Plastic: The Need to be Sustainable

I have been very busy this past week preparing for a conference (work-related) and have not had the time or opportunity to post. But once again, a plane ride has provided me with some salvation.

This salvation is minor, when I start to think about the fact that I have to sit still in a cramped space, even if I do get an aisle seat and patiently bide my time until landing. Not to mention the fact that this particular trip involved a flight cancellation and a four hour drive to make the conference, but that's not the point.

Working in advertising has its benefits, one being the surplus of magazines that seem to be shipped to our offices. Once all the subscriptions are sorted out to go to the right recipients, the remainder get thrown into a bin, free to whomever gets there first. In that trove, I have found many a great read. One such gem is Plenty magazine, a publication about sustainability.

In the April/May 2007 issue, several articles caught my eye. One, entitled "Plastic Oh-No" caught my eye because I saw it as a good follow-up to two of my previous posts about the state of plastics and the environmental/health concerns posed by chemical leeching in the materials we use every day.

The article raises concerns about the chemical additive known as phthalates found in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Phthalates are plasticizers, an additive which makes plastic more pliable. Some products in which phthalates can be found are shower curtains, flooring, and in some cases, children's teethers and pacifiers. In fact, many hygiene products also include phthalates to improve the polish and durability.

While the value offered by this additive are readily seen, the detriment to continued exposure is not as readily found. Studies published in 2002 and 2003 suggested that minute levels with linked to DNA damage in human sperm. A 2005 study by Harvard Medical School, two Harvard Hospitals, and the Centers for Disease Control found that high levels of phthalates were found in infants treated in ICU with equipment containing phthalates. Another 2005 study conducted by University of Rochester researchers showed that average daily exposure in utero by infant boys resulted in reproductive irregularities. (When they grow up, they are going to want expensive and fast sports cars)

Phthalates commonly enter the body through either inhalation or absorption. Factors such as heat, agitation, and age affect the speed of escape. New car smell is a result of phthalate leeching as the plastic is heated by the sunlight. This is called outgassing. The levels of phthalates that you are exposed to from this or applying nail polish may be small and not cause ill effects. But researchers have yet to determine how much is too much, or when exposure really does cause problems.

This outgassing is similar to the leeching that I wrote about in my post on Nalgene bottles, in which a minor temperature and cleaner combination can greatly affect the danger of using said plastic. As stated earlier, a variety of factors, including heat, can be a factor in the amount of phthalates outgassed from a PVC product. I am not certain, but a baby's mouth should be at least 98.6 degrees, which is pretty hot if you ask me.

There is an organization that has been around since 1973 which wishes to educate the public about the benefits of phthalates as commercial product. My perspective is that innovation and advancement in the field is a necessity and like our reliance on fossil fuels, we need to think of the next thing and hopefully it will be less detrimental to the environment and the people. But to allow you to make your own decisions on the matter, please visit the Phthalates Ester Council web site for more information.

I look forward to getting home, it's easier to find time to post.

15 days, 15 runs...