Plastic: Safe or....?

The information about plastics can be confusing.  Sometimes plasticware like these Ikea mugs.... so cute, cheerful and colorful it's hard not to want them.  I want them, look how cute they are?

So why should you worry about plastics in your life?  How harmful are they, and can you really avoid them?  They're in everything, cars, your computer, ziplock bags, food containers, the list goes on and on. Here's some things you should think about though.

1. The compounds in plastic are toxic. 

• Firstly is BPA (Bisphenal A). It's a building block of polycarbonate plastic and is used in thousands of consumer products, including food packaging. Research shows that BPA exposure is linked to breast cancer.
• Phthalates are a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in PVC or #3 plastic. Phthalate exposure has been linked to early puberty in girls, and increases the risk of cancer.
• Other chemicals found include Styrene, Dioxin, and Vinyl Chloride all used in plastics for food, and have been shown to be carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors.

2. BPA Free does not mean safe. 

• Some companies have switched BPA to BPS (Bisphenal S), a similar compound with similar effects of the body as BPA.  However because their products no longer use BPA they claim they are safer and BPA Free. The effects of BPS have not been as widely studied as BPA, but research indicates that BPS is an artificial estrogen just like BPA, with clear potential for carcinogenic effects and damage to reproductive health. 

3. Plastics are bad for the environment. 

• Plastics just aren't green. Plastics are made of petrochemicals (think oil here).  These chemicals are heavily processed which creates lots of pollution.  On top of that, plastic doesn't degrade easily, and most plastics aren't recycled so it will just sit and sit in landfills. Don't forget the Pacific Garbage Patch which is almost completely made of discarded plastics.

Ok, so what do we do?  How do we even start getting rid of plastics out of your life?

1. Try using glass water bottles. That link is one of my favorite water bottles, and with the silicone on the outside, it's ok to drop it.
2. Get rid of the plastic lunch bags, and deck yourself out with some eco-friendly (and beautiful) options from companies like ECOlunchbox.
3. Toss your child's plastic sippy cup and get one of these cute Klean Kanteen Sippy Cups.  They even make baby bottles, too.
4. Toss all that tupperware out of your cabinets and get some glass food storage containers.  We recently did that, and it's nice to know you can safely store leftovers with out worrying about microwaving the container with the food inside. 
5. Ok, last one.  Stop forgetting to bring your bags with you to the grocery store. These cute little bags fold up so you can stick them in your purse, your car...whatever.  Just keep them with you and stop your contribution to the garbage patch.

Do you have any other great ways to keep plastics out of your life?  What has worked best for you?

Links:

Is BPA Free a Lie?
Chemicals in Plastics
5 Reasons to Avoid Plastic Containers

#4 BPA and you

There have been under "rumblings" about BPA, it's safety, and how it effects the human body. I'm going to share with you what I know, and my point of view on it.  I want you to know before you read any further, I don't have a science background.  So, big words and other scary descriptions won't be found in this post.

Bisphenol A, or BPA for short is found in plastic.  Commonly it is found in products baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, eyeglass lenses, CDs and DVDs, and household electronics.  Most concerning though are baby bottles and canned goods.  Cans are lined with a plastic barrier to keep the food from the metal of the can, and the BPA can and does leach into the food. BPA has also been detected in nonstick-coated cookware, plastic wrap for food packaging, recycled food boxes and clothes treated with fire retardants (think...your kids' pajamas???).

So why should you avoid BPA?  Here are a few things that BPA has been linked to.

1.  Obesity.
2. Neurological disorders, brain structure and function, and possibly ADHD
3. Thyroid Function.
4. May be a carcinogen, and also may effect chemotherapy treatments.
5. Reproductive health issues.

At this stage in the game, I have a bad feeling that many politicians have their hands in "the cookie jar" so to speak, and are reluctant to move on any specific ban on BPA.  I know that the research has been done quietly, and new findings are quietly discovered.  However I am going to refer to an old fashioned saying;  When in doubt, throw it out!

Here are a few ways to keep yourself clear of BPA.

1. Don't get receipts.  Receipts are typically laced with BPA coated powder, and I'm sure you don't eat your receipts, but exposure is exposure.
2. Avoid canned foods.  Learn how to can your own things, or stick to fresh (if you're lucky enough to live in that kind of climate).
3. Avoid soda.  Soda comes how?  Either in plastic bottles...or CANS.  Hard to escape that one.
4. Buy water bottles that specifically say BPA free.
5. Don't buy flame resistant clothing or furniture.
6. Stay away from Teflon coated pots and pans.  Even plastic spatulas.  Stick to glass, wood, or uncoated metals.



Sources:
1. Green LA Girl
2. BPA Not yet Banned
3. The Washington Post