Just a thought......

While researching this topic, I came to an obvious but painful realization. I too catch myself falling into the subconscious mindset that these images of pollution and poverty must be in third world countries. That there's no way this could be happening in such a progressive place like the United States. But the sad realization is that this isn't only happening in a third world country far, far away - we're feeling the effects right here in our own country and the US is largely to blame for plastic pollution. (If anything, those poor third world countries can't afford single use plastic products. Their waste is minimized because they don't have the luxury of being glutenous and wasteful.) For being so progressive, we sure seem to be ok with maintaining an ignorance-is-bliss approach to life and the future of our planet. This is happening off the coast of California and the northwest, in Hawaii, the gulf coast and all along the Atlantic, not to mention all over the rest of the world. We are surrounded by the result of 50+ years of irresponsible and greedy plastic creation and pollution. There may not be further production of some plastic products that have been deemed toxic, but this is only 50% of the problem. New product of this type may not end up in our environment, but what about the product created years ago that is still floating out there waiting to be consumed by us at the top of the food chain? We are becoming a plastic people and not due to vain surgical procedures. We are eating plastic toxins as part of our daily diets and ruining the delicate balance of life in record time.

My other realization while looking at pictures of pollution is that all of those "disgusting" places used to look just like our much desired images of relaxing, exotic getaways. Humans have successfully turned this desired beauty that used to be next door into bubbling cesspools of toxic waste and disease. Below are more images of places that used to be beautiful, thriving, natural places full of life and sustenance (many of which are in Hawaii). We are a disgusting creature and I really hope others begin to see the light as well. Educate. Inform. Act.

Plastic Toxins and Labels

From the alarm clock that wakes us up in the morning to the toothbrush and comb we may use before returning to bed in the evening, plastic is present in just about every aspect of our daily routine. If you were to stop and look around the room, I suspect that 75% (if not more) of everything you see contains some form of plastic. When most people hear the word "plastic", it doesn't invoke the same feelings of danger and toxicity as say "formaldehyde", "asbestos", and "petroleum". Unfortunately, these compounds among many others, are used in plastic production and daily exposure to these chemicals is a growing concern. Avoiding plastic altogether is the ideal situation for the health of your family and the planet. As you hopefully make this transition, it is important to know the details about the 7 current categories of plastics.

The use of plastic in cooking and food storage can carry health risks because a myriad of petroleum-based chemicals go into their manufacturing. Some of these chemicals can leach into food and drinks causing negative health impacts. Leaching increases when the plastic comes into contact with oily or fatty foods during heating, and this is greatly exaggerated if there are any scratches or damage to the plastic.

In addition to the negative health impacts of our direct contact to plastic products, we also have to consider the health impacts of secondary exposure from the plastic waste in our environment. Many types of plastic have been outlawed in a handful of countries due to their toxicity, but we still feel the impact in our food supply. Years ago, before oceanic dumping and waste disposal was heavily regulated, much of our plastic waste was dumped without a second thought about the possibility of it ending up on our plates once it photodegrades and the toxins circulate throughout our food supply.

All plastic products are labeled with the following symbols. I have listed common products made from these materials and the suggested negative health impacts of exposure to each. The most important ones to avoid are in red.

PETE: Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner and peanut butter containers.

- PET may contain endocrine disruptors under conditions of common use. Pthalates can be leached and made worse as a result of storage temperature and duration.

HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, folding chairs, hula hoops, composite wood, water pipes for domestic water supply and some plastic bags.

- HDPE is made from petroleum and requires 1.75kg of petroleum to produce 1kg of HDPE. This plastic doesn't seem to leach as badly as the others and is considered a "safer" alternative.

PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for clingwrap, shower curtains, upholstery, inflatable toys, some plastic squeeze bottles, figurines, adult sex toys, cooking oil and peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles. PVC is the least recyclable plastic. DEHA is one of several plasticizers used to soften PVC.

- DEHA can leach into oily foods on contact and when heated and exposure is linked to negative effects on the kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight as well as being a carcinogen which affects the liver. PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it useable. (Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers such as DEHA are added for flexibility.) Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products. Dioxin is a known carcinogen and low level exposures are also linked to decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

LDPE: Low density polyethylene, used in gro­cery store bags, 6-pack soda can rings, computer components, the "cardboard" of milk and juice cartons, playground slides, plastic bags, most plastic wraps and some bottles.

- This product is also made from petroleum and although it is considered another "safe" option, with regards to toxicity, it is a large source of plastic pollution and is not considered biodegradable (it takes several centuries to efficiently degrade).

PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid, deli soup, thermal underwear, carpet, syrup and yogurt containers, straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

- This plastic is also considered one of the "safer" options with regards to toxicity, but environmental pollution and contamination is still a major concern.

PS: Polystyrene, used in Styrofoam food trays, egg cartons, meat trays, disposable cups and bowls, carry-out containers and plastic silverware, disposable razors, CD and DVD cases and "packing peanuts".

- This is another form of plastic manufactured from petroleum and is the most widely used. Styrene can leach from this plastic and is toxic to the brain and nervous system and can cause menstrual disorders. It has also been found to adversely affect red blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomachs in animal studies. In addition to exposure from food containers. This type of plastic also does not biodegrade and is a major source of pollution.

Other: Usually polycarbonate, used in most plastic baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, “sport” water bottles, metal food can liners, clear plastic “sippy” cups and some clear plastic cutlery. New bio-based plastics may also be labeled #7.

