Some scary implications to consider. As if we needed another reason to reduce oil consumption...

http://www.iatp.org/

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Smart Plastics Guide Healthier Food Uses of Plastics

Plastics are widely used to store and package foods and beverages. Uses include disposable and reusable containers, plastic wraps, cutlery,
water bottles and baby bottles. Plastic is convenient, lightweight, unbreakable and relatively inexpensive. However, there are both environmental and health risks from the widespread use of plastics.

Environmental problems: Most plastics are made from petroleum, a non-renewable and mostly imported resource. Plastic packaging also creates unnecessary waste. Although plastic is lightweight, it is bulky, so it takes up a large volume of landfill space.

Health risks: Use of plastics in cooking and food storage can carry health risks, especially when hormone-disrupting chemicals from some plastics leach into foods and beverages.
Plastic manufacturing and incineration creates air and water pollution and exposes workers to toxic chemicals.

PVC: The toxic plastic
Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to both the environment and human health. PVC is also the least recyclable plastic. Vinyl chloride workers face elevated risk of liver cancer. Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods. PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it useable. For example, lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure. Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal or from incineration of PVC products settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products and ultimately in human tissue. Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and disruption of hormones in the body.

Health concerns with food use of plasticsA myriad of petroleum-based chemicals go into the manufacture
of plastics. Some 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.Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen, can leach from polycarbonate plastic.3 Human exposure to BPA is widespread. A Centers for Disease Control study detected
BPA in the urine of 95 percent of adults sampled.4 Scientists have measured BPA in the blood of pregnant women, in umbilical cord blood and in the placenta, all at levels demonstrated in animals to alter development.5,6Hormones stimulate certain cancers. Bisphenol A has been found to stimulate prostate cancer cells7 and causes breast tissue changes in mice that resemble early stages of breast cancer in both mice and humans.8,9 One study found an association between ovarian dysfunction and higher levels of BPA in urine.10Early-life exposure to BPA can also cause genetic damage. Researchers found that BPA causes chromosomal errors at low levels of exposure in mice, which can lead to spontaneous
miscarriages and birth defects.11 As for human data, one study found that women with a history of recurrent miscarriages
had over threefold higher levels of BPA in their blood compared to women without a miscarriage history.12Of 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. Adverse effects include:13
• Early onset of puberty, and stimulation of mammary gland development in females
• Changes in gender-specific behavior
• Changes in hormones, including decreased testosterone• Increased prostate size
• Decreased sperm production
• Altered immune function
• Behavioral effects including hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning and other changes in behavior

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 is linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. It is also a possible human
carcinogen, affecting the liver.

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.

Tips for safer, more sustainable food use of plastics.
1. Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave. Since chemicals are released from plastic when heated, it’s safest not to microwave food and drinks in plastic containers. Instead use glass or ceramic containers free of metallic paint. If you do microwave in plastic, use only plastic labeled “microwave safe.” Note that “microwave safe” does not mean that there is no leaching of chemicals. Avoid using for fatty foods, as there is greater leaching
of chemicals into fatty foods.
2. Beware of cling wraps especially for microwave use. Instead use waxed paper or paper towel for covering foods. If you do use plastic, don’t let the plastic touch the food. For plastic-wrapped deli foods, slice off a thin layer where the food came in contact with the plastic and re-wrap in non-PVC plastic wrap or place in a container.
3. Use alternatives to plastic packaging whenever possible. Use refillable containers at your local food cooperative.
Bring you own take-home containers to restaurants.

4. Avoid plastic bottled water unless you’re traveling 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. If you’re worried about tap water quality, consider
installing a home water filter or use an inexpensive filter pitcher. Reduce or eliminate use of plastic bottles to avoid landfill waste and exposure to chemicals that leach from the plastic. You can also look for new biodegradable bio-based plastic water bottles.
5. If you do use plastic water bottles, take precautions. If you use a polycarbonate water bottle, to reduce leaching of BPA, do not use for warm or hot liquids and discard old or scratched bottles. Water bottles from #1 or #2 plastics are recommended for single use only. For all types of plastic, you can reduce bacterial contamination by thoroughly washing daily. However, avoid using harsh detergents that can break down the plastic and increase chemical leaching. Bring reusable bags or cardboard boxes to the grocery store.

