Plastic feels like one of the necessary evils of modern life. We all know that it’s not great for the environment and most of us have heard something about the ways plastic can impact human health, but it feels unavoidable. Plastic is in everything from clothing to chewing gum — yes really. And now a new study suggests that everyday plastics may negatively impact your metabolism.
The study, which was published today in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, analyzed 34 everyday objects that contain plastics — like yogurt cups and dish sponges. The research, conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, found more than 55,000 chemical compounds in those 34 products. According to the study, scientists were only able to identify 629 of the chemical compounds, 11 of which are known to interfere with human metabolism. It’s important to note that this was deduced from lab testing that did not involve humans, only human cells.
