What are its health consequences?
The Daily Mail reports two major studies in 2015 linking 175 compounds in plastic found in cling film to a risk of cancer and fertility and foetal problems. The most toxic of all those chemicals is Bisphenol A (BPA), which is widely used in plastics manufacture. It mimics the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen and has been linked to breast and prostrate cancer and early sexual female development. Phthalates in cling film like DEHP, BBP, BPA and DBP are endocrine disruptors and mess up with hormones, resulting in early puberty in girls and reduced sperm count in boys.
A study from the University School of Medicine, Maryland reports that taking food wrapped in cling film could result in increasing blood pressure and impact cardiovascular health due to the presence of phthalate chemicals in the plastic film. Phthalates damage the walls of arteries by oxidative stress and may directly damage heart cells. A report published by WHO expressed concern over the exposure in young children of phthalates and other environmental chemicals that seem to interfere with human hormones. Phthalates have also been linked to allergies and asthma.
Cancer Research,London,UK warns that cling film not be allowed to come in contact with the food while using a microwave oven to heat foods. Researchers at John Hopkins University, New York has found out in their studies that heating food covered with cling film can melt the plastic onto the food. People could be breathing in plastic microparticles suspended in the air, with the risk of a noxious effect on the lungs which is similar to car fumes.
The toxic chemicals released from the plastic in the sea ultimately enter the food chain and the concentration gets biomagnified as it moves up the food chain. This means that the concentration of microplastics gets magnified as it is consumed by the fish mistaking it for food, and ultimately when the fish is consumed by humans, the concentration is further biomagnified.
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