, also called BPA, a now known endocrine disruptor, extensively used since the 50s as a plasticizer (to make products more flexible) in many household products. In the US it was finally banned in baby bottles and children’s drinking cups, and in the coatings of packaging for infant formula, in 2012, following a very similar 2011 BPA-ban in Europe.
Scientific research had shown its negative health effects, including cancer.
Public outcry followed, targeting plastic bottles, cups and food containers. Companies wanted to be seen as limiting the damage, and all jumped onto the BPA-free bandwagon that you now see advertised today.
When looking to buy our reusable water bottle, there was not one reputable company that didn’t proudly stated the fact that their product was BPA-free. But we soon realised we had to look further than that.
Unfortunately, it’s not nearly this simple.
It is not that all companies have to do is take BPA out of their products, and we can go on happily ever after. BPA has simply been replaced with other chemicals, many of which we don’t know what they do. In fact, some we don’t even have knowledge of what material they are exactly.
Companies are not obliged to state what their products are made of, and finding the information yourself can be almost impossible. So instead, most of us resort to believing the vague company statements that guarantee health safety and environmental considerations.
Many replacement chemicals have already been recognised as endocrine disruptors, and there are also thousands of chemicals in the plastics used in our daily life that haven’t been researched properly.
Furthermore, only France has actually banned BPA from all food and drinks packaging, but it almost got them taken to court for it by the European Union. In the EU laws came out in 2018 to limit the amount of BPA in food packaging, especially the packaging of all food and drinks targeting babies and young children.
Even with BPA being under public scrutiny, its use is still widespread all over the world.
Are we overreacting to endocrine disruptors?
If you are still reading this thinking we are just trying to vilify plastics, and that legislators have things covered, maybe it’s worth looking at a couple of examples where this apparent lack of control resulted in hazardous materials being widely used for decades without further consideration.
Asbestos is clear example of a (building) material that was widely used until extensive research demonstrated its dangers to our health.
Maybe you have come across workers in white overalls stripping down asbestos of yet another fifties building block, suited up as if a nuclear disaster has struck. Its dangers are common knowledge now, but before it was banned in the nineties, asbestos had been used for decades, all whilst many scientists raised alarms about its dangerous effects to our health.
Mineral wool, an insulator in many people’s houses, started to become of interest to the scientific field concerning its effect on the human health. Nowadays, lung doctors in Europe call for action, worried about the link between the inhalation of the small glass fibers particles, to lung cancer among builders.
But still not all scientific research points in the same direction.
The USA is much more strict about its use than other countries. In Europe every country takes a different stand, even though Germany listed mineral wool used before 1996 as cancerous, being as hazardous as asbestos. And so the material is still extensively used in the construction industry.
Similarly, the concerns around the effects of BPA to our health existed from early on. But it took decades for BPA to be classified as hazardous, and all along there was a lot of resistance from the plastic industry.
This clearly shows that even when a material is not registered as toxic or dangerous to our health, it doesn’t mean the material is safe. And that even when there are concerns linked to its use, it takes many years for anything to be done about it at all.
BPA is out, which other plastics are there?
Of course, not all plastic can be treated the same. There are many different varieties, with different chemicals involved and varying toxicity levels. Plastics are classified into seven different types, being given a number from one to seven, called the resin identification code.
Number #1 to #6 identify a package/item as made from a specific plastic, whilst number #7 is more of a “everything else” category. First initiated to facilitate recycling, the code became a globally accepted standard to differentiate plastics.
#1, PET, one of the most commonly used, is found in most single use bottles and packaging.
#2, HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) makes up most milk jugs, detergent bottles and toys.
#3, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is soft and flexible and used for some food wraps, bottles and, most commonly known, our plumbing pipes.
#4 LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) can be found in our grocery bags, squeezable bottles and bread bags.
#5 Polypropylene, or PP, is commonly used for disposable diapers, potato chip bags, straws and microwave containers.
#6 PS (Polystyrene) is found in disposable drinking cups, take-out food containers, plastic cutlery and those stupid packaging foam peanuts. Many foam insulation boards are also made of this.
#7 The everything else category. Polycarbonate are amongst them and also BPA, but it comprises many other materials. Bioplastics, made from, for example, corn starch, also falls into this category. #7 classified plastics are used for baby bottles, plastic food containers and water bottles. And since category #7 is a catch number for all uncategorised plastics, there is no standard approach.
So, which plastics should you avoid?
Avoid the direct contact of #1, #3 and #6 plastics with food and drinks, as they can leach chemicals. PVC (number #3) contains phthalates, a known endocrine disruptor, and polystyrene (#6) being structurally very weak may leach styrene, another EDC, especially when heated.
The number #1 PET plastics are generally more safe, but cause harm when exposed to heat (when, for example, leaving your bottle in the car during a sunny day), leaching endocrine disruptors into your liquids. Exposure to heat is absolutely not advised for all three.
Category #2, #4 and #5 plastics are currently considered mostly safe. Being more stable plastics, they are safer to use around food and drinks. #2 doesn’t break when moderately exposed to UV-light and heat or cold, and #5 is more ‘microwave-safe’, because it is heat and cold resistant. Still, research has shown that all three types of plastics can still leach plastic components and chemicals in your food or drinks, mainly when stressed (in, for example, a microwave), or when, for example, being exposed to UV-light.
#7 is a more of an ‘at your own risk’ kind of category. We cannot be of more help here (sorry), because encompassing so many plastics in one, including the highly toxic BPA, it is difficult to know what is really in your product.
Generally speaking it would be more advisable to avoid category #7 plastics in your food and drinks, except for when the manufacturer can clearly state which specific chemicals they use, and that they are safe.
Basically, all plastics are generally harmful to a degree when in contact with out food and drinks.
Arming ourselves with knowledge about the products we buy, and making more conscious decisions of what we may inadvertently consume, is an important step forward. But when it comes to plastic and endocrine disruptors, uncertainty is a given.
Current codes and regulation in most countries, do not guarantee that the plastic you are exposed to are toxic-free and safe (and they definitely don’t guarantee they can be recycled). Remember, most manufacturers don’t even have to disclose the chemicals they use.
The bottom line is that most plastics contain chemicals and, whether we like it or not, these chemicals can be toxic. More research is needed, but why would you risk it?
 That would be a bit overly dramatic and incredibly wasteful. But do try to quit single-use plastics all together (specially surrounding food and beverages), and slowly consider switching out other plastic items in your home when their life-span has come to an end.
It may be difficult to live plastic free, but there are definitely alternatives to our food and drink packaging, preparation and storing mechanisms. Products used by our ancestors are being re-popularised, and new alternatives are appearing every day.
Aluminium (beware not to buy an aluminium bottle with plastic inner coating, which likely will contain BPA) and stainless steel for your bottles and storage containers, glass being perfect for the microwave, and even bamboo, can all be great replacements.
With small changes you can begin your journey into plastic-free living. Much healthier for both your body and the planet, this is the way forward.
All the photos were taken in Sagye beach, Jeju island (South Korea).During the last week I have been testing Verbs chat app for iPhone. I am a heavy user of chat on my laptop but not so often on my iPhone (mainly due to battery drain issues with chat programs). But Verbs was worth trying.
Let's start from the beginning. Setting up Verbs is very easy. You can select from the available account types: Google Talk, AIM, MobileMe and Facebook. Verbs does not support yet MSN or Yahoo, but it might come in the future.
Once you have set up your accounts, you will get into the Accounts screen. From here you can check your online contacts