Plastics, Allergies and Asthma

I’ve got a confession to make.

Even as a warrior against plastic dependency, I was once completely unaware of the damage it caused to my health or the planet. I didn’t even give a second thought to single use plastics. 

I was wasteful and disconnected, to say the least. 

Some of you might know that after the birth of our first child, Ricardo and I started making changes to reduce our plastic dependency and choose safer products for our family. This eventually inspired us to start The Parent Diary. 

But this seed for change was actually planted within me much earlier.  

Around the age of 45, my father developed a mysterious muscular disease. I witnessed the degeneration of his muscles for 25 years until his passing.

My father was not only the most thoughtful person I’ve ever known, but an amazing gardener. Although no doctor could offer a diagnosis, we suspect his exposure to toxins in fertilizer contributed to his disease.

  The dangers of fertilizer are being uncovered decades after they entered the market and our environment. Unfortunately, the same can be said for plastics.  

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently called for stronger federal food safety requirements, warning families to avoid microwaving and dish-washing plastic containers that contain harmful chemicals.   

This is over 100 years after plastics entered the marketplace. 

But that’s not all. Studies suggest that chemicals in plastics, detergents, exhaust fumes and fertilizers are contributing to the rise of asthma and allergies.

This is why we’re spreading the word about May being National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. 

Children are especially susceptible to developing asthma and allergies as their immune systems develop.

One fact that we found staggering is that 53% of cases of anaphylaxis reaction in children are due to “unknown sources.” This means that food allergies are not the leading cause of anaphylaxis.  

That leaves the great unknown of environmental toxins—including those found in plastic—extremely suspect. 

As we learn the dangers of plastic, this puts us in a tricky place as consumers.

Plastic seems to be everywhere. It can be a real chore to find safer, plastic-free alternatives. 

This is what motivates our production of sustainable silicone products at The Parent Diary. 

We’ve set up a Kickstarter campaign for our new lunch box design.