Enviromental Toxins - Understanding Your Plastics

Environmental toxins

are substances which can harm our health by disrupting our biological systems in our bodies.

Toxins are sometimes hard for us to avoid in our everyday lives. With advancing technology in manufacturing, farming, medicine and science there are thousands of new chemicals being developed each year with unknown effects on our body.

There are many health issues which are thought to be directly related to toxins these include infertility, autoimmune diseases, brain disturbances, endocrine disorders, fatigue and cancers to name a few.

I could write pages and pages on environmental toxins but today I will just stick with one toxin - PLASTICS!

Everywhere we look there is plastic, our toothbrush, our personal care products are in plastics, we wrap our sandwiches in plastic.

Not all plastics are created equally, so lets take a quick look at who's who of plastics.

Number 1: PETE or PET

Polyethylene terephthalate is often considered "safe" however it may leach plasticisers and other chemicals. PETE is used polyester fibers (Polar Fleece), stapping, water and soft drink plastic bottles, jars and cleaning bottles.

Number 2: HDPE or PE-HD

High Density Polyethylene is often used in bottles, yogurt containers, grocery bags, milk jugs, recycling bins, agricultural pipes and playground equipment. It is not known to leach chemicals that disrupt hormones or cause cancer.

Number 3: PVC or V

Polyvinyl alcohol may release toxic breakdown products such as phthalates into foods and drinks. It is often found in bottles for shampoo, cooking oils, condiments, cleaners, detergents, teething rings, toys, food packaging, medical equipment and plumbing pipes.

Number 4: LDPE or PE-LD

Low Density Polyethylene is not considered a 'bad' plastic but its manufacture involved potentially toxic chemicals including butane, benzene and vinyl acetate. LDPE is often used in plastic bags, various containers, dispensing bottles, tubing, and various molded laboratory equipment. Even though this plastic is considered safe it is not very environmentally friendly.

Number 5: PP Polypropylene is used in auto parts, industrial fibers, food containers, and dishware. It is considered the safest of plastics as it is robust and heat resistant. So it is unlikely to leach when exposed to heat or hot water. It can also be reused with hot beverages.

Number 6: PS Polystyrene is used in desk accessories, plastic utensils, toys and insulation board. Polystyrene is not only toxic to our bodies but also to our enviroment, its thought to take 500 years to break down.

Number 7: O Other are all the other plastics that do not fit into categories 1 to 6. So some are safe and others are not. This class includes arcylics, nylon, polycarboate, andpolylactic acid and more. These are used in baby bottles, large water bottles, sunglasses, signs, food containers and clothing. Some of these contain Bisphenol A (BPA).

If your not ready to ditch plastic completely, then avoid the numbers 3, 6 and 7 as these are considered to be toxic to our bodies. If you are using number 1 and 2, they are only deemed safe for single use as they may leach when exposed to UV, heat and over time. Don't leave them in the sun or use them for hot liquid.

Stay tuned for more health and wellness advice from your Holistic Pharmacist. References available on request.

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