Now take your plasticware, and see the bottom-side. Usually there are some imprinted symbols such as ‘Recycle’, ‘Microwave Safe x°C’, ‘Dishwasher Safe’, ‘Food-grade/suitable for food’, ‘Freezer safe x°C’, etc. For any reasons, we often don’t care with those symbols. It’s normal cuz sometimes they’re unnoticeable, though the impact is quite noticeable when it occurs…
Plastic, as we know, is (almost be) the most popular material for food/beverage wrapping and eating utensils. That’s because plastics are convenient, unbreakable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive. However, there are both environmental and health risks from the widespread use of plastics. Most plastics are hard to be renewed and so bulky. The chemical content of plastic could leach into food and beverage that having contact with it. Usually the bottomside of plasticware has the symbol of ‘recycle’ with a number inside the triangle (like in picture). Let’s check out what’s inside the number…
1 – PET/PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Molecular formula: (-CO-C6H4-CO-O-CH2-CH2-O-)n
This symbol usually imprinted on plastic bottles of water, juice, vegetable oil, and soft drink. PET or PETE is relatively low in leach risk, but it’s suggested not to reuse PET/PETE bottle.
2 – HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
Molecular formula: (-CH2-CH2-)n
HDPE used for milk jugs, shampoo bottles, butter cups, trash bag, and some plastic bags. Same like PET/PETE, HDPE is relatively low in leach risk and not suitable for reusing.
3 – PVC/V (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Molecular formula: (-CH2-CHCl-)n
Cling wrap, that widely used for wrapping, is unfortunately containing this chemical formula. Ahaaa, we could say it ‘unfortunately’ because ‘Cl’ (Chlorine atom) in its formula is a potentially toxic material when it’s heated or burned. It produce dioxin, a material that’s considered highly carcinogenic.
4 – LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
Molecular formula: (-CH2-CH2-)n
LDPE is found in squeezable bottle and some food container. The molecular formulas for LDPE and HDPE are the same, so the safety of using them is relatively the same.
5 – PP (Polypropylene)
Molecular formula: (-CHCH3-CH2-)n
Plastic containers considered as microwave safe are usually containing polypropylene (PP). PP is aLso found in straws, yoghurt bottles, and some food container. Polypropylene has the lowest density of the resins used in packaging. It also has a high melting-point, so it can be utilized and quite safe for containing hot food/materials.
6 – PS (Polystyrene)
Molecular formula: (-CHC6H5-CH2-)n
Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foamy products (known as styrofoam). Usually used for disposable cups/plates. C6H5 in the molecular formula comprises ‘benzene’. Benzene is generally considered a carcinogenic substance. It also has a low melting-point. So PS is highly risky if it has any contact with alcohol, oil/fat, and heat. Hmmm… let’s imagine how DANGEROUS it is…
7 – OTHER
Plastics that unsuitable for previous categories are lumped into this category. Mostly are plastics containing polycarbonate, like in baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, “sport” water bottles (such as Bayu’s ‘Nalgene’, hwaaaa…), sippy cups (toddler’s cup), and some clear plastic cutlery. Latest research stated that polycarbonate could leach BPA (Bisphenol A) that has negative effects such as:
- Early onset of puberty, and stimulation of mammary gland development in females
- Changes in gender-specific behavior (hmmmm… well…)
- Changes in hormones, including decreased testosterone
- Increased prostate size
- Decreased sperm production (note this, guys!)
- Altered immune function
- Behavioral effects including hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning and other changes in behavior
But not all of no. 7 plastics are highly risky, because newly invented bio-based plastics may also labelled with no. 7.
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These are some tips for safer use of plastics:
- Only use #1, #2, #4, #5, and nonpolycarbonate #7 plasticware
- Avoid using plastic container in microwave, unless it’s labelled ‘Microwave Safe’. Metallic-paint-free glass or ceramics are safer. However, ‘Microwave Safe’ plastic doesn’t mean that there’s no chemical leach at all…
- Minimize contact between food and plastic wrapper. Put food in a container instead of using cling wrap.
- Use alternatives to plastic packaging whenever possible
Well, it’s 2008 now, and humans have used plastics for almost 200 years. Why don’t we start to stop it…? At least for our own health… 
(Summarized from various resources)
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Yea baby.. maybe we won’t be able to stop using it altogether. but start reducing plastic garbage certainly won’t hurt us. By not asking for plastic bag when borrowing VCDs for example. And bring your own shopping bag (or just use your big handbag) when you shop for groceries.. I found it hard at first.. but later on, it becomes a habit and I kind of feeling guilty when I purchase things with many plastic bags.
Oiya, buying gorengan wrapped in direct contact with plastic bag is a NO..NO.. *although every now & then I still do ;p * better bring your own plate or lunchbox coz you’ll never know the amount of carcinogens transferred from the plastic bag into the gorengan..
lets make this world a better place.. ^_^
Hoooo… I haD a veRy BAD expeRience abouT putting ‘gorengan’ inside a ‘kResek’ (pLastic bag),,
The pLastic bag was MELTED and d gorengan fell down out of d kresek… OMG…
Maybe beCoz d gorengan was sooooo fResh from a FLAMING fryer,, ckckck…