The Recycling Symbols Written At The Bottom Of The Plastic Packaging Has Silent Secrets Which Might Costs Your Life

Let’s admit this. The world has transformed into a palace surrounded with plastics; from our food utensils to toys, packaging, clothing, home goods, medical devices and so much more. Plastic manufacturing is so rampant that we can’t be able to stop its effect on our environment.

But we won’t be talking about how plastics are made but the danger it can cause to our body and health. Since we are all buying plastic bottles almost every day, we are not aware of its consequences to our body. Before we get any further, I want you to take a plastic bottle (preferably water-contained) and examine it. Do you see the triangle with number in the center at the base?

recycle-numbers

If you haven’t known, the symbols on it has meanings that might endangers your life. Check this out:

#1 Plastics: PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)

Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.

recycling symbols 1

This plastic is considered to be safe, but there are some issues to be aware of. These plastic is discharging cancer-causing mixes. Moreover, it is conceivable to discharge substantial metals antimony and EPA synthetic substance. This substance meddles with the hormone capacity.

#2 Plastics: HDP/HDPE (high density polyethylene)

Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners

recycling symbols 2

This plastic is good one in light of the fact that it has minimum likelihood for discharges of chemicals into the water (doesn’t discharge chemicals). It is for the most part utilized for making plastic sacks for foodstuffs, not for plastic bottles.

#3 Plastics: V (Vinyl) or PVC

Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping

 

recycling symbols 3

This sort of plastic emanates two harmful elements. They together have affect on the capacity of hormones in our bodies. Tragically, it is the most used plastic utilized for bottles.  And it’s the first of the bad ones.

#4 Plastics:

LDPE (low density polyethylene)

Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet

 

recycling symbols 4

LDPE is considered a low hazard plastic.

#5 Plastics: PP (polypropylene)

PP is considered a safe plastic.

#6 Plastics: PS (polystyrene)

 

recycling symbols 6

This plastic emanates STYRENE inside the water, a cancer-causing substance. It is utilized for fast food packs and coffee glasses for single utilization. This is another plastic you’ll want to avoid.

 #7 Plastics: Miscellaneous (Other)

 

recycling symbols 7

This is the nastiest kind of plastic. It’s a kind of catch-all designation that describes packages made of a resin other than the six standard types. It’s also used to describe plastics made from any combination of the standard six plus other resin types.

So what to do then? Avoid using plastic but if you can’t, atleast avoid any plastic designated #7, #3, and #6. Plastics that are safe, or at least relatively so, are #1, #2, #4, and #5. I hope this helps.

H/T: HealthyFoodTeam / io9

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