Potential health risks of plastic containers, bottles and wraps: Which plastic is safe to use?
Today, there is a huge debate over plastic exposure health risks. Some plastics contain chemicals that slowly leach out from containers or bottles and could be bad for your health. A coding system for different types of plastics will help you understand which plastics to use and which to avoid. The code is a three-sided triangular arrow with a number one through seven, identifying the plastic from which the bottle or container is made (Government of Canada, 2008): 1 – polyethylene teraphthalate (PETE or PET) Used to make water and soft drink bottles, salad dressing bottles, peanut butter and jam jars, etc. PETE is not known to leach any hazardous chemicals, but it is not suitable for repeated, long-term use. It is safer not to reuse them. 2 – high density polyethylene (HDPE) Used to make milk and juice bottles, yogurt cups, shampoo bottles, grocery bags, etc. HDPE is not known to leach any hazardous chemicals. 3 – polyvinyl chloride (PVC) vinyl (V) Used to make cling wraps for meat, ch
