BPA-Free Plastic Is Toxic, Too.

Here are Some Good Alternatives

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/bpa-free-is-toxic-too.html
Ive been waiting for the other shoe to drop ever since I first learned about the dangers of
BPA (bisphenol-A) a few years back. So when I saw this eye-opening Mother Jones article, The
Scary New Evidence on BPA-Free Plastics pop up in my Facebook feed a couple of days ago, I
could practically hear the thud of footwear falling from the sky
According to research by neurobiology professor George Bittner and his team at CertiChem, many
BPA-free plastics are just as bad for us as the BPA-laden kind, and possibly worse, in some
cases. The endocrine disruptors in most plastics have far-ranging effects that not only make us sick,
infertile and genetically wacky but they also mess up our children (assuming you overcome the
infertility problems) and our childrens children and our childrens childrens children and, well, you
get the idea, right?
Perhaps even more disturbing, companies are not required to determine their level of toxicity before
releasing them for sale and marketing them as safe and non-toxic.
So if you havent already recycled your plastic water bottles, sippy cups, straw cups and
baby bottles, now is the time! But what should you use instead? Here are some good, non-toxic
alternatives to consider. Im not a scientist or even an expert on plastics or toxicity, but I have done a
lot of research lately and here is what Ive learned:
1. Try to avoid plastic at all costs. Just because a plastic is touted as BPA- and phtalate-free does
not mean its actually non-toxic (though, clearly, anything which doesnt address those two wellknown toxins should also be a red-flag.)
2. If plastic cant be avoided altogether, the safest type (meaning the most stable, slowest to degrade
and leech chemicals into your water, food, etc.) is silicone.
3. Glass is the safest material since it does not leech at all.
4. Stainless steel is pretty good as it is a relatively inert metal but there is some transfer of elements
which can be an issue for people with allergies to nickel. More info on stainless steel here.
5. There is no perfect water bottle, baby bottle, sippy cup, straw cup or insulated mug out there, but
there are a lot of good options!
Here is a little summary of the bottles Ive tried personally in case its helpful as you shop around for
your replacements:
We got rid of our Nalgenes back in 2008 when the news broke about BPAs badness and invested in
a couple of Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles that were still happily using. They come in a

bunch of different sizes (12-, 18-, 27- and 40-ounce) and with a bunch of different tops (sport, cafe,
etc.) They also introduced an insulated wide-mouth bottle recently.

We ditched all our plastic baby bottles a few years ago in favor of Born Frees sturdy, glass bottles
with silicone nipples. I would only use glass for the babies since you often heat the bottle up before a
feeding and we know heat and plastic is a bad combo. They come in two sizes (5- and 9-ounces)
and they now offer a silicone sleeve to improve your and/or babys grip (though its never been an

issue for us.)

Weve got some stainless steel Klean Kanteen sippy cups in the mix, which we like a lot. They are
not, however, a great choice for the kids at school since they do leak if theyre not kept upright. I
recently bought a sport cap for my sons 12-ounce Kleen Kanteen (the 3.0 version has a silicone
mouth piece unlike the older versions though the rest of the top is still plastic), and I think that it will

probably work well as the water bottle I pack in his lunch.

We also have a couple of the Pura Kiki

stainless steel bottles with silicone sippy spouts below that I got after reading tons and tons of
reviews a few months back. The kids love these theyre a good width for smaller hands, the bottles
are light and the mouth pieces are comfortable. They have nipple attachments for babies (though I
would definitely prefer glass since you may be heating a babys bottle and its just safer than metal)
and two levels of flow sippy attachments for toddlers and kids, you can also get a silicone sleeve to
go over the top to catch some of the leaks or buy a silicone sealing disc to use them to store food or
liquids.

We use the Pura Kikis in the house but they have the same issue as the Kleen Kanteens they leak
if theyre not held upright and Im looking for something leak-proof to send to school in a lunch box.

