Plastic Smarts: 10 Ways to Avoid Bad Plastic Exposure

Plastics were going to make our lives easier.  And, they have in a lot of ways.  But, now, they have actually made our lives a little more complicated.  Some of the components in them, as it turns out, are not good for us to be exposed to, and the labeling of plastic ingredients is not required in all cases, making it complicated to maneuver around plastic usage choices.  And those plastics create a huge complicated heap in our landfills, too.

A Bit Of History

The first manmade plastic made an appearance in 1855 by an inventor named Alexander Parkes.  But it was not until after World War I, that improvements in chemical technology led to an explosion of them. Mass production began around the 1940s and 1950s. And we have never looked back.  In fact, plastic is everywhere and it is in everything:  textiles, bottles and jars, food packaging, toys, electronics, cars and trucks, and plumbing parts to name a few.  However,  in more recent years, information has shed some light on some suspect components of plastics like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.

For example, BPA acts as a synthetic estrogen that could disrupt the human hormone system, causing various health effects. And phthalates cause a wide range of adverse health problems including liver, kidney and lung damage as well as reproductive system and sexual developmental abnormalities. Phthalates have also been classified as a probable human carcinogen.

How to Avoid Bad Plastic Additives

There are 10 simple ways to avoid these harmful plastic additives.  Read on to make the smart choices:

• Heat and plastic do not go together.  Avoid foods and liquids heated or stored in plastic containers.  Use glass, ceramic or stainless-steel containers instead.  (Check out great safe containers here.) Heating plastics in high temperatures leaches chemicals out of the containers and into the food or liquid they hold.  Never heat plastic baby bottles.  If you choose to use frozen food or you freeze food you made and need to reheat it, defrost the food item for a bit and place the food in another safe container before heating in the oven.  Never heat food in those plastic containers provided by food manufactures.

• Check the labels.  Is your cookware microwave safe? If you use a microwave, only heat using microwave-safe cookware.  Glass is best. 

• Remove your wrap.  Always remove plastic wrap before thawing or heating foods.  Or don't use it at all.

• Note the storage.  Avoid purchasing foods stored in plastic of all kinds.  (I know this one can be difficult.) If there is a choice,  purchase food items stored in glass and cardboard containers only.

• Stay away from the cans.  Reduce canned food or only buy canned foods with BPA-free on the label. BPA has been found in the lining of the cans and it leaches onto the food item.

• Skip the dishwasher.  Wash all safe plastic food containers or baby bottles by hand. Do not put in the dishwasher as the heat of the machine may cause chemicals to release.

• Toss the old and scratched. Throw out old plastic containers and especially unsafe plastics. As plastic containers age, they release more chemicals. Don't use scratched-up plastic containers. Throw them out as well.  Damaged plastics may leak more chemicals.

• Avoid plastic toys.  Do not buy plastic toys unless they are listed as BPA-free and phthalate-free. Be careful at yard sales as older plastic toys you may be considering may contain BPA or phthalates.

• Peek into the bathroom cabinets.  Check all personal care products that are free of synthetic fragrance as that increases exposure to phthalates.  The FDA requires the listing of ingredients but not individual fragrance ingredients. Phthalates are also used in many nail polishes.  Check those too.

• Fabric choices count.  Choose natural fiber clothing.  Plastic type additives in iron-free or teflon clothing can expose you to unwanted chemicals.  Waterproof can also be a concern.

Recycling Codes and What They Mean

Those triangle symbols usually placed on the bottom of containers actually mean something.  There is good and there is bad.  Let's go with the good first.

the good

 These code numbers are considered safe, until we hear otherwise:

• Recycling code number 1 (PETE) 
• Recycling code number 2 (HDPE)
• Recycling code number 4 (LDPE)
• Recycling code number 5 (PP)

the bad

These code numbers are ones to avoid:

• Recycling code number 3 may indicate it contains a phthalate called DEHA.  Please, no.  This code can be seen on food items, toys, shower curtains, window cleaner, shampoo, medical equipment and construction items.

• Recycling code number 6 or Styrofoam are in disposable plates and cups, egg cartons, carry out foods, meat trays.  There are really hard to recycle, too.  

• Recycling code number 7 may indicate it contains BPA. This code can also be interpreted as the  "miscellaneous" plastic,  as under this number you may see various types of plastics, including those found in baby bottles, large water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, computer cases, food containers and nylon.  Some of these are safe but some may be not safe. Best to avoid it.

Plastics are here to stay.  Just look at our landfills.  But, if you must use them, be smart and make it a lot less complicated.

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