- Choose better body care products.
- A good resource is the EWG's Skin Deep Database. Through this database, you can find out more information about what is in common household cosmetics. It also lists products with "safer" ingredients.
- Go organic and eat fresh foods.
- Another great list to help you figure out what you should or should not eat organic is the "Dirty Dozen" list published by EWG. They also publish a list called the "Clean 15." Items on the "Clean 15" are the lowest in pesticides and it is OK to not buy organic for these foods.
- Choosing organic will also help you to avoid eating foods that are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's).
- Avoid fire retardants.
- A label on a product indicating that it meets California's "Technical Bulletin 117" usually means that the product has been treated with a fire retardant. I've written two other blog posts about this which you can read for more detailed explanations.
- Pick plastics carefully.
- I have also written three blog posts about plastics and what to look out for when purchasing items made of plastic. I would generally avoid plastic items labeled with the SPI Resin Identification Codes of Vinyl, PS and Other. These are indicated with the numbers #3, #6, and #7.
- I have found an interesting post on ways to "Banish plastic from your kitchen."
- Filter your tap water.
- Tips and reasons to filter your tap water.
- Wash those hands.
- The CDC has excellent recommendations and tips for proper hand washing. Most people do not wash their hands often or long enough. You should rub your hands while washing for at least 20 seconds. That is enough time to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice from beginning to end.
- Skip non-stick.
- Teflon, is the name of a synthetic polymer which coats non-stick cooking ware. Teflon when heated at high temperatures can emit toxic fumes. These fumes have killed pet birds and have caused flu-like symptoms in humans.
- Cooking with a well seasoned cast iron skillet can give you the same results as a Teflon coated skillet. It can also be used from the stovetop to the oven.
- Use a HEPA-filter vacuum.
- A HEPA filter is a type of air filter that "must remove 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 micrometer from the air that passes through." A "HEPA filter traps the fine particles (such as pollen and dust mite feces) which trigger allergy and asthma symptoms."
- Get your iodine.
- "Use iodized salt, especially while pregnant and nursing, and take iodine-containing prenatal vitamins. Iodine buffers against chemicals like perchlorate, which can disrupt your thyroid system and affect brain development during pregnancy and infancy."
- Use greener cleaners and avoid pesticides.
- You can find many tips on-line for "natural" cleaning solutions and non-toxic pesticide. The following are links to some of the things I've found over the last few months.
- How to kill mildew naturally
- 9 ways to use rice around the house
- Natural Remedies for a Teething Baby
- Natural Air Freshners
- Do Natural Cleaners Really Work?
- Homemade Laundry Detergent
- How to make good use of bad wine
- Uses for vinegar: Tips and ideas
- How to clean an iron
- 13 natural remedies for the ant invasion
- 24 smart uses for sugar
- The (never-ending) uses of baking soda
- 24 things you can clean with a lemon
- Make your own disinfectant spray
- 30 ways to detox your home and body
- How can I go green for my newborn?
- Eat good fats.
- Eat those omega-3 fatty acids.
Showing posts with label Plastic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plastic. Show all posts
Monday, July 16, 2012
Healthy Home Tips for Parents
I am "stealing" part of today's post from the "Environmental Working Group's (EWG's) Healthy Home Tips for Parents." I found this list online and found the tips useful. You can read the entire file through the link above. However, for this post, I am using the basic tips and embellishing them with things I've found on my own.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
What are Phthalates?
My latest post expands upon two of my other recent posts. The first was in regards to the numbers found on the bottom of plastic containers and the second was about bisphenol A. This post is about phthalates. Products containing phthalates would be indicated by the number #3 with the letters PVC sometimes written under it. PVC is an abbreviation for polyvinyl chloride. PVC is made softer by using "plasticizers" such as phthalates.
Phthalates, according to the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (aka "ATSDR" which is a federal public health agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services), "are typically colorless liquids used to make plastics more flexible and resilient, and are often referred to as plasticizers. Because they are not a part of the chain of chemicals (polymers) that makes up plastics, they can be released fairly easily from these products. These plastics are found in products such as toothbrushes, automobile parts, tools, toys, and food packaging. Some are also used in cosmetics, insecticides, and aspirin." There are 4 main chemicals that can be considered a "phthalate."
