Know your plastics and protect yourself from BPA
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I am not an alarmist so when the news about bisphenol A (BPA) broke, although I became wary of plastics, I didn’t do anything about it. But the latest bad news, including a report by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, cannot be ignored. BPA exposure can cause a lot of health problems ranging from cancer, hormonal disorders and heart diseases. So there I was, googling my way through a plethora of information on plastics in order to protect myself and my family. Here is what I’ve found out:
Not all plastics are created equal
Not all plastics contain BPA. There are 7 classes of plastics used as packaging and in most cases, you can actually see which type of plastic you have. If you turn over the plastic cup you are holding, you will see a triangular recycling symbol at the bottom. In addition, there is a number at the center of the symbol and letters below the symbol. The number indicates which type of plastic your cup is made and the letters are usually abbreviations of the plastic names.
According to this table provided by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the seven types of plastics are:
| TYPE |
NAME/ABBREVIATION |
USES |
RECYLCLING STATUS |
| 1 |
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE) |
Many soda bottles, water bottles, vinegar bottles, medicine containers. |
The easiest plastic to recycle. |
| 2 |
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) |
Many milk and water jugs; containers for laundry and dish detergents, fabric softeners, bleach, shampoos, conditioners, motor oil. |
Can be recycled into more bottles or into bags. |
| 3 |
Polyvinyl Chloride (V, PVC) |
Many meat wraps, cooking oil bottles, baby bottle nipples, shrink wraps, coffee containers. |
Difficult to recycle. |
| 4 |
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) |
Many wrapping films, grocery bags, sandwich bags. |
Can be recycled into more of same. |
| 5 |
Polypropylene (PP) |
Tupperware and many other food storage containers, syrup bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, diapers, outdoor carpet. |
Can be recycled into fibers. |
| 6 |
Polystyrene (PS) |
Some take-out food containers, Styrofoam cups and containers, disposable cutlery and cups, bakery shells, meat trays, packing “peanuts.” |
Recyclers don’t want it because it’s bulky and light weight. |
| 7 |
often polycarbonate (PC) or others (O) |
Food can liners, Nalgene-type water bottles, disposable cutlery, sippy cups. |
Recyclers don’t want it. |
Sources: plastics industry Web sites, CSPI; wikipedia
BPA is found in most but not all Type 7 plastics, according to CSPI. Wikipedia says BPA is found in Type 7 and Type 3 plastics. The other 4 types are supposedly BPA-free.
It’s all in the packaging
Now, the packaging of your food may give you the nutritional facts but does not necessary tell you the components of the materials. Some cans, for example, are lined with plastic that contains BPA. So if in doubt, check out these recommendations from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI):
- Go for frozen instead of canned food.
- Drink softdrinks in BPA-free polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. PET bottles are the easiest plastic to recycle. Protect yourself and protect the environment.
- Go for foodstuff packed in aseptic cardboard rather than plastic boxes.
- Go for fresh food whenever possible, without the plastic wrapping, of course.Fresh food is healthier and more environmentally friendly.
- Do not put plasticware in the dishwasher or the microwave oven.
Finally, why not just get rid of all your Type 3 and Type 7 plasticware? You’d be better off with glass or porcelain.
Download this helpful brochure from CSPI!
Danni says...
PET is safe, but try to avoid reuse as most are designed for single serve use only.
Some juice drinks in PET containers have additives in the plastic like Amasorb to reduce oxygen penetration through the bottle wall (yes, gasses pass through the plastic at low rates) so if you do reuse the containers, keep in mind they may not protect the contents as long once the Amasorb is used up.
HDPE is similar, they use barrier layers to protect the contents, typically EVOH or Nylon.