPA exposure from cash register receipts until now!
The cash register receipt thing, I had no idea. So having them e-mail a receipt is a better choice which I do whenever possible and now I feel much better about doing that.