{"id":306312,"date":"2021-07-19T23:35:44","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T21:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ekoman.si\/?p=306312"},"modified":"2021-07-31T20:32:23","modified_gmt":"2021-07-31T18:32:23","slug":"how-much-plastic-do-you-ingest-on-a-daily-basis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ekoman.si\/en\/how-much-plastic-do-you-ingest-on-a-daily-basis\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Plastic Do You Ingest on a Daily Basis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1569002333043{margin-left: -5px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_single_image source=”featured_image” img_size=”800×400″][vc_empty_space height=”20″][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1593421300472{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”]JTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJwcmlrYXotY2F0JTIyJTNFJTVCc2hvd3NjYXRzJTVEJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNF[\/vc_raw_html][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” font_container=”tag:h1|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_raw_html]JTVCcmNibG9jayUyMGlkJTNEJTIyMTc2MTA5JTIyJTVEJTBBJTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJibG9nLWRhdHVtJTIyJTNFJTVCcG9zdF9wdWJsaXNoZWQlNUQlM0MlMkZkaXYlM0UlMEElM0NkaXYlMjBjbGFzcyUzRCUyMmJsb2ctYXZ0b3IlMjIlM0UlNUJyY2Jsb2NrJTIwaWQlM0QlMjIxNzYzMjglMjIlNUQlM0MlMkZkaXYlM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][vc_empty_space height=”20″][vc_column_text]Plastic can be found everywhere \u2013 not only in plastic containers and other items found in our homes, but also in the sea, land, even in our food and ourselves! It enters the body mainly during us drinking and eating, and we often come into contact with it only by touch (it is also transmitted through air, water and dust, though). More specifically, it is bisphenol A (BPA) that is used to make polycarbonate plastics. And it poses bigger issues than we thought \u2013 the level of BPA in humans has been found to be much higher than initially expected, and has been said to lead to serious health risks.<\/p>\n

Polycarbonate plastic is durable, impact resistant, and transparent, which is why it is considered the perfect material to use when producing babies\u2019 drinking bottles, water bottles and many other containers for food and drink. It is also found in lenses, compact discs, dental sealants and plastic cutlery. We can even find it in the protective layer of metal cans. So, it is literally everywhere!<\/p>\n

But research has raised concerns about the negative chemical effects that BPA has on human health. Some studies have shown that BPA copies or interferes with the hormone estrogen and consequently affects the reproductive system, which may increase the risk of cancer. Infants and young children are at an even greater risk because they eat and drink more than adults in terms of their weight, making them much more exposed to BPA.<\/p>\n

How Does BPA Affect Our Health?<\/h2>\n

We have already mentioned that polycarbonate plastic affects the reproductive system \u2013 however, it causes many more issues. BPA is thought to mimic the structure and function of the hormone estrogen. Due to its shape (which is similar to estrogen), it can bind to estrogen receptors and affect bodily processes such as growth, cell renewal, foetal development, energy levels and reproduction. In addition, BPA can also interact with other hormone receptors, such as those for your thyroid, to alter their function. Your body is sensitive to changes in hormone levels; this is why BPA is able to affect your health.<\/p>\n

BPA plastic is also associated with heart disease and type 2 diabetes, while it may also increase the risk of obesity, cause infertility in both men and women, negatively affect infants\u2019 health, and more. BPA exposure can also be associated with the following health problems: polycystic ovary syndrome (BPA levels may be higher in women with this syndrome than in other women), premature birth (women with a higher BPA rate during pregnancy were more likely to give birth before 37 weeks) and asthma (increased prenatal BPA exposure is associated with an increased risk of wheezing in infants less than six months of age).
\nIt also affects liver function (higher BPA levels are associated with a higher risk of abnormal liver enzyme levels), the immune system (elevated BPA levels can contribute to impaired immune function), thyroid function and brain function.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this is not the complete list of disadvantages brought about by high levels BPA in the human body. There is still a lot to explore, which is why it is so difficult to come up with a practical solution. Nevertheless, we can take some precautions ourselves \u2013 keep reading![\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20″][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1593421373670{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;border-left-color: #cccccc !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #cccccc !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #cccccc !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #cccccc !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1569002362937{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”][vc_raw_html el_class=”blog-translated-rb”]JTVCcmNibG9jayUyMGlkJTNEJTIyMzA2NzQyJTIyJTVE[\/vc_raw_html]