We were already painfully aware of many of the environmental and health effects associated with plastic. When plastic products "break down" they become microplastics, infiltrating waterways, as well as bodies of humans and wildlife. But also certain chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) have been linked to endocrine disruption.
And most recently, a chemical in plastic has been linked to obesity — though scientists aren't yet sure which chemical is the culprit.