Plastic is becoming a real problem for all of us. Plastic bottles, bags, food packages, and other single-use plastics are harming us and the planet at an unprecedented rate. The harmful effects of plastic far outweigh the convenience it provides. Plastic water bottles especially pose multiple dangers to the health and the environment.
Whether we’re out camping, at work, out shopping, or just running errands, we look for plastic bottles to quench our thirst. Plastic water bottles are also passed around at business conferences, trade shows, events, and other corporate events.
Even if you’re in a high-end restaurant, the water that’s served to you most possibly comes from plastic bottles.
Plastic has penetrated every single part of our lives. In this blog, we’ll go over the dangers of single-use plastic and how we can reduce the waste.
The Impact of Plastic on the Planet
The harmful effects of plastic water bottles largely come from chemicals inside plastic. The chemicals leach into the water stored inside the bottles. When we drink from plastic bottles, we ingest these harmful chemicals that end up hurting our health.
Not just water bottles, plastic bags, packaging, and other plastic materials end up at landfill sites, and the chemicals reach the soil, polluting the entire area.
A lot of plastic waste ends up in the sea, hurting the sea life, destroying marine ecosystems and more.
Health Effects of Plastic
One of the most famous chemicals in plastic is BPA. BPA affects the endocrine function of our bodies, which can lead to a number of issues.
Some of the most dangerous effects include birth defects and developmental disabilities in children. It’s also known to decrease fertility in both men and women.
Plastic bottles and other materials that claim to be BPA-free are also full of other harmful chemicals. There are endless toxins that make their way into our bloodstream.
Over time, the chemicals build up and cause hormone disruption. This can lead to sudden weight gain, kidney damage, and even cancer.
Worst of all is a chemical named BHPF, a chemical that’s replacing BPA. It has similar health risks as BPA and some even worse. So, regardless of the type of plastic we choose, the health impact is always going to be there.
Customers use BPA-free plastic bottles, thinking they’re completely safe from toxins, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
Environmental Effects of Plastic
The dangerous effects of plastic also include the impact it has on our planet. While a lot of efforts are being made to better manage plastic waste, it’s still not enough.
We need to save our planet, but it won’t be possible till plastic water bottles, plastic packaging, and other forms of plastic keep filling landfills, oceans, our homes, etc.
As plastic isn’t biodegradable, it takes up a lot of space on land and water. It takes 500-700 years for plastic waste to start decomposing. In that time, plastic keeps on spreading harmful chemicals in the land, sea, and air. It poses a serious risk of soil erosion, which can impact global agriculture and food quality and threaten the lives of fauna that drink contaminated water.
Marine animals face the most serious risk when they accidentally ingest plastic that has polluted our oceans. Moreover, there won’t be enough landfills to contain the plastic waste that will keep piling up for years to come. To make things worse, the massive carbon footprint of producing plastic bottles is also not great for the planet.
Choose Better Hydration Options
Plastic is the worst possible option you can choose to fulfil your hydration needs. Not just water bottles; you should try to phase out plastic from your life completely.
You can start by switching to a Pexpo stainless steel bottle for you, your kids, and your entire family. By switching to stainless steel bottles, you’ll be taking the first step towards better health and saving the environment.
Pexpo stainless steel insulated water bottles help you keep hydrated on the go. Take Pexpo bottles to the office, for camping, for hiking, for cycling, or anywhere else you want. Pexpo bottles are sleek and durable, built to handle rough and tough lifestyles. Pexpo stainless steel bottles can keep your beverages cold/hot for up to 24 hours.