This article is exploring what harm the amount of plastic can do to the human body. They believe they have found a link between the plastic we constantly are surrounded by and are using, and the impairment of our immune system. It may not necessarily be the plastic that is doing the harm; rather it is the chemicals in the plastic that suppress the immune system leading to cancer, birth defects, and developmental problems. The article includes a very interesting fact that informs the reader that any piece of plastic that has ever been made is still here today, meaning the plastic does not break down, ever. Even the plastics that have been incinerated release toxic fumes that can also harm the body. According to the article, exposure to these chemicals comes during manufacturing them, and while using these plastic products.Also, the article states that these following things in plastic are what is harming us, "styrene (from polystyrene), antioxidants from polyethylene, plasticizers from PVC products and acetaldehyde from PET plastic products." While the plastic products bring many unwelcome side effects, the main focus of the article is that is impairs the effectiveness and efficiency of the immune system. The article also names to things found in plastic, "Polyethylene and Urea-Formaldehyde" to be "both carcinogenic." The article concludes by urging the reader to find other substitutes to plastic, such as glass, to avoid the harmful things that may occur from your plastic use.
This article to relevant to our current term in biology because it discusses the impairment, and homeostatic imbalance of the immune system because of the plastic. We have been learning about what causes homeostatic imbalance, and this is a perfect example of how something, plastic in this case, leads the body down a harmful path ultimately resulting in homeostatic imbalance. The homeostatic imbalance from plastic comes from the various things your body may be put through as a result, or the impairment of the immune system resulting in other possible infections or diseases.
http://www.naturalnews.com/033954_plastics_immune_system.html
What does plastic do to the immune system on a cellular level and besides the obvious step of avoiding plastic, are there any ways to avoid this?
ReplyDeleteAre scientists working on engineering different types of plastics that are more body-friendly? If so, what would it be made out of?
ReplyDeleteDo scientists know why the plastic can impair the immune system?
ReplyDeleteShilpa: There have been multiple types of BPA-free plastics made, BPA is also a harmful chemical in plastic which can harm the body, but according to research, these BPA-free plastics are not always 100% better for the body. If you want more information on how BPA-free may still be harmful you can visit the following link: http://news.discovery.com/human/bpa-plastic-food-hormones-chemicals-110715.html
ReplyDeleteSonia: There is not a direct link explored in the article, also, I have not found a relible source that explains how it would alter the cells individually. But thinking about how chemicals in plastics are believed to be carcinogenic, we can infer that it alters the cells reproduction causing it to reproduce at an increased rate.
ReplyDeleteEmma: Assuming that we classify these chemicals in plastic as toxins, there is data supporting the claim that toxins will impair the efficiency of the immune system. This happens because it can decreasethe NK cells activity which makes us more vunerable for pathogens to take hold of our bodies. I found this information at: http://www.boost-immune-health.com/weak%20im%20system.html
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