WHICH PLASTICS PLASTICS ARE OKAY?

For all you busy moms, here is a summary of an article written in Green Living magazine this month (April 2008).  I'll start with the most important stuff.

Baby Bottles, Sippy Cups and Water Bottles:  What You Need to Know! 

#7

• Bottles that are marked with #7 on the bottom- stop using these!.  This group of plastics includes polycarbonates (the plastic in question) and some bioplastics.  Polycarbonate is characterized by its hard and clear (sometimes coloured but still clear) appearance.  Not all #7 plastics contain the chemical BPA (Bisphenol A), but the hard clear ones are usually a dead give away.  BPA is an endocrine disruptor and can have negative effects on the reproductive system, and is linked to breast cancer, attention deficit disorder, organ malfunctions and the list goes on.

• Take your polycarbonate baby bottles and sippy cups back to stores like Toys R' Us and The Bay to get a credit note for these products, no receipts are required!   As for your water bottles, well, you're stuck with them for now.  They aren't part of the recycling program, so if you chuck them they'll end up in a landfill.  So, be creative and use those #7 water bottles for something that doesn't involve it coming into contact with food or drink.   Don't forget to check all of those cute character cups- ours have become paint pots.  

#3

• Bottles marked with #3 on the bottom, stop using these!  These bottles may contain BPA as well as phtalates (another endocrine disruptor).

#1

• Bottles marked with #1 are your typical disposable water bottles, use sparingly and only once!  This is called PETE plastic.  These bottles are recommended for one time use only.  Washing them in hot water and reusing them isn't a good idea either, heat releases more chemicals into the water.  Also, one study found that the levels of the chemical antimony trioxide in bottled water almost doubled over the course of 6 months.  Scary stuff...

#5

• Considered to be safer that the others, but who knows what they'll come up with next.  Made of polypropylene.   Mine is kind of a milky coloured plastic bottle.

#2

• High density polyethylene (HDP), again considered safer.

MORE TO COME...