Plastic Could Be Killing You

Someone stopped me the other day when they saw me refilling a water bottle and told me that the bottle I was using was meant for a one-time use, and refilling it could be dangerous.

I have heard many times in the past few years (I became more aware of it during a close relative's fight with cancer) that heating plastic in the microwave and even storing food in certain plastic containers could be causing poisons to seep into the food we eat.

I never even knew to check the bottom of plastic containers to see which type of plastic it was until a few years ago when I attended a recycling education seminar. It's just something I had never stopped to think about.

It's been convenient for me to save Chinese food containers to reuse as storage containers, and to refill water bottles when I'm at the gym. But am I harming myself in the process?

Maybe it's not just people with low immunity (like cancer patients) that should stay away from plastics...and not just when heating food in the microwave.

I still get lazy about checking, but maybe I'll make more of an effort now that I have read the following info from an article titled Plastic: The Silent Killer of All Living.

This story describes what those little numbers in those little triangles on the bottom of your bottles (or the letters)  mean. According to this story:

-- If you see the number 1 inside the triangle or the letters PET or PETE, it is a single-use bottle and can possibly release heavy metals and chemicals that can affect your hormonal balance. With repeated use, they could release carcinogens.

-- The number 2 is supposedly the safest plastic that does not release chemicals. So if you tend to buy bottled water, make sure it is marked with a 2 in the triangle or with the letters HDP or HDPE.

-- The number 3 or the letters PVC or 3V releases two toxic chemicals. This is a soft plastic usually used for clear plastic food wrappings and cooking oil bottles.

-- The number four, or letters LDPE, does not release chemicals. This type is usually used for plastic bread bags and shrink wraps.

-- The number 5, or letters PP, are white colored or semi transparent and used for syrups and yogurt cups... even cereal box liners, straws, chip bags and plastic bottle tops. This type protects products from chemicals.

-- The number 6, or letters PS, release carcinogenic substances. Usually used in fast food casings and coffee cups, egg cartons, take-out 'clamshell' food containers, and disposable styrofoam drinking cups.

-- The number 7, or letters PC, along with non-labeled plastic, are the most dangerous. These release BPA chemicals and are used in the production of food containers and sports water bottles!

Scary stuff, but something we should all be more aware of. I guess that makes glass containers better than plastic, huh?

The number 3