You can click on each link above to get a detailed description of the individual chemicals and the concerns associated with them. There are an additional six chemicals which the Environmental Protection Agency would like to add to this list.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we are exposed to phthalates by eating and drinking food that have come into contact with containers and products that contain phthalates. We can also breathe in air that contains phthalate vapors or dust contaminated with phthalate particles.
"In the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (Fourth Report), CDC scientists measured 13 phthalate metabolites in the urine of 2,636 or more participants aged six years and older who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2003–2004. By measuring phthalate metabolites in urine, scientists can estimate the amount of phthalates that have entered people's bodies."
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a policy (which was reaffirmed in January 2007) regarding "pediatric exposure and potential toxicity of phthalate plasticizers." They concluded that, "the conflicting conclusions on the safety of phthalates under current exposure conditions provide important illustrations of the subtlety and complexity of the science and policy components required to protect children from environmental hazards." "Human data on exposure to phthalates are very limited. In particular, data on the magnitude and distribution of exposures in sensitive subpopulations, such as women of childbearing age, neonates, infants, and toddlers in the general population and medically exposed fetuses, premature infants, neonates, young children, and adolescents, are lacking. New biomarker data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cast doubt on the accuracy of previous estimates of human exposure, which have been used for risk assessment to date." "As with many environmental toxicants, children may be at higher risk of adverse effects of phthalates because of anticipated higher exposures during a time of developmental and physiologic immaturity. In response to this theoretical concern, measures to decrease possible exposure through nondietary ingestion are underway. In the United States and Canada, all phthalates have been removed from infant bottle nipples, teethers, and toys intended for mouthing. Manufacturers have voluntarily begun to substitute the less toxic DINP for DEHP in other toys."
A study published in the Journal Pediatrics looked at "Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure." The study found that "Phthalate exposure is widespread and variable in infants. Infant exposure to lotion, powder, and shampoo were significantly associated with increased urinary concentrations of monoethyl phthalate, monomethyl phthalate, and monoisobutyl phthalate, and associations increased with the number of products used. This association was strongest in young infants, who may be more vulnerable to developmental and reproductive toxicity of phthalates given their immature metabolic system capability and increased dosage per unit body surface area."
Organizations like the Environmental Working Group are actively working to increase awareness about phthalate exposure and to pressure companies to reformulate their products to avoid the use of phthalates. "In July 2008, as a result of pressure from EWG and other health groups, the U.S. Congress passed legislation banning six phthalates from children’s toys and cosmetics. Legislators in Washington, Vermont and California have restricted phthalate use in children’s goods, and several major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Lego, Evenflo and Gerber say they will phase out phthalate-laden toys." Their "skin deep" database will allow you to actually compare products to find ones that are phthalate free. I've referenced this database before in my post about sunscreen.
Like BPA, many of the long-term effects of phthalate exposure are unknown. There are more studies being conducted to establish a definite cause and effect relationship between phthalate exposure in humans vs. animal studies. However, despite the limited amount of available studies, this is an instance where it appears safest to err on the side of caution and avoid using products which contain phthalates. It still amazes me how many products are available that have no long-term safety data. It is even scarier to think how widespread our exposure is to these agents. There are many alternatives on the market and many companies are actually indicating on their products if they are phthalate free. In my opinion, it is just safer and in the best interest of my children to choose these products.
Phthalates, according to the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (aka "ATSDR" which is a federal public health agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services), "are typically colorless liquids used to make plastics more flexible and resilient, and are often referred to as plasticizers. Because they are not a part of the chain of chemicals (polymers) that makes up plastics, they can be released fairly easily from these products. These plastics are found in products such as toothbrushes, automobile parts, tools, toys, and food packaging. Some are also used in cosmetics, insecticides, and aspirin." There are 4 main chemicals that can be considered a "phthalate."
You can click on each link above to get a detailed description of the individual chemicals and the concerns associated with them. There are an additional six chemicals which the Environmental Protection Agency would like to add to this list.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we are exposed to phthalates by eating and drinking food that have come into contact with containers and products that contain phthalates. We can also breathe in air that contains phthalate vapors or dust contaminated with phthalate particles.
