WRITTEN BY JACKIE
ON THE SOUTH PACIFIC EXPEDITION FROM BAY OF ISLANDS TO TONGATAPU
It was movie night at Minerva Reef and after a late dinner I was able to keep the tired crew awake enough with a community screening 1 hour cut of the movie Plastic Detox. (Full cut available to watch on Netflix)
Watching the young couples on screen struggle with their health and fertility and learning about the countless unregulated chemicals found in plastic that we are exposed to daily was an eye opening experience. Although the film focused on the typical overpackaged and processed US diet, cleaning products, cosmetic and healthcare products, and microplastic exposure from common kitchen ware, the message was universal to our international crew of women.
Some of the staggering statistics shared in the movie stood out and were discussed amongst our crew:
• There are over ~70,000 chemicals used in everyday products that lack significant analysis for toxicity.
• The link between endocrine/hormone disrupting chemicals found in a study on select hair care products found that the earlier age a women started using hair care products the earlier age they have their period. With 15% of girls now begin puberty by age 7 with an increase risk to breast and uterine cancer due to the increased exposure to the hormone estrogen. (Jasmin A. McDonald, PhD)
• The disproportionate exposures to women of color not only by the hair products used but the continued exposures in the front line and fence line communities of petrochemical plants, also known as “cancer alley” (Sharon Levine, Founder, Rise St. James and Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr)
• “If a pregnant woman is exposed to a toxic chemical she is exposing the reproductive organs of three generations.” – Philip Landrigan, MD, Director, Global Health, Boston College
• There are only 9 chemicals banned in personal care products in the US, with over 11,000 in the EU!
Great questions were asked and personal stories shared about health, fertility and how toxic chemicals and plastic pollution are regulated and “managed” across our diverse communities from Oman, to the UK to Norway…
It became apparent that our own boat was in need of an upgrade in kitchen utensils, pots and pans and plastic “glassware.” I noticed a few of the crew switching to their ceramic coffee cups to have their morning cereal.
Many asked where they can find information on alternatives to plastic and I was so pleased to share Plastic Pollution Coalition’s plastic free living guides and website for more information.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to watch the movie on Netflix with family and friends. There are many other ways you can make a difference, including:
- Hosting a screening in your community
- Learn more about what your household products and build environment are made of
- Support more regulatory restrictions on the chemicals used
- Support legislation to reduce the rampant production of plastic pollution
Plastic is pollution by design, contaminating our recycling system, environment and bodies. It’s stories like Plastic Detox that help start the conversations needed to drive change.
