HUMAN HEALTH PROBLEMS

Human health problems: A study conducted by the University of Newcastle in Australia found that the average person now consumes roughly 5 grams of plastic every week, equivalent to the weight of a credit card. Microplastics have been documented in the human lung, in maternal and fetal placental tissues, in human breast milk and blood. Numerous studies have documented the presence of certain chemical compounds in plastic food wrap and containers that can leach into the human blood stream—compounds known as endocrine disruptors that interfere with the functioning of the hormones that regulate reproductive and other biological processes. These chemical mixtures have been linked to alterations in sperm quality and fertility, early puberty, immune function, certain cancers, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, diabetes, obesity—and to growth, neurological and learning disabilities.