Pfor decades we looked at plastic as an enemy of the environment: turtles trapped in nets, islands of waste in the oceans and beaches submerged in bottles. Today, however, the perspective is changing. It is no longer just a question of ecology, but of public health. This is why Italian doctors have decided to break the silence by launching the “National campaign for the prevention of health damage from plastic“.
Plastic on the plate… and in the blood
The unprecedented initiative aims to explain how this material is silently entering the human body. The alarm comes from Isde, the Italian Association of Doctors for the Environment and from Rimsa, the Italian Sentinel Doctors Network, a group of professionals who monitors environmental changes to predict disease. The message is clear and direct: we are underestimating the chemical impact of our surroundings.
An overly complex chemical recipe
To fully understand what doctors are saying, you need to know what what we generically call “plastic” is made of. It is, in fact, of a technological cocktail of chemicals. Around 16 thousand are used in the production cycle and the data emerging from the campaign are impressive: over 4 thousand are classified as highly dangerous. These include carcinogenic substances and so-called “endocrine disruptors”, i.e. molecules capable of “deceiving” our hormonal system, altering vital messages for the organism.
Microplastics in the blood and hormonal interference: the Italian medical community breaks the silence on the true extent of plastic pollution. (Getty Images)
Few tests, more needs to be done
The greatest criticality lies in the fact that most of these substances have never been subjected to comprehensive testing to understand how they react once they come into prolonged contact with humans. The campaign therefore aims to bring this information where prevention matters most: in doctors’ offices, in schools and in courses for future mothers.
From head to toe: where microparticles hide
The prestigious scientific magazine The Lancet he defined Plastic pollution is a serious and still little recognized risk. As if to say that we are no longer just talking about large pieces of debris, but of micro and nanoplastics (Mnp), particles so tiny as to be invisible, capable of overcoming the protective barriers of our body. The most recent research has confirmed this the presence of these fragments in the lungs, blood, placenta and even the brain.
What impact on the human body
The effects documented by doctors affect every stage of life. From that of development and childhoodwith possible reductions in cognitive functions and links to childhood obesity, to that of infertilityinterfering with both male and female reproductive capacity. Up to adult health in generalthrough a greater predisposition to cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and immune system problems.
The invisible access routes
But how does plastic end up inside us? The paths are multiple and often unsuspected. In addition to the consumption of bottled water or foods stored in plastic containersa crucial role is played by the air we breathe. The synthetic fabrics of clothes and carpets, for example, constantly release microfibres, as do the paints in our homes. A striking fact concerns cars: the abrasion of tires on asphalt produces an enormous quantity of fine plastic dust. It is no coincidence that the new European regulations, have started to count not only exhaust fumesbut also the particles produced by the wear of brakes and tires.
The myth of recycled and biodegradable plastic
A central point of the doctors’ campaign concerns the need to clarify terms that often reassure consumers, but which hide pitfalls. Recycled plastic, for example, if recycled correctly, despite being an ethical choice for the environment, can retain contaminants collected during its “previous life”, sometimes releasing more chemicals than new plastic. Likewise, biodegradable plastics are not a magic solution. The goal, experts suggest, it’s not just about recycling better, but dramatically reduce chemical exposure at the source.
Small steps towards a plastic-free future
Prevention, of course, is not only done through tests and experiments, but also through practical gestures. To move from words to deeds, the campaign promotes practical tools such as the “Broken Shopping” project. The name is a play on words that invites you to make purchases “without packaging”, that is, without those disposable containers that immediately end up in the bin. Initially born in the province of Varese from a collaboration between local associations, the project has now become a national model.
More education is needed
Prevention, however, does not stop at the supermarket. Meanwhile, in schools, doctors are working to replace water bottles with network dispenserseducating children to consume more consciously. For pregnant women, however, Actual decalogues have been created to limit contact with plastics and cosmetics potentially risky during the most delicate nine months.
A necessary pressure on institutions and the market
The Italian medical community is raising a problem that the market can no longer ignore: the risk linked to plastic is not only environmental, but health and social. And, although science is still trying to map the full extent of the phenomenon, the data already available is sufficient to call for stricter rules and consumption models radically different from current ones.
