Reducing Harms From Plastic Exposure Guide

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Your kitchen is full of microplastics. Here's how to eat less of them

https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250919-how-to-eat-less-plastic

The air throughout our homes is infused with microplastics. But there are things you can do to breathe less of them  

https://www.bbc.com/future/20260410-how-to-breathe-in-fewer-microplastics-in-your-home

Unplastic your life. The Plastic Playbook. (see also the film on Netflix: The Plastic Detox)

https://opsociety.org/theplasticdetox/

9 Ways to Avoid Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/9-ways-avoid-hormone-disrupting-chemicals

A Room-by-Room Guide for Going Plastic Free

https://www.sierraclub.org/Sierra/plastic-free-guide-room-by-room

Microplastics Are Micromonsters

https://www.nrdc.org/stopmicromonsters

FACT SHEETS

Fact sheets: https://psnap.org/take-action/information-sheets/

Topics: Microfibers and Human Health, Plastics in food, Prenatal and infant plastic exposure, Microplastics and Our Health, The Healthy Pregnancy Guide, The Healthy Baby Guide, Microplastics Explained

Fact Sheets: https://www.beyondplastics.org/learn

Topics: Silicone: Is it Plastic? Is it Safe?  Plastic Pollution Is a Growing Threat to Birds’ Survival,   Plastic Toys: A Potential Risk to Children’s Health and the Environment,   Recycled Plastic in Food and Beverage Packaging, Plastics Have Infiltrated the Human Brain,   Why Black Plastic Is Bad News,   Reduce Your Exposure to Microplastics….  AND MANY MORE!

PLASTIC ALTERNATIVES

·       Shop Etee — Offers products with ingredients and materials that are safe for the body & the planet

·       Earth Breeze —Laundry and dish soaps

·       Blue Land — Reusable and sustainable cleaning products for your household

·       Grove — Products designed to reduce single-use plastic and promotes reusable, refillable, and lower-waste alternatives

·       Petco — Refillable SoPhresh cat litter program

·       Bees’ Wrap —Reusable food storage alternatives

·   Green Paper Products – Compostable tableware and paper product alternative  when you cannot use  reusable options.  Note: Only those that are BPI certified can and should be composted by Rust Belt Riders

·       For food and water storage -  Glass jars from any foods/drinks you purchase—salsa, peanut butter, juice, tomato sauce, etc.

INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES

·   Beyond Plastics - Highly recommend looking at this and signing up for emails from them regarding educational webinars, and news

·       Plastic Pollution Coalition  

·   Cafeteria Culture - Helps students address plastic pollution, food waste, and composting through science, civic engagement, media, and art

·       The Filtery - Educational resource focused on helping consumers identify products that may contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") and learn ways to avoid them

·       Children's Environmental Health Network -  Protecting children's health from environmental hazards and creating healthier places for children to live, learn, and play

·       Collaborative for Health & Environment (CHE) - Connects scientific research on environmental exposures with public health action

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES

Movie: The Plastic Detox — Infertile couples reduce plastic in their lives

Books:

·       “A Poison Like No Other” - Matt Simon

·       “Thicker Than Water: the quest for solutions to the plastic crisis” - Erica Cirino

·       “The Problem with Plastic” –Judith Enck—short, sweet, explains it all. Newly out

·       “Year of No Garbage: Recycling Lies, Plastic Problems, and One Woman's Trashy Journey to Zero Waste” - Eve O. Schaub

Product Certifications and Safety information:

·       Consumer Guide: Environmental Working Group (EWG)

·       Certifications for businesses:

·       Green Screen Certification

·       Safer Choice Certification

·       The Green Business Network

·       Product certifications for consumers:

·       UL GREENGUARD Certification

·       Floorscore.org Informed™ Product guidance for safer products for house construction

·       Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

·       OEKO-TEX Certified clothing

·       bluesign Approved for safe textiles

·       Cradle to Cradle Certified products

Recycling Guidance: cuyahogarecycles.org  

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