I have one Lifefactory glass bottles with a flip cap that I like a lot. The sleeve gives you a good grip
on the bottle and the flip top with the carrying handle is definitely an improvement over the plain
bottle which has a very wide mouth and led me to spill water down my front a few times while
drinking and driving.
But I feel its still a little heavy and a bit too breakable for my almost 5-year-old son at this point. In a
few years, it will probably be perfect for him, though.
Takeya also makes some very nice glass water bottles with silicone sleeves that help improve
durability and minimize slippage and breakage. Their 12 ounce bottle is a more kid-friendly size than
the adult-sized, 22-ounce Life Factory bottle, too. We dont have any of these but I have read
positive reviews and got the thumbs up from my friend, Gideon, whose daughter loves hers.

If you want even more options, check out the great selection at MightyNest a company that takes
non-toxic seriously. And from now until March 19th, Im running a giveaway with MightyNest on
my blog, The Garden of Eating visit the post and sign the plastic-free pledge to enter to win
$100 in safe and non-toxic water bottles and food storage containers.
Do you have other favorite alternatives to add to the comments?

Recycle your plastic now. You wont regret it.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/bpa-free-is-toxic-too.html#ixzz3TZQ0RGhI

How To Recognize the Plastics That Are

Hazardous To Your Health
http://io9.com/how-to-recognize-the-plastics-that-are-hazardous-to-you-461587850

By George Dvorsky and Joseph Bennington-Castro. The chemicals contained

in plastics can be quite harmful. But given that "plastic" can mean a wide variety of
substances, it's difficult to know which ones are bad for us. Heres everything you need
to know about plastic and an its impact on your health.
Manufacturers often add different chemicals to plastics to give them the exact
characteristics theyre looking for, like flexibility, strength, and reduced production cost.
These components can include phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDE) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) all of which alter hormone
expression in nonhuman animals and humans.
These chemicals are known as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), and each
affects different elements of hormone disruption (e.g. inducing estrogen-like activity,
thyroid hormone homeostasis disruption, anti-androgens, and so on). Also, some
chemicals are made ofmonomers, which have known mutation-inducing and cancercausing qualities. And yet other compounds contain toxic metals.
These chemicals can enter the human body in any number of ways and at dramatically
different levels. Many of them seep into the environment during the production process
or as waste. They enter our waterways and other areas where they eventually make
contact with humans.
Frustratingly, these sorts of interactions are (largely) beyond our control, so for the
purposes of this discussion were going to focus solely on the plastics that are used to
store and deliver food, drink, medicines, and anything else that can be directly and

consciously ingested (including plastic toys, because babies and infants like to suck on
them).
Thankfully, there is a classification system, called the Resin Identification Code, that
describes the type of plastic resin used to make a container or bottle. Most containers
and packages should have a number printed on it, a series ranging from one to seven.
In our analysis, weve included links to published studies showing the potential risks
associated with each plastic type. Where possible, weve made note of which studies
involve nonhuman animal test subjects, and when toxicity levels fall below dangerous
levels. You should interpret and use this information in a way that satisfies you.
Alright, heres what you need to know about the different types of plastics:
Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

These plastics are typically used to hold soft drinks, water, juice, sports drinks, beer,
mouthwash, ketchup, and salad dressing. Theyre also used as containers for peanut
butter, jelly, jam, and pickles. This type is also used in oven-friendly film and
microwavable food trays.
This plastic is considered to be safe, but there are some issues to be aware of.
The primary problem is that antimony, a metalloid element with toxic qualities,
leaches from PET. The rate of leakage increases with temperature. Normally, the

amount of antimony that seeps into liquid is well below the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agencys maximum contaminant level. But that assumes the container stays
at room temperature.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), antimony can cause acute and
chronic health issues, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach ulcers.
Studies indicate that storage of these bottles at extended periods of time, and at
increased temperatures, can result in unhealthy amounts of antimony. For example, a
bottle stored at 60 degrees C for 176 days will yield unhealthy levels (maximum
contaminant level (MCL) of 6 ppb), as would a bottle stored at 85 degrees C for just 1.3
days. These are very reasonable temperatures, and could typically be reached in warm
garages or cars in the summertime.
Three years ago, a study showed that microwaving can significantly increase the rate at
which antimony leaches into PET bottles. The authors recommended that plastic bottle
manufacturers wash bottles before first use to remove metal contaminants like
antimony.
And in 2012, a study indicated that, in addition to antimony, brominated compounds
can also leach into PET bottles. Bromine, a naturally occurring element that is a liquid at
room temperature, can irritate the skin, mucous membranes, and tissues. But its not
clear from the study if the concentrations of leaked bromine are at dangerous levels.