"In the Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals (Fourth Report), CDC scientists measured 13 phthalate metabolites in the urine of 2,636 or more participants aged six years and older who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2003–2004. By measuring phthalate metabolites in urine, scientists can estimate the amount of phthalates that have entered people's bodies."
- CDC researchers found measurable levels of many phthalate metabolites in the general population. This finding indicates that phthalate exposure is widespread in the U.S. population.
- Research has found that adult women have higher levels of urinary metabolites than men for those phthalates that are used in soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and similar personal care products.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a policy (which was reaffirmed in January 2007) regarding "pediatric exposure and potential toxicity of phthalate plasticizers." They concluded that, "the conflicting conclusions on the safety of phthalates under current exposure conditions provide important illustrations of the subtlety and complexity of the science and policy components required to protect children from environmental hazards." "Human data on exposure to phthalates are very limited. In particular, data on the magnitude and distribution of exposures in sensitive subpopulations, such as women of childbearing age, neonates, infants, and toddlers in the general population and medically exposed fetuses, premature infants, neonates, young children, and adolescents, are lacking. New biomarker data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cast doubt on the accuracy of previous estimates of human exposure, which have been used for risk assessment to date." "As with many environmental toxicants, children may be at higher risk of adverse effects of phthalates because of anticipated higher exposures during a time of developmental and physiologic immaturity. In response to this theoretical concern, measures to decrease possible exposure through nondietary ingestion are underway. In the United States and Canada, all phthalates have been removed from infant bottle nipples, teethers, and toys intended for mouthing. Manufacturers have voluntarily begun to substitute the less toxic DINP for DEHP in other toys."
A study published in the Journal Pediatrics looked at "Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure." The study found that "Phthalate exposure is widespread and variable in infants. Infant exposure to lotion, powder, and shampoo were significantly associated with increased urinary concentrations of monoethyl phthalate, monomethyl phthalate, and monoisobutyl phthalate, and associations increased with the number of products used. This association was strongest in young infants, who may be more vulnerable to developmental and reproductive toxicity of phthalates given their immature metabolic system capability and increased dosage per unit body surface area."
Organizations like the Environmental Working Group are actively working to increase awareness about phthalate exposure and to pressure companies to reformulate their products to avoid the use of phthalates. "In July 2008, as a result of pressure from EWG and other health groups, the U.S. Congress passed legislation banning six phthalates from children’s toys and cosmetics. Legislators in Washington, Vermont and California have restricted phthalate use in children’s goods, and several major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Lego, Evenflo and Gerber say they will phase out phthalate-laden toys." Their "skin deep" database will allow you to actually compare products to find ones that are phthalate free. I've referenced this database before in my post about sunscreen.
Like BPA, many of the long-term effects of phthalate exposure are unknown. There are more studies being conducted to establish a definite cause and effect relationship between phthalate exposure in humans vs. animal studies. However, despite the limited amount of available studies, this is an instance where it appears safest to err on the side of caution and avoid using products which contain phthalates. It still amazes me how many products are available that have no long-term safety data. It is even scarier to think how widespread our exposure is to these agents. There are many alternatives on the market and many companies are actually indicating on their products if they are phthalate free. In my opinion, it is just safer and in the best interest of my children to choose these products.
Monday, June 11, 2012
What is Bisphenol-A (BPA)?
Everywhere I look there are labels on baby bottles and other plastic bottles saying that it is "BPA free." What exactly is BPA and why should we care? I had mentioned BPA in an earlier blog post about the numbers on the bottom of plastic containers. I have decided to expand upon this topic with this latest post.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that BPA "is an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s. BPA is also found in epoxy resins, which act as a protective lining on the inside of metal-based food and beverage cans."
The National Toxicology Program (which is part of the National Institutes of Health) acknowledges in a brief that BPA is most "commonly described as being 'weakly' estrogenic; however, an emerging body of molecular and cellular studies indicate the potential for a number of additional biological.activities. These range from interactions with cellular receptors that have unknown biological function to demonstrated effects on receptor signaling systems known to be involved in development."
The scary thing about BPA is that "The highest estimated daily intakes of bisphenol A in the general population occur in infants and children. Bisphenol A can also be found in breast milk and in the blood of pregnant women, amniotic fluid, placental tissue, and umbilical cord blood indicating some degree of fetal exposure."
