Why We Should Care About Plastics and Our Bodies
Most of us interact with plastics daily, from water bottles and food packaging to personal care products. But plastics are not biologically inert. They contain a wide array of chemical additives, many of which can leach out into our food, drinks, and environment and enter our bodies.
What Leaches From Plastics Into Our Bodies?
Plastics are made of polymers with chemical additives that make them flexible, colorful, or heat-resistant. These additives don’t always stay put. Under heat, contact with acidic or fatty foods, and over time, chemicals can migrate out of plastic and into whatever it’s touching.
Notable culprits include:
Bisphenols (like BPA and its replacements) – used in hard plastics and can mimic estrogen.
PFAS and other additives – found in food packaging and coatings.
Styrene – from polystyrene (foam cups and takeout containers).
Even plastics marketed as “BPA-free” often use alternative bisphenols that may behave similarly in the body.
When acidic or high-vinegar foods like ketchup, sauerkraut, and pickles come into contact with plastics — or when plastics are heated — the rate of leaching increases.
How Plastic Chemicals Can Harm Your Body
1. Hormone (Endocrine) Disruption
Many plastic additives act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These can interfere with the hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Research shows that EDC exposure is linked to reproductive disorders, metabolic changes, and even cancer.
2. Reproductive Harm and Fertility Issues
Chemicals like BPA and phthalates have been linked to reduced fertility and altered reproductive development in both men and women. These effects may include changes in hormone levels and impacts on sperm quality.
Microplastics and plastic chemicals have even been detected in human placentas, raising concerns about fetal exposure and development.
3. Other Health Effects
Plastic exposures have also been associated with additional health concerns, including:
Cardiovascular risk (some research suggests leached chemicals may affect the gut or heart tissue).
Immune and metabolic disruption (links to diabetes and obesity via hormone interference).
Cancer risks (certain plastic additives are classified as carcinogens).
CDC biomonitoring finds plastic-related chemicals like BPA and phthalates in most people in the U.S., illustrating the ubiquity of exposure.
Practical Ways to Reduce Plastic Exposure
You can reshape your daily routines to limit contact with plastics—especially where leaching risk is highest.
1. Switch Your Drinkware
Use reusable bottles made from stainless steel or glass instead of single-use plastic bottles.
Avoid putting hot liquids in plastic containers, as heat increases leaching.
2. Rethink Food Storage and Packaging
Choose glass or stainless steel food storage instead of plasticware.
Avoid heating or microwaving food in plastic.
Foods with high vinegar content (like pickles or condiments) are more likely to pull chemicals out of their plastic containers, so opt for glass-packaged versions when possible or transfer to glass containers upon opening.
3. Buy Bulk and Refill When Possible
Shop at bulk stores where you can bring your own containers for grains, nuts, produce, and personal care products.
Look for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash products that can easily be refilled.
4. Choose Plastic-Free Personal Care Items
Seek out products with minimal or no plastic packaging:
Bar shampoo and conditioner
Solid lotion bars
Deodorant in cardboard tubes or tins
These help reduce your plastic footprint and decrease potential chemical exposures.
Products and Alternatives to Consider
Here’s how to swap some common plastic items for healthier choices:
Water bottles : Glass or stainless steel bottles (we love these and these too)
Food storage : Try using glass food storage or these fun alternatives to plastic storage bags
Shampoo/Body wash : Bulk refill stations or bar versions
Deodorant : Cardboard-packaged or no-packaging options (here’s one brand I love)
Detergents : Powder detergents in cardboard boxes
Final Thought
Plastics are everywhere in modern life, and eliminating them entirely isn’t realistic. But being aware of how plastics interact with our bodies and making targeted substitutions can reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. Being intentional about how and where you use plastics — especially around food and drink — lets you take back some control over what enters your system.
