Plastic Water Bottles Essay

Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience to stop using plastic bottles because of the health concerns and its harmful effects on the environment. Introduction: How many people know that in the Pacific Ocean there’s a huge island consisting of plastic bags, bottles, and even toys that’s estimated to be twice the size of Texas? For those you didn’t know now you do, environmentalists refer to this island as the Great Plastic Vortex. As plastic use increases, the vortex will only grow more and more. In 2007 8. billion tons of bottled waters were sold, so the number of plastic water bottles is only increasing and ends up accumulating to the great plastic vortex. We can start helping the environment by stopping the usage of plastic water bottles. Thesis statement: Plastic water bottles are being questioned about their safety to both our health and our environment as well. Preview: Today, we will discuss the problems that come about with plastic water bottles and the causes and solutions to help our health and our environment as well. Body: I. There are multiple problems with plastic water bottles, which include danger to people’s health and the harmful effects to our environment. A. Plastic bottles contain a toxin called BPA, which can be a danger to our health. 1. According to Kate Barrett from ABC News, retrieved on April 15, 2008, a report found that exposure to this toxin could have effects on young children and infants by causing changes in the brain development. 2. As we are being exposed to this toxin at younger ages, we stand a higher risk of diseases and health problems. B. There are several ways in which plastic bottles are harmful to the environment. In an article on October 29, 2007 issue of Blast Magazine, Jack Bell says and I quote plastic generates toxic emissions and pollutants that contribute to global warming. 2. As a result of this, promoting the usage of plastic bottles will only create more chaos to our environment. Transition: The problems of the BPA’s potential to harm people combined with the dangerous effects of plastic water bottles on the environment can be associated with two main causes, which we will now go into. I. The two specific causes can be identified as: consumer’s ignorance and the producers lack of responsibility. A.  Consumers have certain habits that don’t even faze them; it is in fact second nature to them. 1. Plastic water bottles are meant for one time use only, yet tons of people reuse them. Most of us think using the same bottle again helps the environment as well as saves us money, but it may be costing us our health. 2. According to the â€Å"Time Magazine†, Lisa Cullen says, plastic bottles are meant for disposable and for one time use only. Reusing them causes bacteria to build up, spreading it throughout the mouth. B. The food and drug administration has deemed BPA safe, but studies and research doubt their decision. 1.  According to the â€Å"Time Magazine†, Bryan Walsh states this toxin might be linked to a variety of diseases, such as cancer and reproductive problems. 2. Even though the FDA has been unintentionally endorsing the use of this chemical, they have been effectively exposing people. Transition: Now that we have explored the causes, we examine the solutions we can do ourselves personally. II. Most of the solutions have to do with a little bit of self -effort. A. One solution is to write to the members of congress, the FDA, and/or the governor to urge for stricter regulations for bottled water labeling, public disclosure, and safety. .The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recommends writing to producers to display information about whether it has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. 2. According to the natural resources defense council there approach will be to write about setting strict limits about contamination and bacteria. B. Another solution is to try to use a non-plastic water bottle. It is recommended that people try to change to either stainless steel or aluminum water bottles. Conclusion: I. Conclusively, now you are aware of the dangers of plastic, more importantly plastic water bottles. With a better understanding of what is causing these problems-consumers ignorance as well as the producers lack of responsibility- we can concentrate on solving this threat. II. As more and more water bottles are disposed, they are only adding to the already giant land fields of plastic bottles. As more and more people drink from water bottles, it is only causing a higher risk for health problems. III. We can take from this as a realization- we need to start doing our part to help save our environment as well as our health.