"The degree to which bisphenol A migrates from polycarbonate containers into liquid appears to depend more on the temperature of the liquid than the age of the container, i.e., more migration with higher temperatures. Short-term exposure can occur following application of certain dental sealants or composites made with bisphenol A-derived material such as bisphenol A dimethacrylate (bis-DMA). In addition, bisphenol A is used in the processing of polyvinyl chloride plastic and in the recycling of thermal paper, the type of paper used in some purchase receipts, self-adhesive labels, and fax paper. Bisphenol A can also be found as a residue in paper and cardboard food packaging materials."
It is alarming the amount of exposure Americans have to BPA. According to the NTP, "human exposure to BPA is widespread. The 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found detectable levels of BPA in 93% of 2517 urine samples from people six years and older. The CDC NHANES data are considered representative of exposures in the United States. Another reason for concern, especially for parents, may be because some animal studies report effects in fetuses and newborns exposed to BPA."
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, "in animal studies, there is some evidence linking BPA exposure with infertility, weight gain, behavioral changes, early onset puberty, prostate and mammary gland cancer and diabetes." They are funding two-year studies which "will focus on either developmental exposure or adult chronic exposures to low doses of BPA. Researchers will be looking at a number of health effects including behavior, obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, development of prostate, breast and uterine cancer, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and transgenerational or epigenetic effects."
Until the research is published:
"The NTP has some concern for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A.
The NTP has minimal concern for effects on the mammary gland and an earlier age for puberty for females in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A.
The NTP has negligible concern that exposure of pregnant women to bisphenol A will result in fetal or neonatal mortality, birth defects, or reduced birth weight and growth in their offspring.
The NTP has negligible concern that exposure to bisphenol A will cause reproductive effects in non-occupationally exposed adults and minimal concern for workers exposed to higher levels in occupational settings."
This view is also supported by the FDA. However, until the research is presented, the FDA is "supporting reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA, including actions by industry and recommendations to consumers on food preparation."
Since there is much which isn't known about the long-term effects of BPA exposure and given its widespread use, the NTP recommends the following to reduce exposure to BPA:
"Some animal studies suggest that infants and children may be the most vulnerable to the effects of BPA. Parents and caregivers, can make the personal choice to reduce exposures of their infants and children to BPA:
The Department of Health and Human Services also recommends the following to reduce your exposure to BPA:
With all of the "BPA free" alternatives available today, despite the uncertainty over the long-term effects, I think it is important to use alternatives when possible. There are many places where we cannot control our BPA exposure (like on receipts) that I think we should eliminate exposure in things we can control (plastic containers, etc). I think it is scary how widespread the use of BPA has become without studies showing its long-term effects.
In case you are bored and want to read more about the subject, the FDA has published several Memorandums regarding a review of low dose studies and exposure to BPA for infants, toddlers and adults from the consumption of infant formula, toddler food and adult (canned) food. If you're looking for companies that do not use BPA in their cans, the following website has a great list of products which do not use BPA lined cans.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that BPA "is an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s. BPA is also found in epoxy resins, which act as a protective lining on the inside of metal-based food and beverage cans."
The National Toxicology Program (which is part of the National Institutes of Health) acknowledges in a brief that BPA is most "commonly described as being 'weakly' estrogenic; however, an emerging body of molecular and cellular studies indicate the potential for a number of additional biological.activities. These range from interactions with cellular receptors that have unknown biological function to demonstrated effects on receptor signaling systems known to be involved in development."
The scary thing about BPA is that "The highest estimated daily intakes of bisphenol A in the general population occur in infants and children. Bisphenol A can also be found in breast milk and in the blood of pregnant women, amniotic fluid, placental tissue, and umbilical cord blood indicating some degree of fetal exposure."
"The degree to which bisphenol A migrates from polycarbonate containers into liquid appears to depend more on the temperature of the liquid than the age of the container, i.e., more migration with higher temperatures. Short-term exposure can occur following application of certain dental sealants or composites made with bisphenol A-derived material such as bisphenol A dimethacrylate (bis-DMA). In addition, bisphenol A is used in the processing of polyvinyl chloride plastic and in the recycling of thermal paper, the type of paper used in some purchase receipts, self-adhesive labels, and fax paper. Bisphenol A can also be found as a residue in paper and cardboard food packaging materials."
