
From Condoms to Shoes: What Happens When Plastic Goes Out of Use?
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Whereas, going plastic-free in hospitals is disastrous. "Imagine if a dialysis unit in a hospital could run without plastic," says Sharon George, a senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sustainability and Green technology at Keele university in the UK. In hospitals, plastics are used in many things, such as gloves, tubes for collecting patient samples, and needles. In some surgeries, disposable instruments are used instead of reusable surgical instruments. Some surgeons argue that hospitals have too many single-use plastics. However, most plastic medical devices are now necessary, without which there will be casualties. Everyday plastic use items are also becoming important for health protection. Condoms and contraceptives are listed by the World health Organization as essential medical supplies. Similarly, masks, including plastic-based surgical masks, respirators, and reusable cloth masks have slowed the spread of the coronavirus.
Chemicals added during the production of plastic can affect the endocrine system of the human body. Such chemicals are found in phthalates used to soften plastics. These are often found in beauty products. Some phthalates affect testosterone production in men and reduce sperm count. Similarly, it affects estrogen production in women and affects fertility.
Bioplastics, the alternative plastics made from grinding cornstarch, are not an environmentally sound alternative, researchers say. So, replacing plastic with something else will not solve our problems. Instead, we need to decide on the use of plastics only in the areas where we actually need them, i.e. food and medicine.