by Trivaholic.com
With the increasing climatic changes and the growing concern about the harmful effects of plastic, it’s time we switch to healthier and more environmentally friendly alternatives. According to Isfoundation, plastic straws contain BisphenolA (BPA).
BPA is a harmful chemical found in plastics that mimic the activity of hormones, most commonly estrogen, which can lead to a number of reproductive disorders and other conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Plus, just imagine, if a single person were to use a plastic straw every day for the next ten years, there would be 3,650 straws worth of landfill! It is thus imperative you switch to reusable items and recycle plastic items as much as possible.
While glass straws may add elegance to any dining table, it is not safe to use for the kids or for travel. Likewise, bamboo straws may only seem a good option if you are throwing a tropical themed straw party. Stainless steel straws are ideal for just about any occasion. Not only do they add elegance to your dining room but are considerably more durable as compared to plastic straws.
There are many reasons why you should update to stainless steel straws. Here are some listed below:
Haven’t we polluted the earth enough? According to Mother Earth Living, the manufacturing of plastic products releases a whole set of carcinogenic, home-disruptive and neurotoxic chemicals into the atmosphere. These products eventually find their way to our ecology through the air, water, and land pollution.
Teach your kids the importance of switching to environmentally friendly products, such as metal straws to protect the environment. This will encourage them to reduce the use of plastic made products and recycle.
Stainless steel straws are reusable and can last for ages if you clean them properly. In addition, stainless steel does not leach chemicals and does not interact with the product you are consuming. On the other hand, plastic straws can only be used once and leech harmful chemicals.
Rest assured, cleaning a stainless steel straw is as easy as it could be. Most metal straws are dishwasher safe so all you have to do is rinse the straw and toss it inside the dishwasher and you are good to go.
In addition, aside from being dishwasher free, Wakatobi Straws come with their own cleaning brush, to ensure that every inch of the straw remains spick and span. What’s best is that the cleaning brush is also great for cleaning sports bottles and sippy cups too!
Unlike plastic products, stainless steel straws are perfectly safe to use and BPA free. Plastic straws have been known to leech harmful chemicals into the bloodstream.
Plastic products and containers manufactured to store food and beverages, such as water bottles and straws may contain BPA. According to Mayo Clinic, Bisphenol A is an increasingly common industrial chemical used in the industrial production of certain plastics and resin. Over the years, BPA has been known to increase the risk of health problems, such as reproductive disorders and diabetes.
Do you have a friend who is obsessed with fitness and spends most of their time making healthy and refreshing fruit juices? A set of stainless steel straws would be the perfect gift for anyone who is fitness conscious and concerned about the environment.
Get your friend a set of Wakatobi Straws and you will not regret it. These straws feature an elegant and sophisticated design that is bound to become a favorite, especially during the summers.
These straws can be used to enjoy all sorts of delicious drinks including frozen cocktails, iced tea, fruit juices, milk, shakes and smoothies. What more could you want?
If you like fine cutlery, complete your silverware collection by purchasing a set of stainless steel straws. These straws will elegance to your dining table, making it the center of attraction every time you have guests over.
Did you know steel straws have enough tensile strength so you could enjoy orange juice directly from an orange? That is right, just push the straw into the fruit and enjoy! Imagine trying that with a plastic straw.
What’s worse than preparing a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day only for it to turn warm before you even enjoyed it? Steel retains the temperature of your drink and prevents it from melting down.
Stainless steel straws allow you to enjoy your drinks for longer periods of time so those glorious sips do not go to waste. With stainless steel straws, you no longer have to gulp down your drink in one go.
In terms of durability, stainless steel straws are the best compared to other types of straws. Unlike reusable glass straws, metal straws are not fragile and can easily be used by children. Hence, if you have young children who like to throw things around the table during breakfast, invest in stainless steel straws and you won’t have to worry about breakage again.
Due to its sturdy metal build, stainless steel straws can be carried wherever you go. These straws are ideal for fitness freaks that are always on the road. Just pack the straws with a cleaning brush and you are good to go.
In addition, stainless steel straws are great for people who like drinking fruit juices and smoothies at work. The straws can be packed with you wherever you go without fear of breakage.
