There’s nothing concerning in the basic definition of “plastic”. But the specific chemistry used to make traditional plastic has created two growing areas of concern:
- Potential Toxicity
- Long-Lasting Microplastics
Traditional plastic is a petroleum-derived material. Petroleum itself contains a number of nasty chemicals. And some of the helper chemicals (called “plasticizers”) used to make traditional plastic can also be problematic (that BPA you’re hoping is not in your water bottle is one such plasticizer).
Traditional plastic lasts a really long time. Durability is actually one of the core benefits of traditional plastic. But as plastic use has exploded, this blessing has become an environmental curse. Moreover, it means that when traditional plastic breaks down into small pieces (microplastics), those pieces can linger wherever they may end up – including in tissues throughout the body.