Poison Plastics? Researchers worry plastic can affect fertility, pregnant women

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Researchers are sounding the alarm about items in your pantry and refrigerator that could cause some major health problems. But it’s not the food scientists are worried about. It's the plastic containers the food is stored in.

“Scientists are now finding thousands of plastic particles in water bottles, soda bottles, even in milk cartons. These milk cartons are lined with polyethylene and are leaching plastic into the milk,” said Package Engineering Solutions President, Doug Peck.

And once we ingest the plastic, Peck said those particles are moving through our bodies. But are they exiting our bodies?

“Dr. Farley, a noted research professor, found the average consumer takes in 2,000 particles of plastic a week. Let’s translate that. That means the average consumer is taking in 250 grams of plastic a year and when you put that in English units, that’s half a pound of plastic,” said Peck.

Peck said researchers are worried consuming plastic particles could lead to serious health problems.

“We’re finding that these plastics are causing endometriosis in women, causing liver damage, intestinal damage and intestinal blockage,” said Peck.

The medical community is also concerned about the effect plastic particles can have on men’s fertility and pregnant women Peck said.

“Pregnant women drink copious amounts of bottled water to keep hydrated and they’re taking in all these plastic particles. The plastic particles are going through the umbilical cord, into the developing fetus’ brain. We don’t know that effect yet, but we still think it’s autism. If you look at the growth of plastic over the years, it kind of correlates with the growth of autism,” he said.

CBS 21’s Candace Scalese asked Peck what has been published so far and if there’s any guidance from the CDC or FDA.

“The information is coming out of medical journals, packaging journals and a few trade journals we keep track of,” Peck said. “The FDA has really done nothing on this at all. The CDC has done some research on this but its basically medical institutions”.

The World Health Organization published a report about microplastics in 2019. It confirms microplastics are being found in the environment and have been detected in our food and drinking-water. However, it says the particles in drinking water aren’t harmful to human health, at least that not at the current levels but more research is needed.

It’s also important to note the FDA has a list of approved plastics for food contact here.

While medical universities and scientists continue investigating plastic particles impact on our bodies, alternative products are being developed.

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Penn State, Professor Jeffrey Catchmark, is working on a polysaccharide material that’s developed from natural starches like corn and potato.

“We have found ways to put starch and other natural fibers like cellulose and starch together to make an insoluble barrier material that can replace plastics in a variety of applications, including packaging,” Catchmark explained.

From that starch, they’re creating a coating similar to laminate that’s biodegradable.

“I’m hoping the technology we’ve developed will replace a vast majority of the plastics we use now so we can have a more sustainable world,” Catchmark said.

He said he’s focused on something that’s better for the world and for our bodies.

“Something that’s stable, insoluble, and works well in a variety of different conditions,” Catchmark explained.

He and a team of PhD students have been working on a product that could hit markets as soon as next year.

On Dec. 7, Doug Peck is giving a one-hour lecture at Messiah University that will cover the effects of the millennial generation on the food industry, effects of food packaging of human health, environmental implications of food packaging materials and the direction of the food and packaging industries.