CEC Blog

Plastics are everywhere!  They are a very helpful part of our everyday life and we use them without much consideration.  A majority of the plastics that we consume are in the form of one-time use, disposable items such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, food containers, packaging, etc.  While plastic is a great material with many uses, these disposable items are taking up a great amount of precious space in our landfills.   Once a landfill is full, it is covered and a new one is dug.  The quicker we fill them, the quicker new ones are built.  We all know that living things cannot thrive when living in their own waste.  Finding ways to reduce what we consume and throw away helps to prolong the life of these much needed sanitary landfills and keep them far away from our homes, jobs, and places of recreation.  Recycling plastic is one solution.  Even better is to reduce the amount of disposable plastics we consume in the first place.  This also saves those precious petroleum resources for other uses.    Many communities offer curbside or other recycling facilities.  Plastics that are most typically accepted through these services are labeled as 1s or 2s inside the triangle recycling symbol.  Check with your local provider to learn which of the 7 different plastics are accepted in your area.

Not only are plastics taking up space in our landfills, the chemicals of which they are made are also becoming a concern toward our health.  While we are not necessarily making a hearty meal out of our plastic water bottles quite yet, the chemical compounds that make up the variety of plastics found in items from food containers to cosmetics are making their way into our bodies.  There have been many scientific studies on the impacts these chemicals are having on the various systems of our bodies.  Many of the chemicals found in plastics are considered endocrine disruptors.  These are artificial chemicals that mimic human hormones and disrupt the natural balance of the body’s hormonal system.  Due to the fact that plastics are now very common place in everyday items, the levels found in humans are being found at higher concentrations and are having more of an impact.

Two of the more known chemicals found in plastics that are of concern are:

Bisphenol A – This substance is found in drink and food containers, lined tin cans, baby bottles, dental sealants, and plastic wraps.  Endocrine disruptor.  http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/factsheet_bisphenol.pdf

Pthalates – Man-made chemicals used to make plastics flexible.  Found in some cosmetics and hygiene products. (Also, known as dialkyl or alkyl aryl esters of 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid.)  Studies have indicated an association between phthalate exposure and affects on the male reproductive system of children.  http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/pdf/factsheet_phthalates.pdf

Plastics to avoid in food packaging and containers:

#3:   Poly Vinyl Chloride or Vinyl – May contain phthalates
#6:   Styrene – A potentially toxic chemical found in Styrofoam and other similar brands.  May leach into food and beverages at temperatures above 80 degrees.
#7:  Catch-all category and includes polycarbonates which include BPA.  Look for items labeled “BPA free.”

What to do:

• Choose a re-usable water bottle.  Look for a water bottle that is labeled “BPA free.” Avoid plastic bottles that are labeled as plastics 3, 6, or 7.  These are the plastics that contain more of the harmful chemicals that may leach into your food or beverage.  There are now plastic bottles labeled as 7 that are labeled “BPA free” and are considered the safer alternative.

You may also use stainless steel bottles.  There are many options available and many are even fashionable!  Remember, water is necessary for your body to work properly and thrive.  Be sure that you are drinking wisely!  Save money and resources by drinking form the tap and using a reusable water bottle.

• Do not microwave food items in plastic containers or using plastic wrap.
• Opt for canned goods that are not lined.  Many of these linings contain BPA.
• Use glass food or a safe plastic for food storage containers.
• Hand-wash plastic food and drink containers.  Many dishwashers use high temperatures to sanitize dishes.  High temperatures cause some plastics to break down faster allowing chemicals to leach more readily into foods and beverages during future uses.

It is very important to lessen our use of disposable products and packaging to reduce the impact on our natural resources as well as the life of local landfills and to work for a high quality of life for our children and grandchildren.  Learning more about plastics and the items we use on a daily basis is also very important to our health and the health of future generations.

According to this table provided by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) http://www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/nahbpa.pdf, the seven types of plastics are:

More information:
www.chemicalbodyburden.org/cs_phthalate.htm
www.CDC.gov
www.healthybuilding.net
www.pollutioninpeople.org