If the grisly images of marine life maimed and killed by waste plastics aren’t enough to get our attention, new Australian research linking plastics to smaller penises probably is. As Fairfax Media reported on Thursday, two University of Melbourne researchers have concluded that exposure to the chemicals in plastics is "the No. 1 reproductive issue for men".

It is some of the same chemical additives that make plastics so durable and versatile that are in the spotlight, including BPA (Bisphenol A) and phthalates. These endocrine disruptors can mimic the body’s natural hormones and have been linked to various health issues including infertility. In 2014, a Choice investigation found these additives can leach into food via plastics packaging.

McDonald's will ditch plastic straws. Credit:AP

The new University of Melbourne results are controversial and regulators worldwide have long claimed low level of exposure via plastics is safe. But, while the scientific debate has a long way to run, our love affair with plastics is fast souring. As, one plastics industry magazine recently noted, public opinion has turned "downright cantankerous".

As a result, governments and businesses are lining up to spruik their plastics plans and bans. Last week, McDonalds and then Hungry Jacks heralded the end of their plastic straws in Australia. In the Netherlands, a major supermarket has announced a world-first "plastic-free aisle".