One of the most remembered scenes in American films comes from “The Graduate,” in which Benjamin Braddock, the graduate of the title, is played by Dustin Hoffman. At Benjamin’s party to celebrate his achievement, a guest tells him a single word. The word is plastics.

Plastic had a particularly apt meaning during the 1960s, the decade of The Graduate. It meant being a fake and was applied to people and to things. The word plastic still dominates our lives, but, in a different way. Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations’ environment program, wrote last year that, “Reducing plastic use seems like one of the easiest environmental actions people can take.” Andersen then went on to explain how difficult it is to eliminate, or, even to limit, plastics.

I hear the frustration of people who try to limit plastics in their homes. But, I also remember when my mother first bought shampoo in a plastic bottle. She held the bottle up for the family to see and said something about the bathroom being safer.

Sadly, there are people who shrug off the dangers of plastics. Several years ago, I believe on the program 60 Minutes, the use of phthalates in products ranging from cosmetics to infant toys to packaging for foods, was examined. A phthalate is a man-made compound that is colorless and odorless. Phthalates’ purpose is to enhance the plasticity (flexibility) of plastics as well as their durability. A fact that emerged was that while phthalates are banned by European Union and many countries across the world, they are not banned in the U.S. Supposedly, manufacturers in China and other countries run different production lines, one, without phthalates for the EU and another for products sold to the U.S. I mentioned this to a coworker who said the owners of the American companies probably don’t know about that. Mark this.

At the end of the 60 Minutes piece, the woman who represented a pro-plastic position asked, “Who doesn’t love a squishy toy?” But, these chemicals are also in plastic food wraps, pacifiers and baby bottles.

Despite the reasons for using phthalates and their companions, formaldehyde and toluene, the chemicals can be released if the items are in storage for extended periods. That means not to count on the grandchildren enjoying the dolls and rubber ducks now on the kitchen floor. Other causes of shedding chemicals include vigorous shaking (rough play) or exposure to heat. That last word makes me ask what effect will rising temperatures have on our plasticized land and water?

How do we determine the content of the plastics we use? By reading the labels, for which I advise using a magnifying glass, or, looking at the recycling symbol, that broken triangle composed of arrows chasing each other on the bottoms of items. If phthalates are present, the number 3 will be at the center of the triangle, while, below it will either be the letter V or the letters PVC.

While I am reminded of Poly-Vinyl-Chloride (PVC), remember that it is created from vinyl chloride, a carcinogen and one of the chemicals spilled in the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment. It and the other spilled chemicals — butyl acrylate, isobutylene, ethylene glycol and ethylhexyl acrylate — can cause drowsiness, rashes, disorientation, nausea, numbness and headaches.

The dramatic and frightening derailment was caused by the failure to maintain reasonable safety regulations. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, a single wheel bearing on the 23rd car of the 149-car train overheated to 250 degrees higher than the ground temperature in East Palestine.

While not everyone will experience a train derailment in their neighborhood, chemicals such as PVC are found in medical devices, such as blood bags, catheters and IV tubes.

Let’s look at the consequences. Few tests have been made using humans, but, animal testing points to the chemicals under discussion as responsible for early puberty, interference of male reproductive development as well as interference with hormones.

Sea creatures are also affected by the 12 million tons of plastic that enter the ocean annually. Some die entangled by the waste. The chemicals released from the plastics poison the sea creatures and effect their reproduction. Others swallow the plastics, then starve to death because their stomachs are full and they stop eating.

The oceans themselves are dying. As of 2020-2021, 500 dead zones were discovered.

Perhaps, you have heard that some plastics can not be recycled. About half of the plastics manufactured are single use.

Inger Andersen is still hopeful because 150 countries have said they are interested in a world-wide agreement. However, the problem caused by plastics have been known for years while their production increases and some humans continue to demand more.

Susan Wozniak has been a case worker, a college professor and journalist. She is a mother and grandmother.]]>