Plastic #2: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

This plastic is used to bottle milk, water, juice, cosmetics, shampoo, dish and laundry
detergents and, household cleaners. Bags for groceries and cereal box liners are also
made out of the stuff.
HDPE is considered a low hazard plastic.
But, as a 2011 study pointed out, most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals
including HDPE. Chemicals having estrogenic activity (EA) are suspected to cause
health problems, especially at low doses in fetal and juvenile mammals. EA exposure has
been shown to alter the structure of human cells, posing potential risks to infants and
children. As the authors pointed out, all commercially available plastic items would
leach detectable amounts of chemicals having EA once such items are exposed to boiling
water, sunlight (UV), and/or microwaving." [emphasis added]
Its worth noting that, as NPR pointed out, The study doesn't look at health risks. It
simply asks whether common plastic products release estrogen-like chemicals other
than BPA."

Plastic #3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

This versatile plastic can be rigid or flexible, and its commonly used in the production
of blister packs and clamshells (for storing pills, for example). Its used to make bags for
bedding, shrink wrap, deli and meat wrap, and tamper resistant lids.
And its the first of the bad ones.
A Swedish study from 2008 found that plasticized PVC which can be used to make
artificial leather, bath tub toys, inflatable bathing rings and table cloths and
polyurethane to make artificial leather, floor coating and children's handbags all
leach toxic chemicals into water. The study didnt assess the impacts of these chemicals
on humans, instead chronicling its impacts on the Daphnia magna flea and the length
of time it was rendered incapacitated.
That said, an investigation into two types of phthalates, which are used as a plastic
softener for PVC, has shown an association with asthma in children. Di(2-ethylhexyl)
Phthalate (DEHP) is used widely in consumer products, including plastics, vinyl
flooring, and personal care products. DEHP is a highly soluble compound that is loosely
chemically bonded to plastic and leaches into blood or other lipid-containing solutions
that come in contact with the plastic.
A separate study corroborates this research, stating that, Phthalates from polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) plastics may have adverse effects on airways and immunologic systems,

but noted that [t]he lack of objective exposure information limits the epidemiologic
data. Meaning that more work needs to be done testing humans.
And a study from last year showed a link between phthalates and female fertility in
mice.
You can read more about DEHP and how were exposed to it here. Its worth noting that
DEHP is among the first six compounds that the EU is phasing out under its
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization & Restriction of Chemical substances (REACH)
program.
Plastic #4: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

These plastics are found in bags for dry cleaning, newspapers, bread, frozen foods, fresh
produce, and household garbage.
Theyre used in shrink wrap, coatings for paper milk cartons and hot and cold beverage
cups.
LDPE is used to make container lids, toys, and squeezable bottles (like honey and
mustard).
LDPE is considered a low hazard plastic.

Plastic #5: Polypropylene (PP)

PP is used to make containers for yogurt, margarine, takeout meals, and deli foods.
Theyre also found in medicine bottles, bottle caps and closures, and bottles for ketchup
and syrup.
PP is considered a safe plastic.
Plastic #6: Polystyrene (PS)

Sometimes called Styrofoam, this is a plastic thats commonly found in food service
items like cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, hinged take out containers (clamshells), meat and
poultry trays, and rigid food containers (e.g. yogurt), and aspirin bottles. Polystyrene is
also used to make protective foam packaging for furniture.
This is another plastic youll want to avoid.
A fundamental problem is that styrene can leach from polystyrene. Styrene has been
linked to cancer, but the Environmental Protection Agency has not given it a formal
carcinogen classification. That said, the EPA admits theres an association to an
increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma (among other things). Other studies show
that styrene can act as a neurotoxin in the long term. Studies on animals report harmful
effects of styrene on red-blood cells, the liver, kidney, and stomach organs. That said,
most styrene concerns don't appear to come from polystyrene.
The NIHL lists styrene as a probable carcinogen, but says that the styrene leached from
polystyrene food containers are at "very low" levels. It also notes that styrene is known
to cause lung tumors in mice.
A 2007 study showed that, in Styrofoam and PS cups, hot water was found to be
contaminated with styrene and other aromatic compounds. Temperature was shown to
play a major role in the leaching of styrene. But whether or not styrene leaches into food
and water from polystyrene at dangerous levels is a claim thats still contested. But as
the 2007 study concludes, Considering the toxic characteristic of styrene and leaching
in water and other products, PS material should be avoided for food packaging."
You can also read the CDC's official statement on styrene here.

