Hazards on the Horizon

Plastics and Health

 

There is mounting evidence implicating plastics as bad actors. Aging polycarbonate (your favorite Nalgene water bottle) leeches bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimic. Please read numbers inside the triangle on the bottom of plastic containers.

 

What to do: Numbers 1,2 4, and 5 are least harmful. All the rest – 3, 6, and 7 have negative bio-effects. Sometimes plastics don’t have a number, instead have an abbreviated name. See the table below - it should be helpful.

 

Note: Never put plastic food wrap on containers or food to be micro-waved. Glass is best.

You can download this table as a printable PDF to put on your refrigerator by clicking here.

© Copyright 2013 - 2018 by Pat Hennessy MD MPH                                                                                                                                                                Design by Victoria Young Maciulski