Goal For The Green

Para-education and green living information

Ditching Plastic

Jul-21-2008 By Barbara Rae

It might be easier said than done. It’s everywhere and in almost every area of our everyday life. From baby bottles, trash-can liners, milk jugs, baggies, toys, toothbrushes and vinyl shower curtains. Almost everything that enters our home is packaged, wrapped or coated with some type of plastic.

As plastic weakens, ages or becomes exposed to heat, it can release harmful toxins such as BHA (bisphenol-a and phthalates). These harmful chemicals enter our bodies by way of the food we eat, water we drink, dust particles in the air we breathe and even by way of skin absorbtion.

Animal studies, especially during pregnancy have associated BPA to illnesses such as cancer and reproductive problems. Studies in humans show weakened sperm quality in males, and early puberty in girls. BPA is a known carcinogen and has been found to disrupt the endocrine system, as well as, disrupt hormone balance. 92% of children over the age of six, test positive for BPA in their system.

What you can do right now is avoid toys with #3 vinyl or #7 polycarbonate. Never heat anything in take-out food containers in the microwave. Only use glass or microwave safe containers covered with wax paper, or paper towel. Avoid #3-PVC, #6 Polystyrene and #7 polycarbonate. If you must use plastic, look for #’s 1,2,4 and 5.

I have converted most of my plastic containers to glass. It is easy to go from cooking, to storing, to freezing and re-heating with glass. Stainless steel and thermos are also good choices to use. It’s not an easy process going from plastic to glass, but well worth you health!

Here is a chart for download and printing to make your shopping safer and easier. Just keep it with you and you’ll always make an informed choice.

[PDF]

Quick Start

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Best Related Post

Relax With Barbara On Wednesday 8 by Barbara Rae on October 1st, 2008

Fighting Diabetes by Barbara Rae on April 12th, 2008

Green Tea And Healthy Tea Choices by Barbara Rae on March 9th, 2008

Quick GreenTips by Barbara Rae on April 8th, 2008

Are You Eco-Anxious? by Barbara Rae on May 4th, 2008

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Google
  • YahooMyWeb
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • TwitThis
  • Wists
Posted in: Health
  1. no imagemohamed shaban (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi Barbara.. it is so good subject .. and iam as a chemist know and accept all ur talking it is good advice to everybody to avoide plastic and go back to glass and to avoide aluminum and use stainless steel..
    thanks alot .. and hope to u the best health and full happiness .. have a nice dat Barbara..

    mohamed shabans last blog post..Hiding camera ..

    Rate this:
    		2.5
  2. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi mohamed shaban,

    Thank-You so much for the nice comment…great day to you!

    Rate this:
    		2.5
  3. no imageLinda (Check me out!) Said,

    Right on! get away from plastic and aluminum, as both tend to not only affect health but also the degrading process is too slow! good post!

    p.s. thanks for changing the color from yellow to red… I can see!!!! :)

    Rate this:
    		3.5
  4. no imageTeri (Check me out!) Said,

    I am removing all plastics from my house -they are dirty products and have nasty chemicals. For warn all those that microwave their food which are another terribly damaging product - I use a convection oven for warming, much safer and no plastics.

    Teris last blog post..Why Does My dog eat Grass?

    Rate this:
    		3.2
  5. no imageThe Anti Hype from Guru-Fodder (Check me out!) Said,

    I’m no poet but this post reminded me of something I wrote as a 15 year old (cough, cough - 35 years ago). I can’t only remember the first 4 lines now but I was clearly a visionary!!

    I recall it went on for about 4 verses:

    Plastic men in plastic suits
    Plastic girls in plastic boots
    Plastic food and plastic drink
    I really wish they’d stop and think

    Great post Barb

    The Anti Hype from Guru-Fodders last blog post..Homer Gets Hypnotised

    Rate this:
    		2.2
  6. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi Linda,

    Thanks for stopping by… and for the nice comment. Yes, I agree the red here is much better!!

    Rate this:
    		2.5
  7. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi Teri,

    You go girl !!! Tell everyone you know to ditch their plastic, besides its another way to
    fight back against the oil industry. Most plastic is a by porduct of yup…you guessed it oil!

    Rate this:
    		2.5
  8. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hey Anti Hype,

    I love it!!! You were a talented visionary even then… and now with Homer getting hypnotized.. you get better all the time (with age) of course!

    Rate this:
    		2.5
  9. no imageO.D. (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi Barbara, great informative post! I’ve started to use glass too and never microwave anything plastic!

    p.s. unable to get download the pdf chart.

    Rate this:
    		3.5
  10. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi O.D.,

    Thanks for the comment! The chart is available to the left where it says Quick Start… or at my blogroll, with the same title. Let me know if ther are any further problems!

    Rate this:
    		3.2
  11. no imagecarrie (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi! I just started converting all my tupperware to glass pyrex. I go to estate sales, and pick up any pieces of the glass pyrex with lids that I can find. I hope to have enough soon that I can go plastic free for my storage!

    carries last blog post..After a Year…

    Rate this:
    		2.5
  12. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi Carrie,

    Thanks for the comment… I too, am not done with my food storage solutions. I believe the ways of our parent’s were best. Obviously, convieneance isn’t always the best answer..not anymore!

    Rate this:
    		2.5
  13. no imagemarie (Check me out!) Said,

    Hello Barbara,

    Plastic is for the birds…..not even them…….

    Marie

    maries last blog post..Now It’s Time To Buy GM Products

    Rate this:
    		3.2
  14. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi Marie,

    Thanks for stopping by. No plastic is not even good for the birds.. Don’t forget to get your plastic by numbers chart above where it says Quick Start… or at my blogroll with the same title!

    Rate this:
    		3.2
  15. no imageDorlana (Check me out!) Said,

    Interesting article. I’ve been hearing about the plastic and microwaves for a while and now only heat in glass myself. But i never thought about food storage in plastic being harmful. That gives more to think about. Thanks.

    Dorlanas last blog post..What’s Up! August 2008

    Rate this:
    		2.2
  16. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Dorlana,

    Thanks for stopping by. Yes, glass is best!

    Rate this:
    		3.2
  17. no imagegreen blog (Check me out!) Said,

    Well sometimes usage of plastics materials can’t be fully avoided and we are somehow dependent on it. In terms of awareness, I think everybody knows about this simple fact, it’s just that we never bother about it.

    green blogs last blog post..Solar Powered Bluetooth Headset

    Rate this:
    		3.2
  18. no imageBarbara (Check me out!) Said,

    Hi greenblog,

    Yes, I agree with you, that sometimes plastic just can’t be avoided. And yes, we have been conditioned to be dependent on it just like we are on oil! Perhaps because plastic is an oil derivative. Most people probably know it is bad for you.. but like oil,for some old habits die hard!

    Rate this:
    		3.2

Add A Comment