The Plastics Dilemma Part 1

How a Modern Miracle Became a Global Health Crisis

By Dr. Jeffrey A. Morrison

In 1996, I stood with my classmates at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and took the Hippocratic Oath, swearing to “first, do no harm.” That promise has shaped my work as a physician ever since. But recently, I’ve come to realize that some of my daily choices, the very same ones most of us make without thinking, may be causing harm to our bodies, our families, and our planet.

This awakening led me to examine something I had taken for granted for decades: plastics. They are everywhere. And while they were once a symbol of innovation, they have quietly become a threat to human and environmental health.

How Plastics Took Over the World

Plastics were invented in 1907 as a synthetic replacement for materials thought to be in short supply. The first commercial application, a petroleum-based substitute for shellac, helped insulate the electrical grid powering America’s future.

By World War II, the plastics industry had expanded dramatically. Nylon replaced silk for parachutes and ropes. Plexiglas replaced glass in aircraft. These durable, inexpensive materials were hailed as technological marvels.

After the war, manufacturers found new markets in everyday life. That’s when single-use plastics, like straws, cups, bags, and packaging, entered the mainstream.

By the 1970s, the world was producing more plastic than steel. And by 2024, global plastic production reached over 430 million metric tons annually. Nearly half of this plastic is designed to be used once and discarded.

The Hidden Cost of Plastic: 10 Billion Tons and Counting

Since 1950, we’ve produced more than 10 billion metric tons of plastic — roughly the weight of 20,000 Empire State Buildings. And the majority of it has been designed for short-term use.

Here's where it all ends up:

• 50% of all plastic is single-use

• Only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled

• 19% is incinerated, often releasing harmful pollutants

• Over 70% accumulates in landfills, oceans, and natural ecosystems

• Over 14 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans each year

• Plastics can take 500 to 1,000 years to degrade

This is more than a waste problem - it’s a health crisis.

The Two Major Threats of Plastic: Persistence and Poison

1. Plastics Don’t Go Away — They Break Down into Microplastics

Plastics are incredibly durable. Instead of biodegrading, they micronize, breaking into tiny fragments due to sunlight, friction, and weathering.

Microplastics and synthetic microfibers are now found:

• In the oceans, where they are ingested by fish and sea birds

• In laundry wastewater, shed from fleece and synthetic fabrics

• In bottled water, sea salt, honey, fruits, and vegetables

• In human blood, lungs, placenta, and even the brain

One 2024 study estimated that the average person consumes around 5 grams of microplastics per week—about the weight of a credit card. Other studies have found up to 240,000 plastic particles per liter in bottled water.

We are living in an unregulated experiment with unknown consequences.

2. Plasticizers Disrupt Our Hormones and Health

Most plastics contain chemical additives called plasticizers, such as:

• BPA (Bisphenol A) — makes plastics hard and clear

• Phthalates — make plastics soft and pliable

These are known endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that interfere with hormone signaling and regulation. Research links EDC exposure to:

• Obesity

• Type 2 diabetes

• Low sperm count

• Chromosomal abnormalities

• Hormone-sensitive cancers

• Infertility

• Developmental delays and lower IQ in children

A 2023 meta-analysis concluded that no level of BPA exposure can be considered completely safe. The CDC previously detected BPA in over 90% of urine samples from Americans, and recent studies suggest those levels may be even higher today due to expanding plastic use.

Our detox systems weren't built to handle this constant, invisible exposure.

A Wake-Up Call: The Plastics Are in Us

Let’s walk through a typical day, one that probably sounds familiar:

You shower with fragranced soap and apply moisturizer (both may contain EDCs)
You grab a bottled water and sip from a plastic straw
You pick up lunch in a plastic container with plastic utensils

All of this gets tossed, and you start over tomorrow.

That’s six single-use plastics a day, five days a week — over 1,500 pieces per year per person, not counting household packaging.

Now imagine that multiplied across every household, office, and city. The scale is staggering. But the good news is: we have the power to stop it.

This Is About More Than Fitness — It’s About Life

At The Morrison Center, we empower our patients to make more informed choices—starting with everyday essentials like skincare. We offer guidance on how to select plasticizer-free personal care products and share trusted resources for safer living:

• www.cleanseas.org – global campaign to reduce ocean plastic

• www.safecosmetics.org – safe beauty education

• www.madesafe.org – non-toxic product certification

• www.endocrinedisruption.org – in-depth science on EDCs

What’s Next?

This is the beginning of a three-part blog series on plastics. In Part 2, we’ll explore:
👉 “A Day in Plastic: The Invisible Threat Hiding in Your Daily Routine”
You’ll see how our modern lives have become saturated with hidden sources of plastic and toxic exposure, even in the name of wellness.

“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
— Buddha

Let’s start today. Let’s choose glass over plastic. Clean over toxic. Life over convenience.