How to tell which plastic containers are risky?

Below is a document cited from EPA.gov.  We list it here because it may help food consumers to decide which types of plastics pose higher risk of bisphenol A (BPA) contamination than the others.

BPA has been linked to a myriad health conditions and fetuses and young children are at higher risk.

The number from 1 to 7 or called recycle code is used inside the recycle triangle sign on the bottom of a recyclable plastic container.  

Many websites say plastic containers or bottles or jars with number 3, 6  or 7 are the worst types of plastics in terms of the presence of toxic ingredients like BPA.  Those with number 1,2,4 are considered safest with number plastic between the two categories.

Unfortunately as some might have noticed, those worst types are more likely to be used in containers or bottles that have direct contact with food and beverages.  Many trash bins are safer than those plastic foam-based coffee cups.

Please note that safe or not is only based on the scientific reports, which may not make any sense because the Food and Drug Administration has not said  that use of any of these plastic containers or bottles would pose any health risk even though most recently it admitted that exposure to the chemical may increase risk of certain health conditions.

The National Toxicology Program, an agency under the Department of Health and Human Services has already officially recognized that BPA can pose risk in infants and young children. Prenatal and early exposure to BAP can lead to abnormal reproductive system, abnormal brain development and abnormal behaviors among others.

BAP has been scientifically linked to elevated risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, among other health conditions.

By David Liu

Plastic

There are 7 types of plastics that are identified by a Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) code

number ranging from 1 to 7. These numbers are usually found on the bottom of plastic

containers inside a three-arrow recycling symbol. A description of each kind of plastic is

presented below. Also, you can check with the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) at 800-2-

HELP-90 for information about haulers/recyclers in your area. Some recyclers only accept a

sub-category of the ones presented below. For example, a recycler might only accept HDPE

milk jugs and not all HDPE products.

• PET (SPI = 1) XXXXX (degree of danger)

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most readily recyclable material at this time. It

includes 1- and 2- liter clear soda bottles, as well as some bottles containing liquor,

liquid cleaners, detergents, and antacids.

• HDPE (SPI = 2) XXXX

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is currently recyclable in some areas. This class

includes milk, juice, and water jugs, base cups for some plastic soda bottles, as well as

bottles for laundry detergent, fabric softener, lotion, motor oil, and antifreeze.

• PVC (SPI = 3) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, also referred to simply as “vinyl”) includes bottles for cooking

oil, salad dressing, floor polish, mouthwash, and liquor, as well as “blister packs” used

for batteries and other hardware and toys.

• LDPE (SPI = 4) XXXXX

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) includes grocery bags, bread bags, trash bags, and a

variety of other film products. LDPE is currently being recycled by some of the major

retail chains.

• Polypropylene (SPI = 5) XXXXXXX

Polypropylene includes a wide variety of packaging such as yogurt containers, shampoo

bottles, and margarine tubs. Also cereal box liners, rope and strapping, combs, and

battery cases.

• Polystyrene (SPI = 6) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Polystyrene includes Styrofoam coffee cups, food trays, and “clamshell” packaging, as

well as some yogurt tubs, clear carry-out containers, and plastic cutlery. Foam

applications are sometimes called EPA, or Expanded Polystyrene. Some recycling of

polystyrene is taking place, but is limited by it low weight-to-volume ration and its value

as a commodity.

• Other (SPI = 7) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Can refer to application which use some of the above six resins in combination or to the

collection of the individual resins as mixed plastic (e.g., camera film can include several

types of plastic resins). Technology exists to make useful items such as plastic “lumber”

our of mixed plastic resins, but generally the materials are more useful and valuable is

separated into the generic resin types described above.

Cited from EPA.gov