Plastic #7: Other

Last but certainly not least, we have the nastiest one of all, Plastic #7. Its a kind of
catch-all designation that describes packages made of a resin other than the six standard
types. Its also used to describe plastics made from any combination of the standard six
plus other resin types.
These plastics are used to make such things as three- and five-gallon reusable water
bottles, including some citrus juice and ketchup bottles. Its also used to make ovenbaking bags, barrier layers, and custom packaging.
Obviously, its difficult to pin down the health risks for such an unspecified category, but
the most significant issue with this class of plastics is the hormone-disrupting
chemical bisphenol A (BPA). Some bottles, including baby bottles, are made of
polycarbonate plastic, a polymer made with BPA. Just one week of polycarbonate plastic
use can increase urinary BPA concentration by two-thirds. And indeed, BPA is
ubiquitous; it may be present in as many as 95% of adults.
A quick summary of the health risks associated with BPA include reproductive
abnormalities like lower sperm counts, hormonal changes, enlarged prostate
glands, asthma, abnormalities in the number of chromosomes in eggs, and precancerous changes in the breast and prostate (at least in mice). Its also been linked
to obesity and insulin resistance.

There are also epigenetic factors to consider. BPA suppresses the expression of a gene
that's vital to nerve cell function and to the development of the central nervous system.
It may also predispose both animals and humans to neurodevelopmental disorders,
autism included.
Read the label!

So very quickly, you should avoid any plastic designated #7, #3, and #6. Plastics that are
safe, or at least relatively so, are #1, #2, #4, and #5. In terms of the specific plastics
themselves, the most hazardous are polyurethanes, PVC, and styrenic copolymers.
But as noted, all plastics contain a certain amount of nastiness, even if at levels deemed
safe by scientists. A good rule of thumb, therefore, would be to minimize the use of
plastics when storing and delivering food and drink. In its place, use glass, metal, wood,
or paper (like paper cups in place of Styrofoam).
Sources not cited: American Chemistry Council; "Components of plastic: experimental
studies in animals and relevance for human health"; "Environmental and health hazard
ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition."
Image: Monticello/Shutterstock.

Chemicals in Plastics

Plastic is everywhereit's used in consumer products and packaging of all kinds. And while it solves a lot of
problems for manufacturers and can seem convenient to consumers, there are also serious risks to human
health and the environment from its widespread use.

Three plastics have been shown to leach toxic chemicals when heated, worn or put under pressure:
polycarbonate, which leaches bisphenol A; polystyrene, which leaches styrene; and PVC, or polyvinyl
chloride, which break down into vinyl chloride and sometimes contains phthalates that can leach.
And for more specific information about these and other chemicals found in plastics, including what they do and
why they're bad for you, look below.

Bisphenol A (BPA)
Even though plastic is everywhere, there's a lot you can do to reduce your use of the most toxic
plastics.
Tips for protecting your family from plastics >

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most pervasive chemicals in modern life. It's a building block of polycarbonate
(#7 is often polycarbonate) plastic and is used in thousands of consumer products, including food packaging.
BPA exposure may disrupt normal breast development in ways that predispose women for later life breast
cancer.

Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in PVC or #3 plastic. Phthalate exposure has
been linked toearly puberty in girls, a risk factor for later-life breast cancer. Some phthalates also act as
weakestrogens in cell culture systems.

Vinyl Chloride
Vinyl chloride is formed in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or #3 plastic. It was one of the first
chemicals designated as a known human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It has also been linked to increased mortality from breast
cancer among workers involved in its manufacture.

Dioxin
Dioxin is formed in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or #3 plastic. Dioxin has been classified by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a
known human carcinogen, and is also an endocrine disruptor.

