Anyone know what I as a consumer what can I do to reduce my risk? Not use plastic water bottles? Not use plastic food containers? Not use plastic knives and forks? Plastic bags? Plastic storage containers?
Everything you mentioned are actually mostly polyethylene (PE), polypropylene or PET with the exception of plastic utensils which are sometimes made from a hard form of polystyrene, and some takeout food containers.
Also, not sure why you would recommend vinegar instead of alcohol. Vinegar is barely a disinfectant, and often leaves residue of its own.
Most anything canned in aluminum or steel is in contact with the plastic liner that ~all cans have. Veggies, beans, sauces, beer, et c.
> Glass bottles are pretty rare for drinks these days
You pay extra for it, but you can still easily find mineral water in glass. Soda, too, at least for Coca Cola and a bunch of alternative brands, is easy to find in glass. Beer and wine, obviously, though, at least for wine you pay a premium to get low-end wine in glass rather than in a plastic bag ("box wine").
Glass isn’t all that uncommon and aluminum is ubiquitous.
Alcohol works too, just make sure it has no methanol that kids and pets might lick.
* If you must use a plastic container, definitely don't heat it up, don't use it for oily foods, wash it before putting your food in it, and try to avoid mechanical stress/deformation while your food is in it.
* Avoid canned food if you can, unless you know that the can doesn't have an endocrine-disrupting liner.
* Avoid touching receipts if you can.
* If you must touch a receipt, make sure your hands are dry while you're touching it, and wash your hands afterward.
* Don't buy a new car (outgassing plasticizers are what give it that new car smell).
* Don't use scented candles/soap.
* Clean up dust in your house regularly.
It's also important to note that the systemic effects of phthalates include endocrine disruption, and the consequences of the endocrine system being disrupted are potentially severe. There's evidence to link declining testosterone levels in males to plasticizers.
Otherwise, definitely don’t heat or use hot stuff in plastics.
Unfortunately many non-plastic containers food comes in have linings that can be plastic