It is alarming the amount of exposure Americans have to BPA. According to the NTP, "human exposure to BPA is widespread. The 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found detectable levels of BPA in 93% of 2517 urine samples from people six years and older. The CDC NHANES data are considered representative of exposures in the United States. Another reason for concern, especially for parents, may be because some animal studies report effects in fetuses and newborns exposed to BPA."
Until the research is published:
"The NTP has some concern for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A.
The NTP has minimal concern for effects on the mammary gland and an earlier age for puberty for females in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A.
The NTP has negligible concern that exposure of pregnant women to bisphenol A will result in fetal or neonatal mortality, birth defects, or reduced birth weight and growth in their offspring.
The NTP has negligible concern that exposure to bisphenol A will cause reproductive effects in non-occupationally exposed adults and minimal concern for workers exposed to higher levels in occupational settings."
This view is also supported by the FDA. However, until the research is presented, the FDA is "supporting reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA, including actions by industry and recommendations to consumers on food preparation."
Since there is much which isn't known about the long-term effects of BPA exposure and given its widespread use, the NTP recommends the following to reduce exposure to BPA:
"Some animal studies suggest that infants and children may be the most vulnerable to the effects of BPA. Parents and caregivers, can make the personal choice to reduce exposures of their infants and children to BPA:
- Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate is strong and durable, but over time it may break down from over use at high temperatures.
- Plastic containers have recycle codes on the bottom. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.
- Reduce your use of canned foods.
- When possible, opt for glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.
- Use baby bottles that are BPA free."
The Department of Health and Human Services also recommends the following to reduce your exposure to BPA:
"#1 FOLLOW RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES TO FEED YOUR INFANT.
HHS supports the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for infant feeding and supports breastfeeding for at least 12 months whenever possible, as breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants.
If breastfeeding is not an option, iron-fortified infant formula is the safest and most nutritious alternative. The benefit of a stable source of good nutrition from infant formula and food outweighs the potential risk of BPA exposure.
Parents should discuss any significant changes to your baby’s diet with your baby’s doctor or nurse.
#2 DISCARD SCRATCHED BABY BOTTLES AND INFANT FEEDING CUPS.
Worn baby bottles and cups are likely to have scratches that harbor germs and - if they contain BPA - may release small amounts of the chemical.
#3 TEMPERATURE MATTERS.
Be careful how you heat up your child’s breast milk or formula. Studies have found there is a very small amount of BPA in plastics and other packaging materials that can transfer to food and liquids. Additional traces of BPA levels are transferred when hot or boiling liquids or foods come in contact with packaging made of BPA.
Do not put boiling or very hot water, infant formula, or other liquids into BPA-containing bottles while preparing them for your child.
Before mixing water with powdered infant formula, the water should be boiled in a BPA-free container and allowed to cool to lukewarm.
Ready-to-feed liquid formula can be served at room temperature or gently warmed up by running warm water over the outside of the bottle.
Always remember: Do not heat baby bottles of any kind in the microwave – the liquid may heat unevenly and burn your infant
Sterilize and clean bottles according to instructions on infant formula labels. They should be left to cool to room temperature before adding infant formula.
#4 CHECK THE LABELS ON YOUR BOTTLES AND FOOD PREPARATION CONTAINERS.
As a good household practice, only use containers marked “dishwasher safe” in the dishwasher and only use “microwave safe” marked containers in the microwave.
As a good household practice, only use containers marked “dishwasher safe” in the dishwasher and only use “microwave safe” marked containers in the microwave.
As a good household practice, discard all food containers with scratches, as they may harbor germs and may lead to greater release of BPA."
In case you are bored and want to read more about the subject, the FDA has published several Memorandums regarding a review of low dose studies and exposure to BPA for infants, toddlers and adults from the consumption of infant formula, toddler food and adult (canned) food. If you're looking for companies that do not use BPA in their cans, the following website has a great list of products which do not use BPA lined cans.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
What Do Those Numbers on the Bottom of Plastic Containers Mean?
