Micro-Plastics; Nano-Plastics: Toxins That Are Affecting Your Voice

Did You Know?

Mariah Carey reported to insure her voice for an eight-digit sum
Bruce Springsteen insured his voice for $6 million
Same with Bob Dylan

There is even an article on Voices.com discussing if insuring your voice if you become a voice actor Check it out: https://www.voices.com/blog/should_you_insure_your_voice/

Protecting the health and flexibility of your vocal chords needs to be at the top of your “pay attention” list.  Whether you are just starting out or a professional you need to take a serious look now about how your lifestyle choices, your dietary choices, and your daily habits and routines are introducing potential health risks to your most prized possession “your voice.” See, even Ursula in the Disney Animation Film “Little Mermaid” treasured the gift of vocal talents.  Let’s do a double take on the hottest issue of the year “micro and nano plastics”

It is interesting to take note that your thyroid is an important “endocrine gland” that makes and releases certain hormones important to you health. 

Take note that while various factors contribute to voice changes, untreated thyroid disorders can affect vocal cord function too. Specifically, studies have shown that hypothyroidism, when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, this can in turn affect your vocal cord function and voice. 

According to research, up to 98% of people with hypothyroidism will develop some voice-related symptoms. These voice changes progress slowly over time, making it hard to notice them immediately.

A hoarse voice with a rough, raspy sound is the most common voice problem in those with hypothyroidism, but individuals could also experience the following symptoms:

• Inability to speak or sing at both high and low pitches

• Deepening of the voice (especially in women)

• Vocal fatigue or the feeling of straining or tiredness after talking for a long time

• Lower voice volume results in a weaker or softer-sounding voice

Researchers have found the following to be true:

“Voice changes may occur even in the cases of mild thyroid failure since thyroid hormone receptors have been found in the larynx, which proves that the thyroid hormone acts on the laryngeal tissue. Hypothyroidism can cause notable voice changes, such as low voice, roughness, reduced range, and vocal fatigue.”

Other vocal abuse can be a type of behavior that can cause a possible strain, harm, or injure your vocal folds. This has been known to be excessive talking or screaming, inhaling irritants (environmental pollution, micro-plastics, nano-plastics are included in this), smoking, second hand smoke, coughing, or constant clearing of your throat, become aware of your surrounding and your actions.

Let’s focus on one point that has been researched and proven to become a “red flag” in the news and all around the world today.  Plastics, micro-plastics and nano-plastics saturating our world along with the off-gases plastics produce. The chemicals to create plastic are now becoming the topic throughout the health community today.  Research in several studies have found these toxins to be “endocrine disrupting agents” disrupting the human hormonal, and immune systems.  This includes the thyroid and in turn will affect your vocal folds.  It is something to look at and something to pay attention to as more and more studies are released each year.

Toxic chemicals from plastics are leached into the food supply, the water supply and affecting the environmental air that we breathe every day.  With the daily use of plastic throughout our homes, our offices, recording booths, in every part of our world we are constantly exposed.

Take a look around you right now; how much plastic, in any form, even the clothes you wear, are in your eyesight right now.

As plastic wears down and loses tiny parts of its structure, leaving behind microscopic grains and dust; called “micro-plastics” and/or “nano-plastics.” Micro-plastics can then break down further into even smaller particles called nano-plastics, are introduced into our bodies through the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water or beverages we consume.  Inhalation has accounted for the higher blood test levels of nano-plastics settling in our lungs, kidneys, brains and can even be found reproductive organs causing fertility problems. The researchers have even traced these plastics in the fetal umbilical cord and fetal tissues.

Plastic chemical off-gases can also leach off plastics and contaminate the surroundings.  Be aware that off gasses happen when plastics are heated or by using a microwave. Using plastics in the microwave is highly discouraged according to several sources and studies like; the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Center for Disease Control, just to name a few. 

Any type of plastic reusable containers, water bottles, containers, bags, fast food take-out containers, personal care products, feminine hygiene products that sit out in the sun, or left in a heated car or left of a store’s shelf with heating vents and visa-versa cold temperatures will cause breakdown of the structure too.  Even putting plastic into the dishwater with the use of hot water and added chemicals to sterilize and clean can cause plastic to breakdown and degrade and release the “micro-plastics” and “off gassing.”

