Safer Plastic Containers

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The Backstory

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What To Look For

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Safer Storage Products

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Plastics to Avoid

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Safer Use of Plastics for Storage

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Resources and References

The Backstory

Take a look at the shelves of packaged food items at your local grocery store and you'll notice that mostof the food we buy comes in contact with plastic. Margarine, yogurt, cream cheese and ice cream packaged in plastic cartons; frozen dinners on plastic trays and frozen vegetables in plastic bags;cheese, deli sandwiches and fruits and vegetables wrapped in cling wrap; juice, water and oil in plastic bottles; even food packaged in paper is often wrapped up in plastic first. In fact, since 1976 plastic has been the most widely used material in the United States. No wonder

Newsweek

chose plastic as one of the greatest innovations of the millennium. However, not all plastics are created equal, and some aresafer to use than others, especially when it comes to food packaging and storage.While plastic food wraps and containers play an important role in protecting us against the dangers of foodborne illnesses, recent studies show that when certain plastics come into contact with foods, somequestionable chemicals migrate from the packaging to the foods they contain. In addition, because of the chemicals used during the manufacturing process, plastic poses threats to our environment and tothe health of the workers who produce it.

Environmental Issues

Pollution

Considering that plastics are made from non-renewable petroleum and natural gas, it's not surprising toknow that plastic manufacturing is a major source of industrial pollution. Producing a 16-oz. #1 PET bottle, for instance, generates more than 100 times the toxic emissions to air and water than making thesame size bottle out of glass.The Berkeley Plastics Task Force stated in a 1996 report that the plastic industry contributed 14 percentof the most toxic industrial releases--including styrene, benzene and trichloroethane--into the air. Other major emissions from plastic production processes include sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides (both of which contribute to global warming), methanol, ethylene oxide and volatile organic compounds(VOCs).

Plastics Are Forever

When the plastics we throw away escape from garbage trucks or landfills, they get blown into trees andwaterways where they're eaten by animals that mistake them for food. In the North Pacific, a floatingisland of plastic waste the size of Texas has accumulated, doubling in size over the past six years. Someestimates place the load of plastic floating in that area, killing both birds and aquatic life, at 3 milliontons.

The matter is further complicated by the fact that nothing in nature, not even sunlight and oxygen, can break apart the bonds that hold plastic together, so they linger on our planet indefinitely. Rather than biodegrading, plastic photodegrades into dust, winding up in soil and in the air. In bodies of water, the plastic particles become a kind of toxic sponge, absorbing other harmful chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the pesticide DDT. Those particles then get eaten by fish, whichwind up back on our dinner plates.

Recycling

Despite the problems with plastic, virtually all types can be recycled and used a few times before losingintegrity (when the material has become too weak to recycle any more). However, confusing municipalrecycling laws and limited access to recyclers who accept all types of plastic have kept recycling rateslow and the amount of plastic waste in landfills high--and getting higher. In 2006, a mere 6.9 percent of plastic garbage we generated was recycled.On a positive note, more stores are beginning to accept plastic bags for recycling, and other companiesare offering to take back used plastic products. For instance, Styrofoam packing peanuts can be taken toany UPS store for reuse, and Stonyfield Farm accepts all its #5 PP yogurt cups and tubs back, resellingthem to Preserve, a company that manufactures toothbrushes and reusable plastic dishes from thediscarded cups.

Personal Health Issues

Dioxins

Dioxins, which are highly toxic even at low doses, are produced when #3 PVC plastics aremanufactured and incinerated. The EPA estimates that the average American's risk of contractingcancer from dioxin exposure may be as high as one in 1,000--1,000 times higher than the government'scurrent "acceptable" standard of one in a million. Dioxins are also endocrine disruptors, substances thatcan interfere with the body's natural hormone signals, and they can damage the immune system andmay affect reproduction and childhood development. Furthermore, dioxins build up in animal fat, andwe may be exposed to them when drinking fatty meats, whole milk or full-fat yogurt.

Phthalates

Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses and other foods sold in delis and grocery stores are wrapped inPVC. To soften #3 PVC plastic into its flexible form, manufacturers add "plasticizers" during production. Traces of these chemicals, known as adipates and phthalates, can leak out of PVC when itcomes in contact with foods, especially hot, fatty foods. Adipates and phthalates have been shown tocause birth defects and damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive systems in mice.One phthalate, di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,according to a 2000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) report. Phthalates are also suspected of interfering with hormones and the reproductive development of baby boys.

Bisphenol A

Many #7 polycarbonate bottles (including baby bottles), microwave ovenware, eating utensils and plastic coatings for metal cans are made with bisphenol A (BPA). Many studies have found that BPAinterferes with hormones, as phthalates do, and a March 1998 study in Environmental HealthPerspectives (EHP) found that BPA simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breastcancer cells.A growing number of scientists are concluding, from animal tests, that exposure to BPA in the wombraises the risk of certain cancers, hampers fertility and could contribute to childhood behavioral

problems such as hyperactivity. A January 2006 EHP study on mice indicated that BPA alters thefunction of mouse pancreatic cells, which produce insulin, suggesting that the chemical may enhancethe risk of developing Type II diabetes. Finally, an early 2007 study on BPA in rats found that it led toincreased growth, suggesting that the chemical might trigger obesity.

Antimony

Not as dire a concern as BPA or phthalates, the heavy metal antimony has been found to leach out of #1PET plastic water bottles that have been sitting on a shelf for long periods of time. High levels of antimony can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but the amount in water from a PET bottle will likely below enough to not cause such effects. However, it's still a good idea to not reuse #1 PET bottles toavoid any potential antimony exposure.

What To Look For

Plastic is the most widely used material in the United States, and it crops up in everything from toys toclothes to food containers. But not all plastics are created equal, particularly in regards to food storage:Some plastics can transmit chemicals into your food, while others are perfectly safe.Before you know which type of plastic container to buy the next time you hit the store, you first need toknow how to tell them apart. Plastics are typically classified by a number from #1 to #7, each number representing a different type of resin. That number is usually imprinted on the bottom of your container; flip it upside down, and you'll see a recycling triangle with the number in the middle.Here's a quick breakdown of plastic resin types:Plastics are typically classified by one of seven recycling codes, indicating the type of resin used (thecode is usually found at the bottom of containers and bottles), as follows:#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) Products: Soft drink bottles, medicine containers#2 high density polyethylene (HDPE) Products: Toys, bottles for milk, water, detergent,shampoo, motor oil#3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) Products: Pipe, meat wrap, cooking oil bottles#4 low density polyethylene (LDPE) Products: Wrapping films, grocery bags#5 polypropylene (PP) Products: Syrup bottles, yogurt tubs, diapers#6 polystyrene (PS) Products: Coffee cups, clam-shell take-outcontainers#7 other (usually polycarbonate) Products: Medical storage containers, some Nalgene water bottles

Safer Storage Products – Plastics and Others

#2HDPE, #4LDPE and #5PP -

These three types of plastic are the healthiest. They transmit no knownchemicals into your food and they're generally recyclable; #2 is very commonly accepted by municipalrecycling programs, but you may have a more difficult time finding someone to recycle your #4 and #5containers.