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A TOP scientist has revealed three everyday household items we should “avoid at all costs” after they were linked to a raft of serious health problems.
Repeated exposure could lead to cancer, infertility, and strokes, she warns.
Dr Shanna Swan, a reproductive epidemiologist and member of the Plastic Health Council, says Brits are being exposed just by eating, sleeping, and showering.
This is because many household items contain microplastics – tiny fragments of plastic less than 5mm in size.
These particles have now been found throughout the human body, including the brain, lungs, blood, and even unborn babies.
Studies have linked them to a range of potential health issues, including reproductive problems, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological effects.
Read more on microplastics
They can also contribute to inflammation, cell damage, and disrupt the gut microbiome.
One plastic chemical alone, a phthalate called DEHP, was linked to more than 356,000 deaths worldwide in a single year, according to a study by Professor Leonardo Trasande from New York University, US.
Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic more flexible and durable.
They’ve been linked to hormone disruption, fertility problems, developmental issues, and a higher risk of certain cancers.
Studies have also connected phthalate exposure to asthma, ADHD, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
“Every day that passes more plastic chemicals enter our bodies through items many consider safe and normal,” Dr Shanna says.
“Whilst there are some plastic products we should aim to avoid at all costs we need regulatory action if we are to see real change.
“We must phase out toxic plastics and prioritise health in every part of the plastics supply chain.”
The three items Dr Swan and other experts are most concerned about are food containers, bedding, and personal care products.
Plastic containers used for microwave meals, takeaway packaging, and clingfilm can release phthalates when heated or frozen, previous research has found.
Synthetic bedding, like memory foam pillows, polyester sheets, and mattresses, may contain flame retardants and water-resistant coatings known as PFAS.
PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals used in consumer products worldwide since the 1950s.
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Exposure has been linked to increased risk of certain cancers, altered immune function, liver damage, and reproductive and developmental issues.
Some studies also suggest links between PFAS and thyroid disease, changes in cholesterol levels, and behavioural problems in children.
These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin, especially during long hours of sleep.
Toiletries, including shower gel, shampoo and moisturiser, may also contain phthalates as well as other plastic-based chemicals such as acrylates and thickeners.
These substances can be absorbed through the skin, potentially causing irritation, hormonal disruption, and long-term health effects.
“Plastic is not inert,” Sian Sutherland co-founder of the Plastic Health Council and campaign group A Plastic Planet said. “It is a toxic mixture of chemicals”.
She added: “If governments and industry refuse to protect us we need to take charge of our own health and demand to know why when the science has been so clear for decades are our babies now born pre-polluted. When will enough be enough.”
The warning comes as world leaders gather in Geneva to finalise the UN Global Plastics Treaty which aims to reduce plastic production and ban toxic chemicals from everyday products.
Most nations back strong measures but a small group of oil-producing countries and the plastics industry have delayed progress.
The Plastic Health Council is calling for a cap on plastic production, a ban on harmful substances and mandatory chemical testing of all plastic products before they reach consumers.
What are microplastics and why are they a worry?
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than five millimetres in diameter.
They come from a variety of sources in our everyday life, from larger pieces of plastic debris, such as from the degradation of bottles, to the tiny beads in personal care products like toothpaste and exfoliants, and synthetic fibres from textiles like polyester and nylon.
We can either ingest them, for example in food and water contaminated with them, or inhale them from the air.
There is growing concern about the potential health impacts of microplastics on both the environment and human health.
When ingested or inhaled, microplastics can cause physical and chemical damage to living organisms.
Studies have shown that they may be involved in inflammation in the body by leading to the release of proteins called inflammatory cytokines.
While these studies are typically small and in animals or cells, inflammation is linked to a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.
Cellular damage has been a key focus of studies on microplastics.
The tiny pieces of plastic have been shown to cause cell death, cause damage via oxidative stress, and interfere with hormone function.
There is also evidence to suggest that microplastics can cause genotoxic effects, meaning they can damage genetic material within cells – raising fears they can contribute to cancer.
The evidence is still evolving for these tiny particles that are barely visible to the naked eye
