Thank you for addressing this - it's helpful to see it from a trusted source! Too many of things about this topic can be panic inducing and not practical. When I was pregnant (my kids are 8.5 and 6) this is the one "decision" I made about baby/kid/life products, that we would use all stainless steel, bamboo or glass if possible for drinks, food storage etc. I needed one concrete rule to sort of "screen out" all of the panic headlines. The sticker shock can be real but they do last so much longer. But I hate how these chemicals are everywhere and it's one of those things I have to shove into the back of my mind and not think too hard about!
Yes I think we only can control what we can control and starting with a simple framework is helpful. I can’t tell you how many very smart and educated people I know still microwave plastics etc because they find it overwhelming and just give up. I do think reducing your highest risk or highest frequency exposures probably adds a bit of value over nothing. But I certainly am not 100%.
I work in public policy so fundamentally I know the "fix" is not in individual action, but I felt like I had to choose something. A real step forward would be a massive overhaul of how we regulate chemicals...but I do not control that! I also try to look for products that are "California approved" since that state does have much better regulation. But we can't do much about it all leaching into our water....
Leaching into the water is the discussion my husband and I were having about microplastics. He said wearing spandex/etc. doesn't bother him as much as plastic Tupperware until I pointed out that washing those polyester clothes puts it in our water and makes it proliferate everywhere. You are totally right that it needs a systemic change but I hope our individual actions help too!
Thank you for addressing this - it's helpful to see it from a trusted source! Too many of things about this topic can be panic inducing and not practical. When I was pregnant (my kids are 8.5 and 6) this is the one "decision" I made about baby/kid/life products, that we would use all stainless steel, bamboo or glass if possible for drinks, food storage etc. I needed one concrete rule to sort of "screen out" all of the panic headlines. The sticker shock can be real but they do last so much longer. But I hate how these chemicals are everywhere and it's one of those things I have to shove into the back of my mind and not think too hard about!
Yes I think we only can control what we can control and starting with a simple framework is helpful. I can’t tell you how many very smart and educated people I know still microwave plastics etc because they find it overwhelming and just give up. I do think reducing your highest risk or highest frequency exposures probably adds a bit of value over nothing. But I certainly am not 100%.
I work in public policy so fundamentally I know the "fix" is not in individual action, but I felt like I had to choose something. A real step forward would be a massive overhaul of how we regulate chemicals...but I do not control that! I also try to look for products that are "California approved" since that state does have much better regulation. But we can't do much about it all leaching into our water....
Leaching into the water is the discussion my husband and I were having about microplastics. He said wearing spandex/etc. doesn't bother him as much as plastic Tupperware until I pointed out that washing those polyester clothes puts it in our water and makes it proliferate everywhere. You are totally right that it needs a systemic change but I hope our individual actions help too!
My husband has been really researching microplastics right now and it’s sort of terrifying how they are everywhere!
It is amazing how they have proliferated.