Plastic Containers

Ok, plastic containers – what’s the deal? The other day my 13 year old came in and told me we needed to throw away our plastic containers that were numbered 3, 6 and 7.

Huh?

I was generally aware that it wasn’t healthy to re-use plastic water bottles to drink from. I had no clue what he was talking about with the “some of the numbers are bad” theory.

I tried to give him the “generally it’s not good for you” answer but he started turning bottles upside down and showing me little tri-angles with numbers imprinted inside them.

He wanted to know specifics and I couldn’t bluff him with my limited knowledge on the subject. We did some research and found some interesting and spooky stuff.

Lots of big words

There are 7 different categories or classes of plastics and each is made of a different resin. Sure enough, the categories (1-7) are imprinted on the containers inside a recycling triangle, usually on the bottom of the container.

Normally there is also some lettering next to the triangle that is a symbol for the resin type.

The different categories by number, letter abbreviation, and common uses are:

1- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Disposable water bottles, pop, and other drink bottles
2- High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Milk jugs, bottles for detergent and shampoo
3- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Plumbing for water lines, meat wrap
4- Low density polyethylene (LDPE)
Sandwich and grocery bags, saran wrap
5- Polypropylene (PP)
Diapers, syrup bottles, yogurt containers
6- Polystyrene (PS)
Take out (doggy bag) containers, disposable coffee cups
7- Others (PLA, PC or misc)
Baby bottles, stain resistant food storage containers

THE GOOD

The numbers 2, 4, and 5 are the most healthy of the 7 classes. The current research shows they do not transmit chemicals into your food or drink.

Number 1’s are suitable for one time use. Reusing your water bottle isn’t recommended as they are porous and can absorb bacteria. They are very difficult to clean, which compounds the bacteria problem.

THE BAD

Numbers 3, 6, and 7 are not good for your body or your health.

Number 3 is used in saran wrap to protect meat. PVC contains phthalates that cause problems with hormonal development.

Number 6 (common name – Styrafoam) can transmit styrene into food. It’s listed as a possible human carcinogen (cancer causing agent) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. There is also concern that it may cause problems with reproduction and your hormones.

Number 7 contains a chemical that disrupts hormones called bisphenal A and it has been linked to cancer and obesity.

THE UGLY

Number 3 is not only a problem for the end user, but its manufacture is also harmful to those that produce it. Dioxin is also released, which is a carcinogen and hormone disrupter, when it’s produced and when incinerated.

And.

The pipes that deliver our drinking water is made of this stuff???

I also found many tips on the do’s and don’ts when heating food in plastic containers using a microwave oven. If you clicked on the highlighted microwave link, you know I won’t use one. If you do use a microwave, the best idea is to heat things up in a glass or ceramic container.

Number 7 disrupts hormones and has been linked to cancer and obesity. So why do we make baby bottles out of it???

The process of manufacturing plastic is a huge source of industrial pollution. To make a 16 ounce plastic water bottle causes 100 times more toxins to be released into the environment than the same size glass bottle.

There is also the problem caused by the fact that these plastic containers are not biodegradable (they stay with the environment forever). How many billion or trillion pounds of these waste materials are we creating each year?

What Now?

Well, regardless of what I think of all the information here my son has gone ahead and thrown away every container with a #3, 6 or 7 on it in the house. A man, er a boy, on a mission :-)

I believe that going forward more studies will come out pointing to more problems with the plastics currently in use.

Hopefully, there will be improvements made as we move forward and the products we come into contact with will be healthier.

I have contacted the vendors of the products in my house that are using #3, 6 & 7 class plastic containers and asked them to use another class container. If we all would speak up (or vote with our wallet), things might change more quickly.

For now, my 13 year old container monitor is on full alert and I am going to use glass bottles when I carry water from home!

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