Here Are Some Common Everyday Items You Did Not Know Had Plastic in Them!

From clothes to containers and straws to stationery, we interact with a ton of plastic items regularly that many of us wouldn't even suspect to be made out of the damned material that humanity has learned to love and hate so much.

And as much as we'd hate to disturb your ignorance-fuelled bliss, informing is literally our job as a science news outlet. On the occasion of World Environment Day 2023, themed #BeatPlasticPollution, let's cruise through a morning in the life of Barbie and reassess just how fantastic life in plastic is.

Did you catch the first item fueled with the plastic evil? Most toothpaste contains 'microbeads', a type of microplastic ingredient made usually from polyethylene that helps in scrubbing or exfoliating. Studies have found that about half of all dental care products contain this stuff.

Ever noticed that paper cups and plates rarely get soggy despite being made of paper? This is because most of these items are lined with plastic to prevent water and oil from seeping through them, making them almost impossible to recycle.

Can't live with it, doesn't feel right without it; makeup is one of those items with a surprising amount of plastics in them. Research from the Plastic Soup Foundation a couple of years back had shown that 87% of products from the ten top-selling cosmetic brands contained an inordinate amount of microplastics embedded in them.

Apart from the obvious environmental pollution once discarded, experts are concerned these microplastics will work their way into human bodies, potentially proving toxic.

Like Barbie, if you have a special hatred for teabags, here's another stoking to that fire: they contain sealing agents made of polypropylene, a non-recyclable and non-biodegradable plastic. Furthermore, when dipped into hot water, the plastic from the glue or bag begins to break down, releasing billions of microparticles into your cup.

Mountains of discarded and deteriorating straws and plastic bags cross most of our minds when we think of plastic pollution. But did you know that one of the most abundant forms of plastic waste actually comprises cigarettes?

Despite giving the appearance of some type of cardboard or paper, cigarette butts are actually made of cellulose acetate, a synthetic plastic material that can end up polluting dumping areas for decades.

But that's not the only way you're ingesting plastic. Since many settle on chewing gum to help mask the wretched cigarette stench, they also end up consuming an additional serving of the stuff. The "gum base", which gives the sweet its chewiness, is often largely made of polyvinyl acetate. However, there is currently no evidence that this ends up actually harming our bodies.

Feel like Barbie's life isn't the only one that's plastic? Don't fret yet, for you have the choice to replace all the aforementioned synthetic stuff with some significantly sustainable substitutes.

The easiest measure would be bringing your own reusable mug or plate when you dine outside. If you can't brew your own loose leaf tea, there are plastic-free tea bags available with a little bit of searching.

The same applies to toothpastes and makeup; always opt for organic options when possible. And if quitting smoking is too hard, just make sure you dispose of the butts responsibly.

**

For weather, science, space, and COVID-19 updates on the go, download The Weather Channel App (on Android and iOS store). It's free!