Take a long look around and really look at your studio, your home, your environment – how much plastic surrounds you.  Look at every food item that you use daily – each piece of food or drink – has any of your food or drink touched plastic at anytime during the manufacturing process to reach your table. If so, you are being exposed to “micro-plastics” and your health is in peril.

You have control of your health and your environment, you have the right to take your stand.  Chose to protect your and your family’s health and become “PLASTIC FREE”

 

The Single-Use Water Bottle

You need to take a strong stand and STOP the use and purpose of “Single Use” Throw Away Plastics

Bottled Water; It’s Not What It Seems

I became aware of this problem with my last pregnancy, in my early 30s, when some strange results showed up through my blood tests.  Being a person who loves research and organization I started seeing more and more books and information in the library about health, herbal remedies and self-care in home remedies for first aid, flu and colds.  The more I read the more I learned. As time went on I started changing my buying habits and my plastic usage choices became less and less. Teaching my children basic health strategies targeted my focus to alternative health choices I started seeing huge differences in my children’s health response time and better immune system reactions from school exposure in colds and flu season. Seeing that my choices and actions were making a difference not only with myself but in my children and in my husband’s allergies; I delved deeper.

Awareness led to Education led to Action led to Motivation led to Change

A single-use plastic water bottle is manufactured, filled with water, stored in warehouse for a time, and transported to a store, where it sits on a shelf waiting for purchase. Exposure to cold/heat and long time storage creates plastic structure breakdown, leakage of chemical gases, all ends up inside the water you drink in as the end product. In turn, this toxic water becomes the water that hydrates you and affects your health.

Many of us still choose to drink out of plastic bottles several times during an average day, week, or month. Choosing convenience over health. Once we are finished with it, we have a choice where we leave that bottle; it is so automatic to shoot a hoop into the trash can.

Choices
every second of everyday we make choices;
sometimes without even thinking about it; we are on automatic, habitual actions.

A society of instant gratification, ease, convenience and choices create an opportunity to stop and take a second look at your own personal lifestyle. Although the purchase of buying bottled water, bottled drinks, soda, teas, juice, coffee, etc. becomes a  simple, cost effective and a ease of convenience for you, while stopping and thinking about the impact on the environment or your health takes two more steps;

This generation has been labeled "convenience culture"

A recent study found that the 20 top petro-chemical companies in the world, among the group Exxon Mobil and Dow, are responsible for 55% of the world’s single-use plastic waste, and in the U.S.,  are generating about 50 kilograms (110.2 lbs.) of throwaway single use plastic a year, per person.

Are YOU part of the “convenience culture?”

Plastic bottles are a single-use plastic, a product designed to be used only once and then discarded. Single-use plastics also include plastic packaging of meats, fresh produce, dairy ready-made meals, instant snacks and drinks, fast foods, take out containers and much more…account for almost half of all plastic pollution but remember, in the end it all ends up in the same place; the landfill.

According to a 2018 United Nations report, sixty countries have passed regulations to curb the use of plastic bags, plastic bottles and polystyrene foam (commonly Styrofoam) products.

If you are interested in learning more in detail visit:

https://cleanwater.org/2020/07/29/bottled-water-human-health-consequences-drinking-plastic

Watch Groups; like Greenpeace and others, work with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers to bring out awareness to the public; one of those subjects are that of single use food packaging. They hope to inspire:

A cultural shift away from the single-use “throwaway” lifestyle.

With their motto: Stop Waste Before it Starts

"The convenience culture has normalized this destructive behavior and as result, we produce millions of tons of plastic trash every single year.

If we change our mindset on what we consume, how we consume, we will be more aware of the single-use plastic we use and how we can avoid it in our daily choices."

Toxicity of Bottle Water: Not What It Seems

“Bottled water is advertised as though it’s cleaner than tap,
but numerous studies show this is only marketing
bottled water is NOT a cleaner water.”

 “Based on all the data we have, you’re going to be drinking significantly less plastic from tap water out of a glass than if you go and buy bottled water.”

Most bottled water is sold in plastic #1, also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Research shows that PET may be an endocrine disruptor, altering our hormonal systems, including your thyroid. Although this type of plastic is BPA free, phthalates in bottles can still seep into your water, especially when exposed to high temperatures or stored for an extended period of time.