Styrene
Styrene can leach from polystyrene or #6 plastic and is found in Styrofoam food trays, egg cartons, disposable
cups and bowls, carryout containers and opaque plastic cutlery. It has been classified by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a possible human carcinogen.
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http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/environmental-breast-cancer-links/plastics/

Disposal of Plastic: What Happens if We Burn or Bury It?

When plastics are used, recycled, or disposed of, or left in the environment as litter,
they break down and release harmful chemicals. These pollutants include heavy metals
such as cadmium and lead, and chemicals such as benzene, dioxins, and other pollutants, which
all release harmful toxins into our air, water, and bodies.
Right now, most plastic is being wastedsent to landfills or, more likely, incinerators.

Burning plastic in incinerators releases toxic heavy metals and chemicals. Incinerators produce a
variety of toxic discharges to the air, water, and ground that are significant sources of powerful
pollutants, including dioxin and other chlorinated organic compounds that are well known for
their toxic effects on human health and the environment.
Many of these toxins enter the food supply and become more concentrated as they move up
through the food chain. In addition to air and water emissions, incinerators create toxic ashor
slagwhich contains heavy metals, dioxins, and other pollutants. This toxic ash must be
landfilled, and the pollutants present in the ash can then leach into groundwater.
In fact, garbage incinerators and medical waste incinerators are two of the largest sources of
dioxin identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dioxin is the common name for a
class of 75 chemicals. It is a toxic waste product formed when waste containing chlorine is
burned or when products containing chlorine are manufactured. Dioxins are among the most
potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, causing cancer and harming our immune and
reproductive systems even at very low concentrations.
In landfills, leachate is produced when water picks up toxins as it seeps through the trash. This
trash includes plastics of all types, even older plastics that have been proven to be toxic but are
still in our landfills. Although landfills attempt to collect this toxic leachate, it also leaks into
ground and surface water, releasing pollutants into the environment and causing health risks for
humans and wildlife.

Resources to learn more and take action:

GAIA, a worldwide alliance whose vision is a just, toxic-free world without incineration,
has information on their website about the impacts of incineration.

Download a fact sheet on the hazards of dioxin (PDF) from The Center for Health,
Environment & Justice.

Learn more about dioxin in food (PDF) and what you can do about it.

After 27 years of delay, the EPA released its Health Report on Dioxin(February 2012),
linking dioxin to serious health problems.

Reduce the amount of plastic you use and recycle all the plastic you can.

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Recycling Plastics May Be Better than Wasting, but Can Be Toxic, Too
It can be frustrating, time-consuming, and overwhelming to deal with so many throwaway plastic
products and packaging. It doesnt seem like a good idea to toss them in the garbage (after
all, burning or burying plastics has toxic effects on our environment and our health), but is
recycling the right thing to do? What happens to plastic once it is collected?

In the short term, recycling can be better than burning or burying plastics, and it can replace the
use of virgin petroleum in making new products. However, even the plastics recycling process is
not without harmful effects on human and environmental health. That's whyredesigning plastic
packaging and products and reducing our use of plastics are the best options for our health and
for the environment.
Plastic is melted during the recycling process, which causes it to break down and release the
chemicals used to make it. Recycling plastic is associated with skin and respiratory problems
resulting from exposure to and inhalation of toxic fumes, especially hydrocarbons and residues
released during the recycling processthis is true of some types, like PVC, more than others.
Heating and reheating plastic also degrades it, which is why plastic collected for recycling is so

