Stories
6 Household Items Messing With Your Hormones And Safe Alternatives
- •Plastic cutting boards release microplastic particles into food as they get scratched during vegetable chopping.
- •Synthetic dish sponges and scrubbers can shed microscopic plastic particles into water during use.
- •Some air fresheners and scented candles contain phthalates that can negatively impact the hormonal system.
- •Plastic tea bags or those with plastic coatings can release billions of microplastic particles in hot water.
- •Damaged non-stick cookware can leach harmful PFAS chemicals into food when heated.
- •Bottled water often contains hundreds of thousands of microplastic and nanoplastic particles per liter.
Key Questions Answered
Chopping vegetables on plastic cutting boards causes wear and tear, creating scratches that can release microplastic particles into food, as confirmed by a 2023 study published in Environmental Science & Technology. A safe option is to use a good quality wooden board instead, provided it is kept clean and dry.
When the coating of non-stick cookware gets damaged, it can leach PFAS chemicals into food when heated, and long-term use of plastic bottles can expose the body to hundreds of thousands of microplastic and nanoplastic particles. Safe alternatives include replacing damaged non-stick pans with stainless steel or cast iron utensils and using steel or glass bottles for daily drinking water.
Some air fresheners and scented candles contain phthalates, while certain tea bags are made of or coated with plastic, which can release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles into hot water. To avoid these risks, you can rely on natural ventilation and essential oils instead of air fresheners, and choose loose tea leaves or verified plastic-free paper tea bags.
