Environment and Human Health, Inc. Embarks on Project to Impact the Plastic Epidemic

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 9, 2018  /PRNewswire/ -- Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), an organization of physicians and public health professionals, announces that it is embarking on a state-wide plastic reduction effort with hopes that other states will follow their lead. EHHI has decided to put their efforts and resources into this project because of the negative effect that the plastic issue is having on our environment and human health.

The Plastic Problem

The amount of plastic produced from 2000-2010 exceeds the amount of plastic produced during the entire last century. More than 40% of plastic produced is used only once. The working life of a single use plastic bag is about 15 minutes.

Of the plastics produced, only 9% have been recycled. Americans discard about 33.6 million tons of plastic each year. Much of the plastic produced and used end up in our landfills, rivers, lakes and oceans. 18 billion pounds of plastic ends up in our oceans every year.  It is estimated by some, that by the year 2050 the ocean will contain more plastic by weight than fish.

The Environmental Impact

Over 100 million marine animals are killed each year from the plastic debris in the ocean. The plastic that ends up in the ocean breaks down over time and turns into tiny pieces, known as microplastics. These microplastics enter the food chain, ushering toxins into the fatty tissues of fish and other animals, which then go up the food chain and may be eaten by humans.  A recent study by Ghent University in Belgium found that people who regularly eat seafood ingest up to 11,000 tiny pieces of plastic each year. Another study by Plymouth University found that one-third of all fish caught in the UK contained microplastics.

Packaging accounts for 40% of plastic use, and the plastic packaging that comes in contact with food includes many "compounds of concern"  that pose a risk to human health. Two of those compounds are bisphenols and phthalates, which are both known endocrine disrupters.

Our Plan

To impact the plastic issue, EHHI plans to work with state and local governments to enact legislations that will reduce some plastic uses. EHHI also plans to engage corporations to reduce their uses of plastic in their packaging and in all other of their corporate uses. Also on the agenda is working with school and college groups that have shown an interest in working on plastic use reductions.

EHHI has produced a new brochure called PLASTICS: Twelve reasons to reduce their use. This brochure can be accessed and downloaded at  www.ehhi.org

The plastic epidemic will take all of us working on this issue if we are to begin to address this very serious problem.

Contact: Nancy Alderman at 203-248-6582

SOURCE Environment and Human Health, Inc.