often downcycled. Plastic bottles, for example, are made into carpet, fleece, plastic lumber, and
other products that cannot be recycled again. This also does little to reduce the use of virgin
petroleum to make new bottles.
We cannot escape toxins that are released when recycling takes place here, or even overseas,
since toxins don't stay local. Once emitted into the environment, dioxins, for example, can travel
vast distances via air and ocean currents, which makes them a global contaminant.
When the plastic we collect for recycling in the U.S. is shipped overseas to China, India, and
other countries (and much of it is), the work standards for people and emission standards are
not always the same as in the United States. More importantly, it is extremely difficult to obtain
documentation of how the material is handled in order to find out what is happening to it. The
recycling industrys experience with overseas shipping of other materials, like electronics, tells us
the importance of understanding what happens to materials.
Now, because of concern about health and environmental impacts, some countries are starting to
put real limits on how much of our plastics they will take, making it more difficult for recycling
programs collecting all plastics to find a market for their material.
Specifically, in 2013, China began to heavily regulate the importing of scrap material (like
paper, aluminum, and plastic) from other countries for environmental reasons. China no longer
accepts mixed plastic materials from all-plastics programs (though a few other countries still
do). Chinas new policy, known as Operation Green Fence, created a temporary upset in recycling
markets as thousands of scrap containers were rejected at Chinas ports for having excessive
contaminationsome of these containers carried as much as 40% non-recyclable plastics and
other trash mixed in with the recycling. Over the past year, these changes have inspired
improvements in the recycling industry in the U.S.many recycling facilities have made major
investments in quality control, and new plastics markets are developing in the U.S.
Some people believe that educating residents about the realities of plastic recycling is too
complicated. While tighter quality control standards at recycling facilities and end markets are an
improvement, it is even more important to provide people with good recycling education. Just as
it is wasteful to ship materials overseas only to have them thrown away after they arrive, it is
also wasteful to collect materials in a recycling truck and then throw them away when they reach
the recycling facility.
Eureka Recycling believes that people like you want to know what materials are really
made into new products after you carefully place them in your recycling bin. By taking
the time to understand what plastics are really recyclable, you can help your communitys
recycling program be a success, take action to change your purchasing habits, and even push
back on producersasking them to change the plastics that they use in their products and
packaging.
The only reasons Eureka Recycling recycles anything is to protect the environment and our
health, while improving our quality of life. When Eureka Recycling collects plastics, or any other
material, you can be confident that we know where and how it is recycled.

Resources to learn more and take action:

Watch the groundbreaking documentary Exporting Harm, which reveals that huge
quantities of hazardous electronic wastes (E-wastes) are being exported to China,
Pakistan, and India, where they are processed in operations that are extremely harmful
to human health and the environment. The Basel Action Network, a nonprofit based in
Seattle, Washington, helped to create this documentary. They are the worlds only
organization focused on confronting the global environmental injustice and economic
inefficiency of toxic trade (toxic wastes, products, and technologies) and its devastating
impacts.

Learn about what plastics can really be recycled through your community's recycling
program. (Click here if your community works with Eureka Recycling). Work on reducing
your use of non-recyclable plastics, and avoid single-use plastic products whenever you
can.

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Health Implications: The Plastic We Use Can Harm Us

http://www.eurekarecycling.org/page.cfm?ContentID=126

The things that make plastic so attractive to manufacturers and

consumers are the same things that make it so harmful to our health and the environment.
You can make plastic in any size, shape, texture, and color. It can be flexible or hard. It can be
light (like foam) or heavy. You can even give it a scent. Why? Everything made of plastic starts
with a resin (or two, or many) made from petroleum that is combined with any number of
chemicals that are relatively untested for safety, such as plasticizers, lubricants, pigments, and
stabilizers, to give each item its unique characteristics.
Think about the thousands upon thousands of plastic itemsbottles, toys, to-go containers,
Frisbees, medical supplies, car bumpers, foam, and moreall with a unique recipe. And all this
plastic has been created faster than we are able to learn about how it affects our environment
and bodies.
Over 82,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for use in commerce. The vast majority of these
chemicals are untested.

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates industrial chemicals in the U.S., the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required safety testing on only 200 of these
chemicals. Of those, only fiveincluding asbestos and dioxinhave been banned from
manufacturing.
This does not mean that other chemicals or other plastics are entirely safe; they just havent
been studied. To compound matters, current testing typically involves one chemical at a time,
but many problems occur only when different chemicals interact in the manufacturing process,
the product, or our bodies.
In 2011, the Safe Chemicals Act was introduced in Congress to overhaul this
legislation. Minnesota has passed legislation to remove some toxic chemicals from products;
banning Bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles and sippy cups is one example.
BPA and phthalates are just two substances that have attracted a lot of attention because of
their now-known harmful effects.
BPA is a common synthetic chemical found in plasticsfood and beverage can linings and other
consumer productsthat interferes with human hormones. We know that phthalates, a class of
chemicals used to soften plastics and to carry fragrance in many everyday products, have been
linked to birth defects and are harmful to the reproductive system.
Some chemicals, like BPA and phthalates, can leach into food and drinks to possibly affect
human health. Polycarbonate, PVC, and styrene have also been shown to leach toxic chemicals.
Leaching increases when plastic comes in contact with oily or fatty foods, when the plastics are
heated, and when plastics get old or scratched.
Here are some simple steps you can take today to protect you and your family.

