World Environment Day is an annual event observed on June 5 globally, encouraging the general populace to do their bit and contribute to the protection of the environment. Organized by the UN (United Nations), World Environment Day was first conducted in 1974, with the primary objective of protecting the environment for the present and future generations. This global campaign comprises numerous activities to acknowledge and raise awareness of the environmental damage caused due to indiscriminate usage of plastic and other pollutants, leading to various ecological concerns such as contamination of oceans, global warming, air, soil, and plastic pollution, endangering wildlife species and finding out practical solutions to reversing the damage.

Also Read: World Environment Day: Initiative To Encourage Awareness To Protect The Planet

The year 2023 marks the 50th edition of World Environment Day, which is celebrated under the theme "Solutions to Plastic Pollution." It encourages people to give up on plastic usage and identify it as the source of environmental degradation. 

Also Read: World Environment Day 2021: Here Is Your E-Book Plus Healthy Tips For Sustainable Eating

The Earth is the only home to humankind, and World Environment Day emphasizes encouraging more and more people to work towards environmental conservation to make the Earth a suitable place to live in. Recently, the world is facing a crisis due to plastic pollution. Plastics negatively impact people's and the environment's health at every stage of their lifecycle, from fossil fuel extraction to production, manufacturing, use, recycling, and even disposal. The adverse effects are felt in a wide range of areas, including biodiversity, climate change, human health and human rights.  

Today, on World Environment Day, let this 2-minute read educate you on the dangerous impacts of using plastic containers on human health and tips to prevent it. 

 5 Harmful Effects of Plastic Utensils On Human Health 

 Disrupts Hormonal Levels

Several scientific studies reveal that plastic containers we use for storing food comprise two harmful components known as diethylhexyl phthalate, a carcinogenic compound, and BPA. These synthetic compounds adversely affect human health by disturbing the body's normal hormonal functions. The primary hormone affected by eating plastic utensils is the thyroid hormone, which gradually leads to the thyroid. BPA often has a psychological impact by affecting the sex hormones in a person. Excessive contamination of BPA acts like an anti-androgen or estrogen hormone in males disrupting sperm production and affecting their overall fertility. Furthermore, microplastics may also affect other hormones and issues related to the gonads in both men and women that might profoundly impact your routine life.

Ups The Risk of Kidney Stones

Nutritionists worldwide also suggest that apart from BPA, even Melamine, another type of plastic compound, is evident in the increase in kidney stone cases. Eating hot meals in melamine crockery or using melamine containers to heat food in the microwave is equally harmful to your health. This is because hot temperatures release the melamine from the container in the food, which upsurges the risk of kidney stones in both children and adults. Doctors hence recommend the usage of ceramic, steel, or glass utensils for heating food items or storing them for later use. 

Spreads Breast Cancer

According to various studies, using plastic containers and bottles is a primary contributing factor to the increase in breast cancer cases globally. According to a clinical study conducted at the Harvard Healthcare Institute, daily usage of plastics for storing food items or eating in them regularly has led to a 37% increase in breast cancer cases over the last decade. When hot food is directly kept inside plastic containers like plastic bottles or tiffin carriers and taken out in the sun, the plastic melts in the hot temperature, releasing toxins like dioxin in the food and water kept inside it, thereby adversely affecting your health and increasing the risk of breast cancer in affected patients.

Increases Liver Cancer

Phthalates are another plastic component that is highly detrimental to the human body and causes several diseases. This chemical carcinogen is used for manufacturing wrappers of chocolates, sweets, and other food items. However, similar to dioxin, it is very harmful as it often gets released in the food kept inside it, affecting your liver health and leading to liver cancer. Phthalates in plastic wrappers also lessen sperm count in the body, directly impacting male hormone levels. But the incidence of liver cancer is more on drinking water from plastic bottles or packaged water containers.

Upsurges Diseased Conditions

Consuming food and water from plastic containers negatively impacts hormones and leads to many diseases and health problems. According to several doctors and nutritionists, plastics are composed of a carcinogenic component Biphenyl A and having hot food served in plastic utensils or using plastic containers to heat the food increases the risk of releasing toxins and estrogen-mimicking chemicals in the body. This further causes cancer, diabetes, asthma, fertility problems, obesity, and problems related to puberty and fertility in females. Plastic usage hinders neurological growth in adults and children alike.

 Check out these valuable tips to help you and your family prevent plastic usage and opt for safer components to improve overall health and wellness.

Tips To Prevent Plastic Usage

• Choose only food-grade plastic utensils or containers for storing food that won't release toxins in the food. 
• Use PET bottles (that don't get affected by hot temperatures or chemically react with the liquid present inside them) instead of regular water bottles
• Go for stainless steel plates and containers for eating and spring food and glass or ceramic-based products for heating food in the microwave
• Carry food items in paper bags instead of poly bags while eating outdoors or taking packaged food
• Opt for recycled products that help in diminishing plastic waste from spreading in the soil