Source : http://thrivaholic.com/benefits-stainless-steel-straws/
]]>“We found plastic on every island we went to. We also did microplastic trawling and found plastic in the ocean too. The plastic is throughout the entire ocean column – the sea surface, the seafloor,” marine biologist Laura Wells told nine.com.au.
“Plastics is full of different chemicals that are harmful to human health, and once the plastic is in the ocean it acts like a sponge. It soaks up all of the other chemicals and becomes extra toxic. It is then ingested by fish and other organisms, which we then consume. So essentially, we are eating our own toxic waste.”
A recent study conducted by the Environment Agency Austria has fueled concern these plastic particles are working their way into humans via the food chain.
The pilot study, which was published late last year, found microplastics in human stools for the first time in history.
Lead researcher, Dr. Philip Schwabl, told nine.com.au: “We performed a pilot trial and found microplastics present in human stools, which is an indicator that we involuntarily eat or ingest it. This is the first time gastrointestinal microplastics have been found in humans.”
To date, scientists have found microplastics in 114 aquatic species, including salmon, Bluefin tuna, swordfish, clams, oysters and scallops.
“There is cause for concern because particles of plastic that we are finding in samples have been linked to health problems for both humans and wildlife,” Dr. Mark Browne, an ecologist at the University of New South Wales told nine.com.au.
“We have shown that it can cause inflammation and scar tissue, but in terms of humans we don’t know what happens.”
Fishmongers sell prawns by the bucketful on Christmas Day. (AAP)
There is a concern that these microplastics could cause serious illnesses like cancer, Dr. Browne said.
“With asbestos, we know particles can cause inflammation, scar tissue; and the link from scar tissue to cancer has been established. What happens if there is the same link to more plastic particles? If those particles can cause inflammation and scar tissue, could they follow the same pathway as asbestos?”
A spokesperson for Clean-Up Australia told nine.com.au: “Plastics also leach toxins in seawater – so it’s not just the material, it’s also the elements of that material that are dangerous. This is real, immediate and significant. We are not only poisoning our environment, but we are also poisoning ourselves. Australians should be concerned”
Dr. Schwabl agrees.
“Some plastics are produced with additives which may leach out, so there are additional chemicals which could cause harm.”
“A very prominent example is Bisphenol A, abbreviated BPA, which at least in Europe is now banned for babies’ bottles. This BPA which came into skin contact, the tongue and oral cavity, could have reached out, and had toxic and hormonal effects in the babies.”
Barnacles hitch a ride on a plastic bottle in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Justin Hofman)
Dr. Schwabl is quick to point out that there are limitations to the study, namely the small sample size.
“We looked at eight people and found plastics in 100 percent of our sample size. It is difficult to estimate how these numbers translate to the wider population though.”
Another issue, is that while the microplastics were found in human stools, we don’t know where they are coming from, and how they are entering the body.
“There is a widespread concern that the source of microplastics is from ocean pollution. The plastic accrues and accumulates in the sea so that is a hot spot. But there are several possibilities,” Dr. Schwabl said.
“There are also airborne particles. Recently studies have shown that salt and bottled water contain microplastics. It’s difficult to say whether microplastics entered the body via the food chain. In the end, it is not at all clear, where they come from”
Dr. Browne takes a similar stance.
“Plastic particles are certainly getting into us, where they are getting into us from is unclear. Organisms of different sizes can break plastics down into smaller sizes, microorganisms all the way up to larger animals, so it is feasible that plastic can transfer from the environment into organisms and up the food chain. Although it is very likely, we don’t have very good studies looking at that aspect.”
“Researchers are not actually thinking about the knowledge gaps. More studies that show that we find plastic in poo, or on shorelines in a remote place, aren’t really going to help us. We will need to start drilling down to the details.
“There are various health problems for humans and wildlife and we need to start taking this seriously.”
This dead whale washed ashore on Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi in November. It had over 1,000 assorted pieces of plastic in its stomach including, plastic cups, bottles, bags, and thongs. (AP/AAP)
Source: https://www.9news.com.au/2019/02/01/13/27/microplastics-plastic-pollution-in-food-chain-scientist-warning, 9 Feb 2019
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