As part of my pack-rat ways, I am an avid recycler. With my "obsession" with recycling, I have come to learn about the different numeric symbols found on the bottom of plastic containers in the United States. I had always wondered what those numbers meant. Those numbers are a great way to determine the kind of plastic the container is made of. I didn't even think about the kinds of plastics that I was using until I became pregnant with my first child. It was during that time the controversy surrounding bisphenol-A (BPA) came about. I suddenly wanted to know what could contain BPA. Learning about the numeric symbols helped me to understand what kind of plastic my containers contain.
What do these numeric symbols look like?
Most plastic containers in your home today probably contain one of these symbols on the bottom. These symbols are technically called a "resin identification code." According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "The resin identification coding system for plastic, represented by the numbers on the bottom of plastic containers, was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), the plastics industry trade association, in 1988. Municipal recycling programs traditionally target packaging containers, and the SPI coding system offered a way to identify the resin content of bottles and containers commonly found in the residential waste stream. Plastic household containers are usually marked with a number that indicates the type of plastic. Consumers can then use this information to determine whether or not certain plastic types are collected for recycling in their area. Contrary to common belief, just because a plastic product has the resin number in a triangle, which looks very similar to the recycling symbol, it does not mean it is collected for recycling." The EPA further explains the abbreviations listed under the symbols below:
What do these numeric symbols look like?
 |
| Numeric symbols found on the bottom of plastic containers |
| SPI Resin Identification Code | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Type of Resin Content | PET | HDPE | Vinyl | LDPE | PP | PS | OTHER |
|
|
The Learning Channel actually put together a very easy to understand explanation of the different codes:
"#1 - PET or PETE: polyethylene terephthalate is used in many soft drink, water, and juice bottles. It's easily recycled, doesn't leach, and accepted by most curbside municipal programs and just about all plastic recycling centers.
#2 - HDPE: high-density polyethylene is used in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles, and, because it hasn't been found to leach, will replace polycarbonate in a new Nalgene bottle (more on that in a sec). It has also has not been found to leach, and is widely accepted and easily recycled.
#3 - PVC: Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride is a bad, bad plastic. Soft PVC often contains and can leach toxic phthalates, and can also off-gas chemicals into the air. It's used in some cling wraps (yikes!), many children's toys, fashion accessories, shower curtains, and detergent and spray bottles. To top it off, PVC isn't recyclable, either.
#4 - LDPE: low-density polyethylene is used most plastic shopping bags, some cling wraps, some baby bottles and reusable drink & food containers. It hasn't been found to leach, and is recyclable at most recycling centers (and many grocery stores take the shopping bags) but generally not in curbside programs.
#5 - PP: polypropylene can be found in some baby bottles, lots of yogurt and deli takeout containers, and many reusable food and drink containers (you know, the Tupperware- and Rubbermaid-types). It hasn't been found to leach, and is recyclable in some curbside programs and most recycling centers.
#6 - PS: polystyrene is used in takeout food containers, egg containers, and some plastic cutlery, among other things. It has been found to leach styrene--a neurotoxin and possible human carcinogen--and has been banned in cities like Portland, Ore. and San Francisco. Still, it persists and is not often recyclable in curbside programs, though some recycling centers will take it.
#7 - Everything else, and this is where the waters get a bit murky. First, and perhaps most notably, #7 includes PC, or polycarbonate, which has been making headlines lately because it's used in Nalgene's reusable water bottles and has been found to leach bisphenol A, a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen; as such, Nalgene is switching to HDPE, a less harmful plastic."
The following "smart plastics guide" is an easy to print up .pdf file that you can hang on your refrigerator for reference before heading out to recycle your plastic.
After reading about the different identification codes, I became nervous whenever I saw a product labeled with a #3, #6 and #7. I actively began using less plastic when it came to food preparation and storage. I especially began to rethink heating any food in any plastic containers. It is during high heat that many plastics can "leach" onto food. I started using more glass containers and began throwing out containers that had any of those three codes. I am also more aware when I go out to eat to look for restaurants reheating food covered in plastic wrap. Rather than using plastic wrap, I now use a glass plate as a "cover" when reheating something. There are so many alternatives to plastic these days that I would rather change my behavior than risk something happening to my children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)