Use of one-time plastic-made cups, glasses and utensils for taking tea, coffee, juice or any other foods can cause harmful effects on human body as its use leads to develop many incurable diseases. People are often seen taking tea, coffee, fruit juice, liquid drinks and foods in one-time plastic users instead of glasses or other forms of utensils everywhere-- in footpaths, parks, vehicles, and ferries. But physicians warned against drinking liquid items or foods in plastic-made users, dubbing those as not safe.
Studies show that the ingredients commonly used to make plastic cups or glasses are more likely to cause multiple diseases, including fatigue, loss of hormone balance, decreased brain capacity and many more. Health experts said, problems like irritation in the eyes, vision failure, breathing difficulties, respiratory problems, liver dysfunction, cancer, skin diseases, lungs problems, headache, dizziness, birth effect, reproductive disorder, cardiovascular ailments, genotoxic, and gastrointestinal may cause due to use of toxic plastics.
According to them, use of plastic bottles, children's milk bottles, plastic dishes, plastic wrapped foods, processed foods, instant noodles, and many others may cause diseases. Researchers say, the toxic substance bisphenol in plastic is considered to be a major killer. When a hot meal or drink comes in contact with plastic, the chemical is mixed with the foods. When it enters the body, it disrupts the normal functioning of estrogen hormones, said Medicine Specialist Zahid Ahsan at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
Heart, kidney, liver, lungs and skin can also be severely damaged. Even breast cancer is feared by several researches, he added. Mentioning the harmful impact of plastics on the human body he said, “Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) that is used to make bottles or utensils is softened by the use of Phthalates. Phthalates are like poisons for human body.”
He further said, multiple studies from abroad have shown that when these chemicals enter the body regularly, breathing problems, obesity, type 2 diabetes, low IQ, autism and breast cancer can develop. An international survey reveals an alarming picture of cancer across India.. India is the only country affected by this disease after China and the United States.
According to the study, the number of cancer cases in the country is increasing by 4.5 to 5 percent every year. Food and Nutrition specialist Nazma Khatun suggested to avoid plastic cups, glasses and utensils for healthy living.. Taking tea and coffee in a street-side shop means, for the most part, eating in plastic cups. However, everybody has to be careful about drinking tea or coffee using plastic-made cups and glasses. If the plastic cup is made for one-time use, no one should drink tea in this cup, she added.
In addition, she emphasized that awareness is needed to get rid of such diseases. Sellers should be also discouraged while selling hot foods in plastic containers.