Dear Editor,
“Life in plastic, it’s fantastic…” croons the fun 90s anthem “Barbie Girl”. Yet today, in the age of microplastics, these lyrics carry a different tune, leaving a bad taste in our mouths. From sipping our morning coffee in disposable cups, to putting a dash of salt on our food, we are getting inundated with plastics that have steadily crept into our daily routines. It doesn’t stop with ingestible sources, studies have demonstrated that the inhalation of plastics through the atmosphere are equally responsible to this environmental assault.
Did you know that we may be eating the equivalent of a plastic credit card every week? The most insidious form of microplastics are nanoplastics, which are microscopic particles, unseen by the naked eye. This inadvertent consumption leads to dangerous accumulations in our vital organs causing significant health concerns. Micro and nanoplastics are capable of crossing the blood brain barrier and have been implicated in diseases like Alzheimer’s, as plastics accumulate in the brain more than any other organ. These particles may also contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders, linking them to behavioral issues and even Autism.
Additionally, these plastics typically contain harmful chemicals used to enhance their structure, namely bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. Both are known hormone disruptors that accumulate in our fatty tissues, wreaking havoc on fertility by disrupting estrogen pathways and decreasing testosterone production. In essence, you could say we are living out the troubling reality of the “Barbie Girl” lyrics.
However, as Barbie herself says, “Imagination, life is your creation…” Maybe it’s time to get creative with solutions, one reusable step at a time. We can start by plastic-shaming our bad habits by simply swapping out bottled water and disposable coffee cups for reusable options, and ditching the polyester clothes for natural cotton, bamboo and silk fabrics instead.
A practical local solution is to participate in the Live Like Luke Tod’s Point Beach Cleanup on April 26th. Luke’s passion for the environment has fostered a strong community spirit driven by a well-organized mission to improve our environment by picking up those pesky plastics from our beautiful parks and beaches. While we celebrate Luke’s legacy annually, we can honor his efforts daily by making conscientious choices.
Let’s work together to transform our plastic-laden world back into a more natural space and leave behind a legacy of sustainability for our health and especially for future generations.
Catherine Tiedemann
Sacred Heart Greenwich 26’
