By Valeria Larios

THE REALITY ABOUT PLASTIC

What is Plastic? • Plastic is made of Crude Oil which is a Fossil Fuel that is non-renewable

Just because plastic is disposable..doesn’t mean it goes away…

After all, where is away……• Landfills are overloading and closing either because they are too full or causing contamination to the water.

Plastic actually sticks around for a very loooong time…

If you look around everything is made out of plastic…once disposed of What happens to it????

It pollutes, flies, drifts, clogs, entangles.

ITS TOO SCARCE TO DISPOSE SO FREELY• US using roughly about a 100 billion plastic bags per year..that takes about 12 million barrels of oil..• 300 million coffee cups(contain plastic lining) consumed in US daily.• Plastic bags are the number one consumer item in the world• 2 million water bottles consumed in US very 5 minutes• US is the largest importer of oil..• Average American contributes 800lbs. disposable packaging per person per year• There was more plastic produced in 2000 through 2010 than the entire 1900s• 6 million pieces of plastic end up in the ocean in one day….So, why use oil when it takes 70 billion years to make for something u will use for so little?

Some More Facts…• Paper bags are 100 % recyclable..The plastic industry is all about marketing and making you think you are recycling when in reality most of the plastics are only 20% recyclable. • Most companies don’t even like to buy back the recycled plastic pellets…They prefer new high grade plastic..• Because of this, most plastics that are supposedly recycled actually end up in Asia. They make low wage employees hand pick out things that can be melt down..or used again.

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

• It is a one of five Gyres (whirling current) in the world that is filled with garbage and is estimated to be anywhere from two times the size of Texas to the size of the US • Debris of all kinds floats in this Gyre

and it stays there swirling, since most of the debris is made of plastic it doesn’t biodegrade, it photo-degrades which means that the sunlight breaks it down into small pieces which marine life mistaken for food • Basically, its like a huge plastic-filled

soup and in some parts of the ocean there are 40 times more plastic than food.

Phthalates & Bisphenol A(BPA)• BPA is a synthetic estrogen• It contains endocrine diruptors

which means they disrupts our normal hormone function

• Even at small doses for children make humans hyperactive (ADHD, Autism, ADD) and show learning disabilities, gender neutrality(means boys are becoming more feminine and girls are becoming more masculinized), also BPA linked to cancers, and many reproductive problems

• Not only is BPA found in plastic but it is a liner for soda (beer) cans, food cans, children's formula, baby bottles ☹ etc.

• Baby toys are filled with Phthalates which too affect fertility and reproductive problems.

• Companies in US are not required to list these ingredients but listed in names as “fragrance”.

The point is..

-Affects the environment, sea life, nature.

-leaks into products therefore leaking into our body

-creating animals to choke and die from mistaking plastic for food

(fish that eat plastic are keeping super concentrated and keeping bad chemicals in there body which end up in our body once ingesting.)

Where is the FDA in all this??• The FDA conducted two studies and both of the studies are funded by the plastics industry but after having so many news reports and research done against there theories they decided to list BPA as “potentially harmful” and telling families to reduce usage.

FDA's decision once again confirms the safety of BPA in food-contact materials based on the best available science and clearly explains that there is no need for any change in the food-contact applications of BPA given the current scientific evidence.

• American Chemistry Council

On March 30, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its decision to reject a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) that proposed to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in food-contact materials.

• Over 200 studies found 92% harm in BPA but less than 20 studies funded by chemical corporations 0% show harm.

“One solution to this environmental disaster is biodegradable plastic. There are two types currently on the market -- plant-based hydro-biodegradable plastic and petroleum-based oxo-biodegradable plastic. ”

What can you do….• BYOB- Bring your own bag• Instead just recycle by trying to use plastic things over or

totally avoid it • Use BPA and fragrance free products.• Shop at health food stores(still be cautious with products)• Buy less• Use glass instead of bottled water, baby bottles• Cut back on disposable packaging• Buy in bulk• If possible use mostly containers with recycle # 1,2,4,5. (#’s

3,6,7 have very low rate of recycling)• Buy reusable products

Its not about ending the usage of plastic its more about using it responsibly.

With awareness.. There has been a slight reduction of plastic usage around the world.

References• http://factsaboutbpa.org/how-is-bpa-used/benefits-of-bpa• http://www.coeh.uci.edu/PEHSU/BPA_HealthCareProviders.pdf• Documentary- Bag It:Is your life too Plastic?• http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/how-long-does-it-take-for-plastics-to-biodegrade.htm