There are many types of plastics - each made a slightly different way to have different useful properties. For example, plastic #3, or Polyvinyl Chloride, is made to be a softer, flimsier plastic and is used in shower curtains and for waterproofing purposes. Plastic #2 (High density polyethylene), on the other hand, is made to be strong and sturdy for plastic containers.
Some types of plastic have shown evidence of leaching harmful chemicals into the air and the products they handle. So, it is important to know what type of plastic you are dealing with when using an item. The way to know is to look for the recycling triangle and the number that is listed with that symbol.
#1: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Toxic? Unsure. Scientific research is sparse but hints that there might be a chance of toxicity with this type of plastic (leaching antimony into water). The majority of evidence shows no toxicity with PET plastic, however.
Commonly found in: Ziploc products, soda bottles, most food containers
#2: High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Toxicity? Low. Not shown to leech any endocrine disrupting or cancer causing chemicals.
Commonly found in: storage containers
#3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or (V)
Toxicity? High. To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add “plasticizers” during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen. Vinyl is PVC.
Commonly found in: shower curtains, plastic food wraps, shoes, binders, colored paper clips, construction siding, pipes, electronics, lunchboxes, credit cards, flooring, rain gear, and much more
#4: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Toxicity? Low. Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.
Commonly found in: films, wraps, bottles, disposable gloves and garbage bags
#5: Polypropylene (PP)
Toxicity? Low. Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.
Commonly found in: car trim, battery cases, bottles, tubes, filaments and bags, Tupperware
#6: Polystyrene (PS)
Toxicity? High. Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling. When this type of plastic is heated and air is blown through it, it forms Styrofoam.
Commonly found in: Styrofoam, disposable cutlery, packing peanuts
#7: Other (often PC, polycarbonate)
Toxicity? High. PC is made with bisphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. It is a hormone disruptor; encourages and stimulates estrogen production when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.
Commonly found in: reusable plastic water bottles
Here’s the deal. Some plastics that have not yet been proven to be harmful to our health, still might be in the future. What is known now, is that all plastics pollute the Earth, especially if they don’t make it to a recycling center to be reused. So, it is important to reduce our purchasing and use of all plastics so that they don’t end up sitting in a landfill - or in the ecosystem - waiting for centuries to break down.
References:
Some types of plastic have shown evidence of leaching harmful chemicals into the air and the products they handle. So, it is important to know what type of plastic you are dealing with when using an item. The way to know is to look for the recycling triangle and the number that is listed with that symbol.
#1: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Toxic? Unsure. Scientific research is sparse but hints that there might be a chance of toxicity with this type of plastic (leaching antimony into water). The majority of evidence shows no toxicity with PET plastic, however.
Commonly found in: Ziploc products, soda bottles, most food containers
#2: High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Toxicity? Low. Not shown to leech any endocrine disrupting or cancer causing chemicals.
Commonly found in: storage containers
#3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or (V)
Toxicity? High. To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add “plasticizers” during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen. Vinyl is PVC.
Commonly found in: shower curtains, plastic food wraps, shoes, binders, colored paper clips, construction siding, pipes, electronics, lunchboxes, credit cards, flooring, rain gear, and much more
#4: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Toxicity? Low. Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.
Commonly found in: films, wraps, bottles, disposable gloves and garbage bags
#5: Polypropylene (PP)
Toxicity? Low. Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.
Commonly found in: car trim, battery cases, bottles, tubes, filaments and bags, Tupperware
#6: Polystyrene (PS)
Toxicity? High. Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling. When this type of plastic is heated and air is blown through it, it forms Styrofoam.
Commonly found in: Styrofoam, disposable cutlery, packing peanuts
#7: Other (often PC, polycarbonate)
Toxicity? High. PC is made with bisphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. It is a hormone disruptor; encourages and stimulates estrogen production when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.
Commonly found in: reusable plastic water bottles
Here’s the deal. Some plastics that have not yet been proven to be harmful to our health, still might be in the future. What is known now, is that all plastics pollute the Earth, especially if they don’t make it to a recycling center to be reused. So, it is important to reduce our purchasing and use of all plastics so that they don’t end up sitting in a landfill - or in the ecosystem - waiting for centuries to break down.
References:
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