Plastically Speaking - The Truth Behind Plastics Part II

Plastically Speaking - The Truth Behind Plastics Part II

How to Minimize your Exposure to Plastics

There are relatively simple ways of reducing your exposure to chemicals in plastics. As I mentioned in my previous post it's not possible to eliminate all plastics from our lives, therefore it's advisable to reduce your exposure to plastics where it matters most - mainly where plastics touch your food and mouth and are more likely to end up in your digestive system.

Here is some general advice on how to minimize potential toxicity of plastics which I compiled based on available literature:

1. With your food use  plastics type #4 (LDPE), #5 (PP), #1 (PETE) and #2 (HDPE). Avoid #3 (PVC), #6 (PS) and #7 (other).

2. Use alternatives to plastic packaging whenever possible.

3. Don't microwave food in plastic containers even if they claim to be 'microwave safe'. Heat can break down plastics and release chemical additives into your food and drink. Ceramic or glass food containers (like Pyrex) are better to store and heat your food and drink.

4. Don't use cling wrap (which is made of PVC) in a microwave. Use a ceramic plate or paper towel instead. If you do use plastic, don’t let the plastic touch the food.

5. Don't used plastic containers for hot, fatty or highly acidic food as there is greater leaching of chemicals into these foods.

6. Avoid old, scratched food plastic containers. Exposures to plastics chemicals may be greater when the surface is worn down.

7. Don't reuse single-use plastics. They can break down and release plastics chemicals when used repeatedly.

8. Wash plastics on the top rack of the dishwasher, farther from the heating element, or, preferably, by hand. This will reduce wear and tear.

9. When using an electric mixer, choose glass or Pyrex instead of plastic to avoid chipping bits of plastic into your food.

10. Use wooden cutting boards -- but care for them properly to minimize bacteria.

Why plastic bottled water is such a bad idea



Avoid plastic bottled water unless you are travelling or live in an area where the quality of water is questionable. Bottled water, because it is less regulated, has less-certain purity and safety than tap water, and is much more expensive. It's generally a good idea to install a home water filter or use an inexpensive filter pitcher instead of buying bottled water. This way you will have much purer, healtier and less expensive water. You will also contribute to reducing landfill waste and exposure to chemicals that leach from the plastic. Remember that plastic bottled water is yet another brilliant business idea which seems to have taken over most of the well-developed countries. Use safer alternatives when you need to take water with you such as a glass or stainless steel bottle without plastic or epoxy lining. If you use a polycarbonate (#7) water bottle in order to reduce leaching of BPA, do not use it for warm or hot liquids and discard old or scratched bottles. Water bottles from #1 or #2 plastics are recommended for single use only. Avoid leaving plastic bottled water in direct sunlight in places like your car or a balcony as it will increase leaching of the chemicals into the water.

Safer Alternatives for Kids

Many baby bottles are made from polycarbonate plastic #7 (which can potentially leach BPA into baby food), including leading brands such as Avent, TommeeTippee and some DrBrown bottles. These bottles are usually clear and hard. Fortunately, there are more and more baby bottles made from #5 (PP) which are pliable and more milky-coloured. The brand which I favour is Medela, but there are many other good brands which produce safer alternatives to polycarbonate bottles. Avoid bottles, sippy cups, training cups and many others made of polycarbonate plastic at all costs and substitute them with glass bottles or made of #5 plastic (PP).

It's not advisable to pour boiling water into plastic feeding bottles. Prepare the mixture in a safe container such as a ceramic or glass bowl and transfer it to a plastic bottle once it's cooled down.

Give your baby natural teethers like frozen washcloths or natural, uncoated wood. Plastic teethers could have harmful additives that leach when chewed. Don't allow your baby or young child to handle or chew on plastic electronics (the remote, your cell phone) because they may be treated with fire retardants.

Look for toys made of natural materials, like wool, cotton, and uncoated wood. While phthalates were recently banned in new children's toys, they may be found in older toys before the ban went into effect, as well as in shower curtains, inflatable beach toys and raincoats.

Why canned food is definitely not good for you

As I mentioned in part I, Bisphenol A (BPA) is a controversial chemical used in polycarbonate plastic containers #7. Its toxicity involves mimicking certain hormones which can lead to serious health consequences (please see my previous post). When I had my baby 4 years ago, the only available BPA-free feeding bottle on the Irish market was Medela's breastfeeding storage bottles. Currently the choice is much wider which suggests that things are changing for better. Due to increasing consumer awareness more and more manufacturers offer their food products in plastic containers which don't contain BPA.

Unfortunately, majority of mainstream canned foods are packaged in metal cans which are lined inside with BPA. Due to certain food processing procedures invloved in manufacture of canned foods, BPA leaching into foods is much higher than in beverages in polycarbonate bottles #7. Therefore, there is a growing support for removing BPA from metal cans lining. Currently new alternatives to BPA are being researched which could prove to be equally versatile and economically viable. In the absence of such widely available safer alternatives, it's wise to avoid all canned foods. Moreover, canned foods are nutritionally inferior to fresh foods.