For Example: just one of the key endocrine hormone disrupting chemicals used, in plastics, is Bisphenol A (BPA). This chemical belongs to a class of chemicals known as “phthalates”. These classes of chemicals are used to make the plastics more durable and sturdy.  These chemicals have been thoroughly tested with clinical trials and studies and proven to be hormonal disruptors.

Many scientists, doctors, researchers, chemists, environmentalists have written articles, documents, given lectures and campaigned to bring awareness to the public across the world.

The Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health and others has exposed the truth about the toxic havoc on your health and your children’s health with the exposure to the world of plastic. 

Stay Away From Toxic Endocrine Disruptors:

Xenoestrogens; these are hormonally active manmade compounds that can mimic natural estrogens in the body.

Endocrine disruptors are toxins that can interfere with the body’s hormone system. Xenoestrogens mimic estrogen and interact with cellular receptor sites. This contributes to excess estrogen and blocks the effects of true estrogen.

Environmental, industrial, or naturally occurring chemicals that possess estrogenic and/or antiestrogenic activities are termed xenoestrogens (Mueller)

Xenoestrogen/Endrocrine Disruptors:
Warning: exposure can lead to many serious health conditions including cancer: Just to name a few examples:

Plastics: contain hormone disruptors like: Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), heavy metals, polystyrene, polyethylene (PET), polyester, urea formaidehde, fluoride, parabens, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), perchlorate, decabromodiphenyl ether (DECA), and more…

Bisphenol A (BPA):  is one of the worst offenders; processed food, cash register receipts, canned food, packaged foods bottles, cans, bottles (food and water), plastic jars, lids on jars, aerosol cans, tins, aluminum cans.

Some companies, such as Poland Spring along with other brands, use plastic #7 for their 3-gallon water bottles. This type of plastic contains BPA, which has been banned in countries around the world, including the European Union and China, due to its toxicity. BPA exposure is linked to multiple health effects including fertility issues, PCOS, altered brain development, cancer, and heart complications, just to name a few concerns:

 

Simple facts:  

• Plastic water bottles require up to 450 years to discompose.

• 90% of the cost of bottled water is the manufacturing process of the bottle itself.

• 80% of plastic bottles never get recycled.

• It is now known that the recycling program is a scam in itself. A marketing scam by the major big plastic corporations to take the “guilt” out of the choice of using plastic. Taking a look at the progress of the “recycling” program and its effectiveness against plastic build up; it is sadly found to be lacking. An NPR investigative reportfound in 2020 that industry officials misled the public about the recyclability of plastic even though their own reports showed they knew as early as the 1970s and 1980s that plastic could not be economically recycled.

• 38 million plastic water bottles go to landfill each year in America alone.

• 24,000,000 liters of oil is needed to produce these billions of plastic bottles.

• The average American consumes 217 bottles of water per year.

• Bottling water and shipping transport is the least energy efficient method of water supply in the history of mankind.

• Bottled water is the second most popular beverage in the United States. In 2021 the USA threw away 51 million tons of plastic waste Only 5% percentage of that plastic got recycled

Above as shown in the chart; is just a couple of examples to help you understand the breakdown process into microplastics and the widespread of contamination.

The 11 bottled water brands tested in Mason’s study are among the most popular and widely available in the U.S. and around the world. Samples from the brands tested varied in plastic concentrations, and the average across brands was 325 microplastic particles per liter of bottled water, researchers found. Nestlé Pure Life had the largest average concentration of plastic particles out of all the brands tested; one sample from the brand was found to contain more than 10,000 microplastic particles per liter.

Mason’s findings generated headlines and a World Health Organization announcement that the group plans to investigate the safety of bottled water. (The results of that review should be published later this year, according to a WHO spokesperson.) But Mason says the problem of microplastic contamination is far bigger than bottled H2O. “These plastic particles are in our air, in our water and in our soil,” she says.

Last month, a study published in Nature Geoscience found that microplastic particles were blowing through the air of the verdant Pyrenees Mountains in France. Another study published this year found microplastic contamination in U.S. groundwater.

“Every time and everywhere we look for plastics in a
scientific context, we find them,” says Phoebe Stapleton, an assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers University.

