Toxic Tuesday: What's in a number

This amazing website

clearly describes what the different numbers

mean on the bottom of *most* plastic containers.

They are all telling what the plastic is mainly

comprised of, and if it can be recycled.

Many recycling centers only allow certain numbers -

for good reason.

The most alarming of all of these numbers is #7.

Plastic number 7 is what has been found

as the biggest offender having BPA that seeps 

into the food it is containing.

We just said good bye to our Sparkletts delivery, today!

As I posted previously, BPA when ingested

mimics the estrogen hormone

causing many adverse side affects:

obesity, infertility, insulin resistance, 

type 2 diabetes, angina, heart disease and heart attack.

WHEW.

We'll go more into this BPA stuff next week.

Looking on the bottom of your water bottles,

plastic food containers, plates, etc 

is the first line of defense in avoiding this chemical.

Here's how plastic number 7 is defined according to the

EchoVillageGreen site:

Plastic #7: This number basically means “everything else.” It’s a mixed bag, composed of plastics which were invented after 1987.  Polycarbonate falls into this category, including the dreaded BPA. So do modern plastics used in anything from iPods to computer cases. It also includes some baby bottles and food storage containers which resist staining. Use of #7 plastic is at your own risk, since you don’t know what could be in it. You should dispose of any food or drink related product, especially for children, that is known to contain BPA. I personally also view any other food or drink container made from #7 plastic with a good deal of suspicion. It is difficult to recycle #7 plastic and most curbside recycling programs won’t accept it.

 Here are facts about Plastic #7 on Earth 911.com

The trouble with explaining plastic #7 is that no one can say for sure what it is. Look for an expanded explanation or code, and you usually end up with the unhelpful “other” label. Plastic #7 is the code assigned to any plastic that does not fit into the other six rather well-defined categories of material.

 EchoVillageGreen says this about Plastic #1:

Plastic #1: This is polyethylene terephtalate, also known as PETE or PET.  Most disposable soda and water bottles are made of #1 plastic, and it’s usually clear. This plastic is considered generally safe. However, it is known to have a porous surface that allows bacteria and flavor to accumulate, so it is best not to keep reusing these bottles as makeshift containers. This plastic is picked up by most curbside recycling programs.

Look at the bottom of your plastic water bottles,

most have #1 on the bottom.  

Be careful about resusing these bottles

or leaving these bottles in the sun

or where temperature fluctuates often 

(like your car).

EchoVillageGreen continues with the rest of the

SAFER numbers this way:

Plastic #2: This is high density polyethylene, or HDPE.  Most milk jugs, detergent bottles, juice bottles, butter tubs, and toiletries bottles are made of this.  It is usually opaque. This plastic is considered safe and has low risk of leaching. It is also picked up by most recycling programs.

Plastic #3: This is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. It is used to make food wrap, bottles for cooking oil, and plumbing pipes. PVC is a tough plastic but it is not considered safe to cook food near it. There are phthalates in this material–softening chemicals that interfere with hormonal development. You should minimize use of #3 plastic around food as much as possible. Never cook using food wrap, especially in a microwave oven. If the wrap is listed as microwave-safe then I would still not let it touch the food while using it in the microwave. #3 plastic is rarely accepted by recycling programs.

Plastic #4: This is low density polyethylene (LDPE). It is used to make grocery bags, some food wraps, squeezable bottles, and bread bags. This plastic is considered safe, but is unfortunately not often accepted by curbside recycling programs.

Plastic #5: this is polypropylene. Yogurt cups and similar wide-necked containers are often made from it, as well as water bottles with a cloudy finish. You’ll also find it in medicine bottles, ketchup and syrup bottles, and straws. This plastic is also considered safe, and is increasingly being accepted by curbside recycling programs.

The only other number worth noting #6 

is classified and defined this way on

EchoVillageGreen:

Plastic #6: this is polystyrene, or Styrofoam, from which disposable containers and packaging are made. You’ll also find it in disposable plates and cups. Evidence is increasingly suggesting that this type of plastic leaches potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated. I suggest avoiding the use of #6 plastic as much as possible. It is difficult to recycle and most recycling programs won’t accept it.

So, friends - here's the information - do with it what you'd like ;)

Sorry for the late post...had such an amazing morning at

MomsNext - and was just now able to post!

~ Enjoy, sweet readers ~

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