Which Plastic Containers Are Safe Or Toxic For Human Use?

The greater part of our drinking and food supply is stored, shipped, cultured, and packaged in plastic. Around 2 million bottles are purchased every 5 minutes around the globe and at every 6 hours, around 1 million plastic cups are utilized in airline flights in the United States. With respect to human safety, not all plastics are made similarly. As customers, it can appear that there is little difference from one plastic container to the other. Tragically, this is a long way from reality. Plastics are non-biodegradable, synthetic polymers of long-chain hydrocarbons and a few plastics are known to be dangerous, carcinogenic, and hormone disruptors. 

To know how risky the plastic really is, you just need to find the number on the bottom of the container. The triangle with the number at the bottom of each package indicated how lethal the plastic is for you and your family. There are seven unique numbers used to recognize which plastics were utilized to make the container your food or beverage is stored in. Each number is talked about in detail beneath, demonstrating the effect it has on human health.

1) PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate) 

Bottled labeled PET or PETE are single-use bottles. These can discharge heavy metals, for example, antimony and chemicals that can affect your hormonal balance. PET plastics are the most commonly utilized for water bottles, beer bottles, oil bottles and other consumer product packaging. They should be utilized just one time and are not recommended for repeated use. They are hard to decontaminate and may discharge carcinogens agents in the products. 

2) HDP or HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) 

This is the most secure plastic that does not discharge chemicals. In the event that you will tend to purchase bottled water, make a point to purchase bottled stamped HDP or HDPE. This sort of plastic is typically utilized for plastic bags, toys, oil bottles, detergents, and so forth. It is the most usually recycled plastic since it utilizes a savvy and simple procedure and is considered very safe. 

3) PVC or V (Polyvinyl Chloride) 

This plastic discharges two chemicals that are harmful to our body and can affect our hormonal balance. It is perhaps the softest plastic and is typically utilized for clear plastic food wrappings, pet's toys, kids' toys, cooking oil bottles teething rings, and lots of different products. It is additionally used for computer cables, plumbing, garden hoses, arbors, window frames, etc.

4) E (Low-Density Polyethylene) 

A plastic utilized for the production of different sorts of plastic bags (for bread, cleaner bags, shrink wraps, etc), and bottles. They don't drain chemicals when utilized in water bottles.

5) PP (Polypropylene) 

A white shaded and some of the time semi-transparent plastic utilized for syrups and yogurt cups. It is lightweight yet very tough and shields the products from chemicals, oil, and moisture. It is likewise utilized for the plastic liner in oat boxes, for yogurt containers, ropes, packing tapes, straws, chip bags, disposable diapers, plastic bottle tops, and margarine containers. 

6) PS (Polystyrene) 

PS plastics discharge carcinogenic substances in consumer products. They are normally utilized in the production of inexpensive food casings and coffee cups. PS is another way to say "polystyrene", which is a very inexpensive plastic, lightweight and one that is effectively formed. It is frequently used to make plastic picnic cutlery, egg cartons, takeout "clamshell" food container, expendable Styrofoam drinking cups, and different foam bundling. 

7) PC or Non-Labeled Plastic (Other) 

This is the most perilous plastic in the industry. It is either marked PC, or it isn't named in any way, which can be far more terrible. This plastic discharges BPA chemicals and is utilized in the production of food containers and sports water bottles. Reuse and recycling conventions are not standardized for this category of plastic. The BPA chemicals that are released in foods or drinks packaged in PC plastic are known as endocrine disruptors. 

Taking everything into account, the most secure plastics are HDPE, LDPE, and PP; however, the best alternative is to stay away from any plastic and use glass containers at whatever point possible. In any case, maintaining a strategic distance from the four other plastics (#1, #3, #6, #7) will go far in preserving your health.