That includes inside people. A small 2018 study analyzed stool samples taken from people in Finland, Japan, Italy, Russia and other countries. Every sample contained microplastics."

Problems with menopause, breast and uterine cancers, even prostate cancer are all considered an “Estrogen Dominance” condition; this can all be linked, in one part, of the concerns and causes to the amount of plastics used in the individual’s lifestyle and the amount of exposure to microplastics in their environment.

Childhood disease and concerns; mental health, liver congestion and disease, can link, to one part again, to the amount of plastics in the lifestyle exposure.

“…Estrogenic Activity (EA) can produce many health-related problems, such as early puberty in females, reduced sperm counts, altered functions of reproductive organs, obesity, altered sex-
specific behaviors, and increased rates of some breast, ovarian, testicular, and prostate cancers."
(Della Seta et al. 2006; Gray 2008; Kabuto et al. 2004; National Research Council 1999; Newbold et al. 2004; Patisaul et al. 2006, 2009).

One study with filed with the National Library of Medicine titled;

Most Plastic Products Release Estrogenic Off-Gassing Chemicals:
A Potential Health Problem That Can Be Solved:

Products currently marketed as BPA free are not EA free. In response to market and regulatory pressures to eliminate BPA in HC plastics, BPA-free HC materials have recently been introduced as replacements for PC resins. PET and PETG are two such resins, but HC plastic products made from these resins leached chemicals that had detectable Estrogenic Activity (EA) often in the absence of exposure to common-use stresses. Two popular brands of water bottles made from a PETG resin now marketed as an HC BPA-free replacement also released chemicals having significant Estrogenic Activity (EA) as did uncompounded PETG resins.  Most PE/PP-based plastic products were presumably BPA free but nevertheless had readily detectable Estrogenic Activity (EA) almost certainly due to one or more additives having EA. Many components of BPA-free baby bottles had reliably detectable Estrogenic Activity (EA) when extracted in either saline or EtOH, including the bottle, nipple, anticolic device, and liner.

Yang CZ, Yaniger SI, Jordan VC, Klein DJ, Bittner GD.
"Most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals: a potential health problem that can be solved. "
Environ Health Perspect. 2011 Jul;119(7):989-96. doi: 10.1289/ehp.1003220. Epub 2011 Mar 2. PMID: 21367689; PMCID: PMC3222987.

Many, many more studies have been created, made and filed and with research you can find some form of plastic, chemical toxins from plastics, microplastics whether in the air, water, land, environment or exposure through lifestyle choices will have some effect on the health of your family.  This is something to look at and consider; what you can do to make changes in a least one area of your lifestyle.

Overwhelming Problems with Land Fills / Ocean Pollution:

Waste management experts say the problem with plastic is that it is expensive to collect and impossible to sort. There are now thousands of different types of plastic, and none of them can be melted down together. Plastic also degrades after one or two uses.

Greenpeace found the more plastic is reused the more breakdown and toxic it becomes.

Recycling Scam: Educational Sources For Your Study:

https://www.pbs.org/video/bag-ban-report-1706301161/

PBS Frontline:  has done several eye opening documentaries on this subject.  A second look needs to be acknowledged and an open mind to the propaganda and marketing scams that have flooded society since the introduction of plastics in the 1950’s. 

We believe what we are told.  We have been taught not to question authority. With ease, convenience and cheap, affordable cost society has turned to an instant gratification mind set.

Learn, acknowledge, change, and raise awareness; pass on your wisdom and make an effort; so day-by-day and person-to-person we are all making a change.

 

Here are a couple of links to the pbs.org Frontline Documentaries below:

Plastic Wars: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/plastic-wars/

Plastics Industry Insiders Reveal the Truth About Recycling: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/plastics-industry-insiders-reveal-the-truth-about-recycling/

Wasteland: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/912150085/waste-land

Big Oil Evaded Regulation and Plastic Pellets Kept Spilling: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/plastic-pellets-spills-big-oil-evaded-regulation/

California Is Investigating Big Oil for Allegedly Misleading the Public on Recycling: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/california-ag-investigating-big-oil-recycling-plastic-wars/

When Does Recycling Your Plastic Make sense? The Answer Isn’t So simple: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/what-plastic-types-to-recycle/

Some countries are leading the way, including India, which recently banned 19 single-use plastic items. Austria has set reuse targets of 25 percent by 2025 and at least 30 percent by 2030 for beverage packaging, while Portugal has also set the 30 percent by 2030 goal. Chile is moving to phase out single-use cutlery and straws mandating refillable bottles.