Green chemistry: Bio-based plasticsThe emergence of the bio-based plastic industry holds great potential to eliminate many of the current concerns about petroleum-based plastic production, use and disposal. Although bio-plastics may not meet all product specifications, they are now used in food and beverage containers. For example, Natureworks manufactures polylactic acid, or PLA, a corn-based plastic used in a variety of products from containers to bottles to cutlery.18 EarthShell produces foam laminate made from potatoes, corn, rice or tapioca, which is used for food wraps, plates, bowls and takeout containers.19 These products are biodegradable in municipal composting facilities.

Baby bottlesUse alternatives to polycarbonate plastic baby bottles and “sippy” cups. Knowing what we do about BPA leaching and the real risks to children’s health, you might be surprised to learn that most plastic baby bottles and many “training” or “sippy” cups are made of polycarbonate. Fortunately there are alternatives, including baby bottles made of glass, polyethylene or polypropylene. Those made of pliable, milky-colored plastic contain no polycarbonates. Usually baby bottles are not labeled, so if you have questions about the type of plastic used, call the company’s toll-free number listed on the package.Minimize leaching of BPA from polycarbonate baby bottles. If you can’t avoid use of polycarbonates—for example, if it’s the only bottle your baby will take—then just follow these tips:
• Discard old, scratched polycarbonate baby bottles and “sippy” cups. Plastic that shows signs of wear—such as scratches or a cloudy, crackled appearance—more readily leaches chemicals.20 Scratches can also harbor bacteria.

What else can I do?By choosing safer plastics and limiting plastic waste, you can support a healthier, cleaner environment and protect your child from unnecessary chemical exposures. You can also support companies and public policies that promote safer use of plastics. For example:
• Contact baby bottle manufacturers and urge them to replace polycarbonate in baby bottles with safer alternatives
• Avoid buying products made of PVC, used in plastic containers (#3), building materials, toys and other consumer products
• Buy bio-based plastic alternatives if available
• Heat foods and drinks outside of the plastic and then transfer into the plastic only after they are cool enough to eat or drink.

When you think about how much plastic is everywhere it's scary to think about how every day you probably ingest a small amount of toxins from the stuff leeching out.

I knew I always hated bottled water in plastic containers for some reason.

Mother Nature needs to go ahead and get rid of us already.

*shrugs* Small amounts of toxins just build up my immune system.

I don't worry about things I can't control.

Why does that site seem like it's full of people who both oppose animal testing and cite it when it's anti-industry?

Anyway, interesting post. I have long wondered about the chemicals released by microwaving food contianers. I think the artcile is extremely biased, but that doesn't mean it's wrong.

Are there naturally occuring sources of BPA?

plasticphobia

Fixed

You can control the products you buy and use.

thats why i only drink from water soaked sponges

That's the point. No, I can't. I don't know what has been touched by what before I bought it. And I'm not going to waste my mental energy worrying about it. If it's going to kill me and a couple million other people, fuck it, I'll take my chances.

I think we're over-worrying about this.
Everything can kill you. Everything. Ok?

Not crack though, right?

If you eat 21 pounds of crack, you will die.

Phew. Glad I stopped at 20

i'd like to see some primary source support of this, some scientific papers.

good thread though. i hate seeing the over-use of plastics everywhere. like when i'm filling up the cigarettes at work. each packet is in cardboard, wrapped in plastic, in a cardboard carton, which is wrapped in plastic again. lollies have even more. it's ridiculous. the actual cost of the energy it takes to produce all these plastics should be built into the price more.
don't even get me started on plastic shopping bags...

This is so 1965.

There are things you can control. You can just as easily buy non-plastic products. Pyrex or glass containers. Bring your own shopping bags instead of using the stores plastic ones. Buy 2 half gallons of milk in the cardbard container instead of the gallon one in plastic. Et Cetera. You're not only doing yourself a favor, but the environment as well.

Check out this PDF which I got most of the text from:

http://www.environmentalobservatory.org ... efid=77083

At the bottom, you will see all the sources the paper cites, including sources from the EPA, the institute of medicine, government agencies, several books, papers and other publications, etc.

Bottled water tastes like shit.