Which Plastics Are Safe?

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.

Read more: Home, Health & Safety, plastics

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Nimue P.

12:53AM PDT on May 4, 2012

Thank you :)

send a green star

Angela N.

10:50AM PDT on May 3, 2012

thanks =D

Jennifer C.

5:14PM PDT on May 2, 2012

Excellent article. Thanks.

Leslie A.

9:12AM PST on Nov 20, 2011

Does anyone know if the plastic cook-in bags are safe? I'm referring to the kind that frozen turkey comes in, you just leave the turkey in bag, and put it in oven; it cooks in the bag for a few hours. Thanks!

Joshua N.

1:25AM PDT on Nov 6, 2011

However, I think it is important to note that the recycling number '7' means other, and is a category for all other plastics other than the 6 that range from 1-6. Some new plastics have been made that inevitably come under the '7' range which do not contain BPA (Bisphenol-A). For example, Nalgene and Camelbak bottles were known for their durability and were made out of Polycarbonate (7), which contains BPA. However, they came out with new bottles made out of Eastman Tritan Copolyester, which has similar impact resistance to Polycarbonate, and also comes under the 7 category.

Joe L.

3:46AM PDT on Jun 15, 2011

Is there any literature relating BPA to autism?
My theories are that as the levels of BPA increase in the child reaching a threshold that overrides the immune system and hence affecting the brain giving conditions of autism and the related

Holly R.

4:45AM PDT on Jun 6, 2011

I have a plastic bottle of cordial concentrate & it has the number 3 stamped on the bottom of it. Should I be concerned?

Lisa-Marie W.

4:25AM PDT on Jun 5, 2011

Hi, I just watched the 60 minutes story and we are having a discussion on it now in a facebook support group for parents who can not breastfeed called Bottle Babies. Get some great info and ask your questions there..... http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&note_id=134157006662261#!/bottlebabies

Coral J.

4:24AM PDT on Jun 5, 2011

I have 3 children (all adults now ) but the two that where bottle fed have epilepsy (in siblings it is rare ). So when watching 60 min I sat watching with amazement and wondered it this had anything to do with 2 out of 3 have this disorder. They say its genetic but we have found no trace on either side.

Janette H.

3:42AM PDT on Jun 5, 2011

I have just finished watching 60 minutes discuss bpa I use bpa bottles but sterilise these using a microwave steamer. What is the best way to sterilise? I have used milton tablets in the past but they leave residue. Is it safer just to wash them?
Janette