"We need to re-educate individuals that a great deal of that material is ending up in a landfill, It's not going to a recycling facility and being recycled. It's going to a recycling facility and being land filled someplace else because they can't do anything with that material, mixed plastic components cannot be recycled."

That message has been difficult for the public to absorb with so many different bins in public spaces, and their own communities telling them to put their plastic in recycling containers.

After years of embracing plastic recycling, many environmental groups say they hope the public will finally see plastic for what they say it is — trash —

Next, they hope that people will realize that the recycling program is not working and is NOT the answer unless industries and corporations across the world take a bigger initiative to make changes.

Next, they hope that people will ask themselves if there is something else they could be using instead of using plastic, of any kind, and contributing to the problem.

Look around your own home…how much plastic, in any form, does your family use?? 

Make Changes…Take Action

Convenience vs Impact

Cause and Effect

It starts with EFFORT and CHOICE; as parents and as grandparents, for our family, we have made extreme changes in our plastic using lifestyle; increased awareness and education hoping they will take a look at their own plastic usage and make an effort in their own personal life’s and their families choices.

As you are part of the Voice Actor Industry you have the “VOICE” to make a difference.

Take the personal challenge and STOP THE USE OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS and spread the word.

Protect your vocal folds and your career by stopping the use of these “endocrine hormone disrupting”  which greatly affects your thyroid among other critical health conditions in your life.

I personally wish you all the luck with your research and your choices; remember your voice matters you empower people, educate them and your fans will send you a HIGH-FIVE!

Seize The Day!
SOTVO Team

 

DISCLAIMER:  All content, medical definitions, symptom related language, or medical descriptions included in this article is the author's opinion only and should not be considered to be complete or scientifically accurate, or used as a medical diagnosis and/or advice.

This information is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice given by a medical, specialist or any other medical and health professional. It is only used to start a conversation to gain open communication with your chosen health professional.

Any comments that resemble any person, health condition, or situation is purely coincidental.

I recommend that you do your own independent research on the drug/herb interactions that can be dangerous and affect your treatment plan.  I encourage you to discuss your plan of action, list of all health supplements (in any form), dietary changes, and options you decide to pursue with a qualified licensed professional BEFORE purchasing or taking any natural herbal supplement, vitamin, or make any dietary changes you may consider. My suggestion is to make sure the healthcare professional is educated on the use of natural remedies and their uses: Functional Integrative Specialist and Doctors are a good choice for this purpose.

Any product suggestions or affiliate links with the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program given within this article are the products the author personally used and would suggest as an option for you to research further to include in your possible treatment plan. We use affiliate links to promote the products that have shown positive comments and some personal use and recommendations to create suggestions to help give you choices and create awareness.

The author is not to be held responsible for the choices, opinions, of any third party outside links, blogs, articles, product suggestions that are given by the third party outside links who are responsible for their own content.

 

References:

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/one-bottle-time/

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/plastic-pollution

https://time.com/5581326/plastic-particles-in-bottled-water/

https://www.refill.org.uk/the-problem-with-plastic-3/

https://www.berkeywaterfilterseurope.com/help/guides/plastic-water-bottle-pollution

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-379624/The-poison-lurking-plastic-water-bottle.html

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting- worse#:~:text=Similarly%2C%20the%20National%20Association%20for,the%20oil%20and%20gas%20industry.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plastic-recycling-failed-concept-us-greenpeace-study-5-percent-recycled-production-up/

https://www.epa.gov/regulatory-information-topic/regulatory-and-guidance-information-topic-waste

https://www.pbs.org/

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/translational/peph/podcasts/2024/sep24_exposures-microplastics

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068600/

https://www.expressable.com/learning-center/voice/how-to-recognize-treat-and-prevent-vocal-cord-damage

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6592446/?_ga=2.128633420.1527023560.1727380826660619607.1727380825#:~:text=Voice%20changes%20may%20occur%20even,and%20vocal%20fatigue%20[7]

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23188-thyroid