foodconsumer.org: How to tell which plastic containers are risky?

How to tell which plastic containers are risky?
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admin on 03/02/2010 12:29:00
 
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