http://www.care2.com/greenliving/which-plastics-are-safe.html
Which Plastics Are Safe?
Adapted from Green Remodeling, by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).
The news about plastics has been pretty alarming lately, causing some of us to go dashing for the water bottles to see what kind of plastic they are—and find out if we’ve been unwittingly poisoning our children and ourselves with chemicals leaching into the water from them.
If you’ve been concerned, here is a handy chart that identifies the good, bad, and OK plastics and where they are found. Find out here:
1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Used to make soft drink, water, sports drink, ketchup, and salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars.
GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
2 High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Milk, water, and juice bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners, and grocery, trash, and retail bags.
GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
3 Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)
Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other foods sold in delicatessens and groceries are wrapped in PVC.
BAD: To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add “plasticizers” during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen.
4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles.
OK: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.
5 Polypropylene (PP)
Some ketchup bottles and yogurt and margarine tubs.
OK: Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.
6 Polystyrene (PS)
Foam insulation and also for hard applications (e.g. cups, some toys)
BAD: Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling.
7 Other (usually polycarbonate)
Baby bottles, microwave ovenware, eating utensils, plastic coating for metal cans
BAD: Made with biphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. A hormone disruptor. Simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.
Go to the Source
related stories
-
(4 comments)
-
(16 comments)
-
(3 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
97 comments
add your comment »Aside from the toxins the amount a waste involved in the bottled water industry is mind boggling! I have used a water filter for years. You have to do your homework there as well. The one I uses both a carbon block filter and UV light technology. I can refill my plastic bottle indefinitely; following your advice of course!
vitamin b6
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I think we need to go back to the "old way" which was to return a re-usable container and trade it for a full one. There was a deposit on the initial purchase of the container, so it made a bit easy to want to return it. Most of these items were made of glass, which wouldn't be a bad idea to be using anyway, since plastic seems to be able to leach into near anything anyway.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
This plastic problem is so overwhelming. I work in retail and I remember when I first became really aware of the issue...I looked around me at work and EVERYTHING is made of plastic!! How on earth are we supposed to fix this giant mess we've made?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I agree with Lars. If you want to heat anything up in the microwave, use Pyrex....glass. You can't go wrong. Don't use a plastic cling or what we call 'Glad wrap' it gives off when you heat it up. No plastic. Be safe & use glass. You wont get anything nasty. OK.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Gabriela, personally I don't "trust" too much anymore. Tupperware is a big name that can/could/would may be able to "cover up" info that has not been made public. However, I do believe it to be safe for cold storage, but I won't heat food in anything plastic.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Does anyone know if Tuperware is ok to use? I read a while ago that it was the safe brand to use, can't seem to find info again.
Thanks
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I read from another article somewhere that said #1 plastic is only safe for one-time use, after which it could start to leach chemicals with wear and tear.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Interesting question about cans...I heard about an article today that talked about liners in cans and Sigg Bottles that contain BPA. Don't recall where but I would bet it could be found on Google, just have not had time to look yet!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
No one has yet addressed the issue of CANS. If there are chemicals in canned foods how can you tell which cans do and which cans don't???
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Randolf D is correct - the problem with this story is that it lumps a lot of plastics together (#7 Other) as all BAD. Not the case with Polylactide (PLA) the only decent alternative plastic.
What is wrong witht he human race that we take a critical natural resource, one that took millions of years to creatre, and use it to make disposable containers that we use for a moment in time and then discard it only, in the majority of cases, to have it lay in a landfill for millions of years! ARE WE NUTS?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: