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Mixed Greens 009: Plastic, plastic everywhere
Plastics are in the news, and you want answers! This week we field some of your questions relating to bisphenol A and other plasticky problems.
Mixed Greens is EWG's environmental health podcast. You can subscribe in iTunes or in a reader, or listen right here in your browser. Check out previous episodes for more Mixed Greens goodness!
Miss something? Check out the transcript after the jump.
Hello, and welcome to Mixed Greens, your Environmental Health Update from EWG. I'm your host Amanda, and today is Tuesday, May 6th, 2008.
As I'm sure you're all aware, bisphenol A has been in the news a lot this past week -- and that means we've gotten tons of questions about plastic. You want to know which kinds of plastic to look out for and which are safe, and exactly how much you're supposed to panic. We're going to do things a little differently today by tackling some of those questions. You'll be able to find a transcript of today's show, with some relevant links, at enviroblog.org/mixedgreens.
Danielle wants to know whether BPA is known to leach into dry goods, such as flour and sugar. It's possible that BPA could leach into dry-food storage containers, especially if those containers reach high temperatures. But focus on higher-level exposures first, by eliminating canned food and polycarbonate containers for wet food. After that, you may want to consider switching to BPA-free storage containers.
Crystal writes, "I have seen plastic sippy cups that say they are BPA Free, they are hard plastic and have a 7 on the bottom. Are they safe or not?" They may be BPA-free. Recycling number 7 is a catch-all -- it's the label that gets put on any plastic that doesn't fit into the other categories. Although the number 7, paired with hard, clear plastic, often means a product is polycarbonate, companies are now releasing products that fit all those criteria -- and are BPA-free. A great resource in the wilderness of BPA-free baby products is the Z Recommends text messaging service. Just text zrecs and a company name (Born Free, for example) to 69866, and you'll get a message with info about that company's products.
Many of you asked about bioplastic -- that's the biodegradable plastic that's made of plants like corn and potato. It also falls into that "other" category and is marked with a number 7. I haven't read any reports about what bio-based plastics DO contain (other than, y'know, plants), but I can tell you they don't contain bisphenol A.
Neither do melamine cups, bowls and plates, which were another common subject in your comments. They may be BPA-free, but it's still a good idea to be careful with them; don't microwave them, and only put them in the top rack of the dishwasher. In fact, that's good advice for all plastics.
Annie was worried about the effect of bisphenol a from her recent dental work, especially because she's breastfeeding. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should definitely avoid having fillings put in if possible. BPA will leach primarily while the dental sealant is being applied, though, and BPA passes quickly through the body. Exposure to BPA over time is a much greater risk than this one-time exposure, and Annie's already ahead of the game by breastfeeding.
Finally, Keri wanted the low-down on her #2 food storage containers. Keri, the usual rules still apply -- don't heat them up and always get rid of damaged plastic -- but #2 HDPE plastic is considered food-safe, and there's no BPA risk.
We just started up a new Cheatsheet series at Enviroblog -- so far we've covered BPA, PFCs and Phthalates. I could go on picking out toxic chemicals to write about forever, but I'd like to cover the stuff that's most useful to you. Are you preoccupied by perchlorate? Puzzled by PBDEs? Weigh in on what's weighing on your mind by emailing me at amanda@enviroblog.org.
And, for you pet-loving listeners, this is National Pet Week! Eddie is commemorating the event with a series of posts and a Blog Carnival of Green Pets, so check out his blog at petsfortheenvironment.org for great ways to celebrate.
That's all for now. You can get more environmental health news and tips at enviroblog.org, or send an email with your questions or comments to amanda@enviroblog.org. Thanks for listening to Mixed Greens.
Bioplastics are the answer to the majority of plastic issues, from using up fossil fuel resources on single use carrier and waste bags(that includes 'degradable' bags), to Bisphenol A and other chemicals in plastics.
Bioplastics are biodegradable, compostable, and made from renewable plant based resources. Do not be fooled by oil based plastics with additives to make them break down, they are sill 'bad' plastic, and nobody knows what damage they are inflicting on us as they break down to small particles that are consumed by the food chain, as those particles work their way up to our plate who knows what level of damage they are causing!
Bioplastics from a company called Stanelco PLC contain mostly potato starch from industrial potato crops(not food crops), and all other ingredients are FDA approved for food contact.
Have a read through their site, especially the FAQ page and the MSDS (manufacturers safety data sheets)
http://www.stanelcoplc.com
Another place to look for information is European Bioplastics, an industry group set up to raise awareness of Bioplastics
http://www.european-bioplastics.org
Also look at the Biodegradable Products Institute
http://www.bpiworld.org/
Read how bad plastic really is here
http://libaware.economads.com/plasticsea.php
Cheers,
Paul
Okay, does Tupperwear have BPA? I have four or five for storage of grains and flour? Do they need to go?
Thanks for all the info on bioplastic, Paul -- will definitely check it out.
Some Tupperware does contain BPA, but not all of it. If you're concerned, contact the company and tell them exactly what type you have -- they should be able to help you out.