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.
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94 comments
add your comment »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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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!
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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???
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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?
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There are now #7 bottles that are BPA free, for example:
http://www.pure-earth.com/nalgene.html
The OTG ones are fantastic!
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They are mostly made od petrolium particule, so is margarine--I try as most possible to stay away freom plastic---not natural, cotton, cotton-linen is not just for the rich anymore need ironing or pressing=silk is cheaper. Please no more polyester or nylon. And other such fabrics. Is spandex synthetic?
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Carcinogens are also released faster from many plastics if the plastic is heated in a microwave. Most plastic should be abolished to begin with. Drinks once more stored in glass, or in the case of water bottles, metal. No plastic cutlery..just wash the metal ones! Originally most good ol products were safer, but this throw away attitude has too many plastics being manufactured to begin with. I am thrilled that people have to now buy their plastic grocery bags now. It's amazing how many people are now hauling groceries home in canvas bags that can be reused over and over. Once more, another amazement over what dishing out 5 cents per plastic bag can do to change a way of thinking and living!
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