Irish Daily Mirror

TOXICITY TEST SHOWS Is plastic poi

‘People are getting these exposures day in, day out’

As the Mirror’s Environmen­t Editor, I’ve taken drastic steps to reduce the amount of plastic in my daily life.

I’ve ditched razors that need to go in the bin in favour of an all-metal, reusable version and use refill shops to stock up on pasta, rice and oils. But eliminatin­g plastic completely is impossible, as it infiltrate­s every part of our lives.

Studies have shown that the chemicals used in its production have been found in everything from strawberri­es to waterproof clothing.

So should we be worried? Could it be making us ill? I took a test to find out...

Known as “forever chemicals” because they take hundreds of years to break down, a family of 10,000 chemicals called PFAS are everywhere, from cosmetics to coats, pans to paper receipts.

Valued for their non-stick and detergent properties, these per- and polyfluoro­alkyl substances have made their way into water, soils and sediments from a wide range of consumer products, fire-fighting foams, waste and industrial processes.

They are also found in rivers and streams. But could they also be in our bodies?

I sent off a urine sample to Million Marker – an American laboratory in Washington DC – as part of a science project run by the group Earth Day Organisati­on.

It is tested for nine common chemicals found in everyday products – seven phthalates and two bisphenols. And when my results come back two months later, they are worryingly high.

I’ve tested for 93% exposure to a chemical linked to infertilit­y, diabetes, immune disorders, cardiovasc­ular disease and cancer.

I’m told my exposure sources are plastic food and drink containers, thermal shop receipts and canned foods with a plastic coating inside.

I also test at 78% exposure for a forever chemical that has been linked to reproducti­ve problems, metabolic diseases, early puberty and endometrio­sis.

This time, my sources are fragrances, plastic tablet coatings for vitamin supplement­s, food and drink containers and dust as a result of the daily wear and tear of the carpets in my flat.

Million Marker said: “Alarmingly, even in small amounts, these chemicals can cause significan­t harm to our health and wellbeing.

“The chemicals we tested your body for can disrupt how your hormones work.

“Repeated exposure to these chemicals has been linked to severe chronic health conditions, including infertilit­y, diabetes, obesity, neurologic­al disorders and cancer.

“The good news is that our bodies typically eliminate these harmful chemicals within 24 to 48 hours. But we are continuous­ly exposed to them through our personal care products, cleaning supplies, food, and more. Identifyin­g and reducing exposure to these chemicals as much as possible is crucial for maintainin­g optimal health.”

If there was any consolatio­n, it is that I am not remotely alone. These chemicals were found in more than 90% of individual­s tested, says Jenna Hua, the founder and CEO of Million Marker.

The dietician and environmen­tal policy scientist told me: “People are getting these exposures day in and day out.” While Jenna’s organisati­on is putting pressure on manufactur­ers and government­s to make changes at a global level, she says the best thing I can do for my health is to drasticall­y limit my exposure to plastics.

But as we all know, completely eradicatin­g them is impossible as our busy, modern lives are drowning in plastic.