Resources to learn more and take action:

Read the Smart Plastics Guide from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

Go to HealthyStuff.org for a searchable online database of toxic chemicals in everyday

products.

Buy less plastic. The My Plastic-Free Life blog has a list of plastic-free and less-plastic
alternatives and tips about storing produce without plastic.

Get involved. Learn more about the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign.

Visit the Ecology Center website for information about the Problems with Plastics,
including their factsheet with ways to eliminate plastic from your life.

Read Plastic: A Toxic Love Story by Susan Freinkel (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York,
N.Y., 2011). http://www.susanfreinkel.com/

If you want to go even deeper into these issues, check out the list of plastics resources
on Mindfully.org.

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Efforts to Phase out PVC, The Poison Plastic

PVC (#3) or polyvinyl chloride plastic, commonly referred to as vinyl, gets its
name the poison plastic because its lifecycle is toxic from start to finish. It is one of the most
hazardous consumer products ever created.
PVC is chlorine-based, so when it is manufactured or burned it generates dioxin, a known human
carcinogen. It also contains many toxic additives such as phthalates, lead, and cadmium, which
leach out during use.
PVC is used to make products from bottles to shower curtains to childrens toys. The production,
use, and disposal of vinyl have been linked to several health concerns, including reproductive
abnormalities, damage to the immune and neurological systems, hormone disruption, infertility,
and cancer.

Resources to learn more and take action:

Avoid buying all products or packaging made of PVC. Look for the #3 on the bottom
or for the letter V inside or underneath the universal recycling symbol. This means that
the product is made of PVC. Soft, flexible plastic products that are made with PVC often
have a distinct odor.

Watch Blue Vinyl, a humorous and hopeful documentary that explores the question Is it
possible to make products that never hurt anyone at any point of their life cyclewhen
manufactured, when used, or when disposed of? Filmmaker Judith Helfand attempts to
convince her parents to remove the vinyl siding from their house if she can find a safe
and affordable alternative. She travels to Americas vinyl manufacturing capital and
beyond in search of answers about the nature of PVC. This website also has
adownloadable fact sheet about PVC.

Visit The Center for Health, Environment & Justice website for The PVC-Free Guide for
Your Family & Home and the PVC-Free School Supplies Guide.

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The Real Answer Is in Redesigning Plastic Products

We currently face a real dilemma with plastics. We know that burning plastics in our local
incinerator has serious impacts on our community, our health, and our environment. However, if
we collect this material and send it overseas for recycling without knowing what happens to it,
we are likely to create serious problems for another community and our environment. Even
recycling plastics in local, well-regulated markets has limitations, as most plastic is downcycled into non-recyclable products. What should we do with this tidal-wave of plastic products?
We need to go back to the drawing board, literally, and work with manufacturers to redesign
plastic products. We have the technology and intelligence to create useful, durable, non-toxic,
recyclable plastic products.
Producers also need to share in the responsibility of dealing with their products at the end of
their useful life. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) shifts responsibility for recycling or other
safe disposal of products and packaging to those who design, market and profit from them. With
this approach, this ever-changing and growing tidal wave of stuff doesn't so unfairly burden
residents and communities. Eureka Recycling is a member of the Cradle2 Coalition, a national
alliance of public interest organizations working to make products and packaging more
sustainable.

Resources to learn more and take action:

Learn more about Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) from the Product Policy
Institute.

The Surfrider Foundation has a program called Rise Above Plastics that works to reduce
the impacts of plastics on the marine environment by raising awareness about the
dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and
the recycling of all plastics.

The Container Recycling Institute has a lot of statistics on plastics and other bottles, as
well as some solutions being leveraged through beverage container deposits.