Drinking from a reusable metal thermos instead of a plastic water bottle is a cheap and easy way to reduce your consumption of microplastics.
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Microplastics, the tiny pieces of plastic debris that permeate everything from the water we drink to the air we breathe, have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. Busy shoppers can choose economical ways to reduce the amount of plastic they consume and throw away.
“These particles are increasingly recognized as endocrine disruptors, capable of interfering with our hormonal systems,” he writes. Forbes partner Dr. Christopher Thompson, professor of medicine at Harvard University. “By mimicking hormones like estrogen and cortisol, microplastics can contribute to weight gain, metabolic problems, fertility and other serious health problems.”
Besides making us gain weight faster and reproduce more slowly, Forbes Science contributor Leslie Katz writes that research published earlier this year suggests microplastics may be linked to increased risks of heart attack and stroke.
When it comes to the planet at large, the overwhelming amount of plastic production and plastic waste we produce has far-reaching effects. According to the United Nations Environment Programmehumans produce 400 million tons of plastic waste every year, polluting water supplies.
Here are some tactics that Forbes Associate Dr. Jesse Pines, a physician and professor of emergency medicine at Drexel University, recommends reducing microplastic consumption at home:
- Avoid heating plastic bowls or cups, including steamed food served in plastic containers.
- Vacuum your home frequently, including sofas and curtains, and follow this cleaning with wet mopping to reduce the microplastic particles you would otherwise inhale.
- Triple check that you have thoroughly cleaned your food before cooking, especially seafood like shrimp.
Drinking from a copper or glass bottle rather than plastic water bottles and washing dishes with powder or liquid soap rather than plastic pods can also help families avoid ingesting plastic particles.
And, like Forbes Sustainability contributor Olivia Pinnock points out that using products like Cora Ball or GUPPYFRIEND when you do your laundry at home can reduce the amount of microplastic released into the water when you wash clothes.
As many shoppers know, single-use plastic bags are on the way out. Twelve US states and a growing number of municipalities in other states have banned them. Remember, you can put canvas tote bags in your car or purse so they’re already available the next time you go shopping.
“US plastic bag bans have proven effective in reducing plastic litter and ocean pollution,” he writes Forbes Sustainability contributor Daniela De Lorenzo, adding “The European Union has set a target for citizens to use no more than 40 plastic bags per year.”
No matter where you live or what kind of shopping you do, there are cost-effective ways to reduce the amount of plastic you consume. With these simple tips you can avoid plastics while you shop and eat, enjoying a healthier lifestyle that’s better for you and the environment.