- Bisphenol-a (BPA) can leach from polycarbonate plastic and mimics the action of the hormone estrogen. Human exposure to BPA is widespread and a CDC study in 2005 found this chemical in the urine of 95% of the adults sampled. It has also been found in the blood of pregnant women, in umbilical cord blood and in the placenta, and all were at levels which altered development in animal studies.Early-life exposure to BPA can cause genetic damage. Other affects include: obesity, breast and prostate cancer, miscarriage, schizophrenia, early onset of puberty, decrease in testosterone, increased prostate size, decreased sperm production, altered immune function, hyperactivity, and many more conditions.

The Effect of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Most people do not realize the extent of plastic pollution on our planet. As I mentioned in a previous post, "away" isn't as far or as permanent as we all assume when we throw something out. The accumulation of years of relying on away has created a continent-sized vortex of trash in the Pacific Ocean known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which Capt. Charles Moore discovered in 1997 while sailing from Hawaii. He has devoted his time to studying this patch and made some startling discoveries. The patch is estimated to occupy 10 million square miles of ocean and in some places, plankton-sized plastic particles outnumber the zooplankton that feeds marine life 7 to 1.

Instead of being biodegradable, plastics are photodegradable, which means they are broken down by exposure to sunlight. The other critical difference is that, where biodegradable substances are returned to the life cycle in the form of natural chemicals, photodegradable plastics are just broken down into smaller and smaller pieces, creating a large volume of molecular-sized synthetic polymers.
Polymers absorb and create different chemicals, some of which are nonylphenols (endocrine disruptors), PCBs (cause liver damage, anemia, migraines, thyroid disorders, immune suppression, alteration of estrogen levels, birth defects), and DDT (neurotoxicity, miscarriage, cancer, thyroid and endocrine disorders). When plastic in the ocean is eaten by living organisms, the toxic chemicals within are released into that organism. In phytoplankton, toxic chemicals are consumed and then passed long the food chain up to higher trophic levels, and the concentration of these chemicals increases exponentially at each level, in a process called biomagnification.

In the above image, replace the porpoise with a person. It's then common sense to realize the amplification of these toxins can have profound effects on higher organisms, which unfortunately means us. Do your part and reduce the amount of plastic in your life. It's not enough anymore to just recycle it and take comfort in another form of "away." Unfortunately, due to the current plastic pollution crisis, no one in the future will be spared from this toxic oversight, but we CAN make a commitment to preventing it from becoming worse. The future of your family, the people of the world and the health of our planet is in your hands.

Below is a video by Captain Charles Moore where he discusses his findings and how serious things are in the Northern Pacific Gyre.

Don't take too much comfort from your recycling bin.

I found this video to be very disturbing. As a big supporter of recycling, it made me realize that instead of remaining comforted by the "warm and fuzzy" feeling of taking my blue bin to the curb, I need to focus on decreasing my consumption and demand for plastic products. Recycling may keep a small percentage of items from floating in the Pacific Ocean, but it does not guarantee any less of a negative environmental impact in the long run. Unfortunately for most companies, financial shortcuts don't usually fall well below genuine environmental concern on a list of priorities, so the only way to guarantee that the plastic bottle you threw in the recycling bin won't end up in the ocean or a landfill in China is to never purchase it in the first place.

What does plastic taste like?

If you have consumed tuna, mahi mahi, sardines, shrimp, calamari, octopus, chicken, beef, pork, corn, grains, etc., any ocean creature or organism that has been fed fish/fish meal, you are also consuming plastic that may be up to 50+ years old.

Unfortunately, plastic doesn't biodegrade, it photodegrades. This means when exposed to the sun, it breaks down into smaller and smaller toxic pieces which contaminates the soil and waterways as well as entering the food chain when animals accidentally or even intentionally ingest it.

This plastic can also act as a chemical sponge soaking up and concentrating hundreds of nasty toxins which then enter the food chain with a devastating impact on marine life, birds, and eventually returning back to us in new deadly forms. Plastic Resin Pellets ("nurdles") absorb and concentrate toxins such as PCB & DDE up to ONE MILLION times their level in ambient sea water.

So asking what plastic tastes like may sound like a silly question, but it's an important one when you realize that most food products have been highly impacted by our wasteful ways.

So where is "away"?

When you think about vacation destinations such as Tahiti, Africa, India, Romania, Thailand, the Seychelles and even the Pacific Ocean in general, chances are the images that come to mind look very similar to these:





Pristine, untouched locations are the images that are presented to us by travel companies and commercials. How would your opinion change if you were planning a trip to these locations:




Unfortunately, as our population grows and corporations look for cheaper and cheaper options to increase profitability, plastic has become the most widely used material for single serving items. Yogurt containers, straws, water bottles, shopping bags, to-go cups, spoons, forks, knives, water glasses to accompany water dispensers, diapers, milk jugs, egg cartons, gum packages, sandwich bags, saran wrap, tupperware, garbage bags, dog poop bags, yard clipping bags, straw covers, condoms, cigarette pack wrapping, toy and tool packaging, chip bags, and the list goes on and on and on...... It's safe to assume that 75% of plastic is designated for a single use, and then it goes right into the garbage. It would be great if our garbage cans were black holes or vaporizers that could make anything disappear, but this is not the case. The general public seems to think "away" means "gone forever" when they use the phrase "throw it away". In reality, we're all contributing to a global crisis involving plastic pollution. We're reaching a threshold where all of a sudden, "away" isn't quite as far or permanent as we all assumed. Plastic never biodegrades, and its stubborn presence is making our planet very ill. Our land, water, animals and families are feeling the effect of years of living with an out-of-sight, out-of-mind philosophy, and this is something we can no longer afford.