Although current general scientific advice on BPA in food containers is that leaching of BPA into foods is not significant enough to cause any adverse health problems, many NGO organizations warn that precaution should be exercised in relation to this potent toxicant.

Plastically Speaking - The Truth Behind Plastics Part I

Plastically Speaking - The Truth Behind Plastics Part I

Over the last few decades plastics  have invaded our homes. From my observation few people seem to be concerned about their rather overwhelming presence, which, I think, is due to the fact that public awareness of how potentially harmful plastics can be is very little. Most of us don't really know what plastics are made of and whether they are safe.

Health Concerns with Food Use of Plastics

The toxicity of plastics is not fully understood and adequately tested. A plethora of petroleum-based chemicals are used in the manufacturing of plastics. Certain chemical additives, used in order to change the qualities of plastics such as their softness or resistance to UV light, have been proven to be harmful. They include bisphenol-A and phthalates which are potent hormone disruptors that are increasingly linked to health effects like brain and behavior changes, cancer, and reproductive system damages.

Some chemicals can leach into food and drinks and possibly impact human health. Leaching increases when plastic comes in contact with oily or fatty foods, during heating and from old or scratched plastic. Types of plastics shown to leach toxic chemicals are polycarbonate, PVC and styrene. This does not imply that other plastics are entirely safe. These plastics have just been studied more (source: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy available at www.iatp.org).

Although most of the chemicals used in food containers  are considered "safe," that's generally not because they've been proved safe, but rather they haven't been proven to be unsafe. (source: Environmental Working Group available HERE).

Environmental Concerns Associated with Manufacture and Use of Plastics

Most plastics are made from petroleum, a non-renewable and mostly imported resource. Plastic packaging also creates unnecessary bulky waste which takes up a large volume of landfill space.
Plastic manufacturing and incineration creates air and water pollution and exposes workers to toxic chemicals.

Commonly Used Types of Plastics As Food Containers

1 - PETE
Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice and water containers

2 - HDPE
High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs and some plastic bags.

3 - PVC or V
Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, some plastic squeeze bottles and cooking oil.
A reson for concern! DEHA(di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate) is one of several plasticizers (softeners) to which people have daily exposure through food, water, air and consumer products. PVC cling wrap contains DEHA, which can leach into oily foods on contact and when heated. DEHA exposure can adversly affect liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. It is also a possible human carcinogen.

4 - LDPE

Low density polyethylene, used in grocery store bags, most plastic wraps and some bottles.

5 - PP

Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid, deli soup, syrup and yogurt containers, straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

6 - PS
Polystyrene, used in Styrofoam food trays, yogurt containers, disposable cups and bowls, carry-out containers and opaque plastic cutlery.
A reason for concern! STYRENE can leach from polystyrene plastic. Styrene is toxic to the brain and nervous system, among workers with longer-term exposures,15,16 but also has been found to adversely affect red blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomach in animal studies.17 Aside from exposure from food containers, children can be exposed to styrene from secondhand cigarette smoke, off-gassing of building materials, auto exhaust fumes and drinking water.

7 - Other

Usually polycarbonate, used in most plastic baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, "sport" water bottles, metal food can liners, clear plastic "sippy" cups and some clear plastic cutlery. New bio-based plastics may also be labeled #7.
A reason for concern! Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen and can leach from polycarbonate plastic.A Centers for Disease Control study detected BPA in the urine of 95 percent of adults sampled.  Health Effects of Exposure to BPA can be serious. Hormonal imbalance caused by BPA can stimulate certain cancers. BPA can cause chromosomal errors at low levels of exposure in mice, which can lead to spontaneous miscarriages and birth defects. One study found that women with recurrent miscarriages had threefold higher levels of BPA in their blood than women without miscarriage history. Of 115 published animal studies, 81 percent found significant effects from even low-level exposure to BPA. While none of the 11 industry-funded studies found significant effects, over 90 percent of government-funded studies did so. (Source Smart Plastics Guide by The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy available at www.iatp.org). 
BPA can also cause early onset of puberty, and stimulation of mammary gland development in females, changes in gender-specific behavior, decreased sperm production, altered immune function, behavioral effects including hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning and other changes in behavior.

Children and Plastics

I cannot stress enough that children are more vulnerable to toxic exposure due to their immature immune systems, rapid development and different eating patterns. Long term exposures to certain chemicals found in plastics or a few large exposures at a critical time in development could adversely impact children’s health.

Choose and Use Safer Plactics Where It Matters Most

Because plastics are ubiquitous it's not possible to eliminate them altogether from our daily life. It's advisable then to focus on minimizing exposure where it matters most, namely on plastics which come into contact with food. In my next post I will explain in more detail how to use plastics more safely.