Avoid , reduce , reuse , recycle

Every plastic container or bottle has a recycling symbol. The symbol is a number, ranging from 1 to 7, within a triangle. While you may think nothing of these symbols, they can actually offer a great deal of information regarding the toxic chemicals used in the plastic, how likely the plastic is to leach, how un-bio-degradable the plastic is, and ultimately the safety of the plastic.

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: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers

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: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks.
Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing

HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

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: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers. 
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats

PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic                                                   touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.

LDPE (low density polyethylene) 
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled  but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile

LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications.

PP (polypropylene) 
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles 
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled 
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays

Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more                                                        accepted by recyclers.

PS (polystyrene) 
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases 
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled 
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it,                                                    though it is gradually gaining traction.

Number 7 Plastics 

Miscellaneous 
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon 
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled.

A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach                                                      potential hormone disruptors.

Note : http://www-tc.pbs.org/strangedays/pdf/StrangeDaysSmartPlasticsGuide.pdf

TOXIC HOME CHEMICALS

Baby care products

Flame-retardants are used in the foam found in products like cribs, high chairs, strollers and nursing pillows. The chemicals involved are PBDEs or other retardants with bromine or chlorine, which have been linked to sexual and neurological disorders.

Vinyl flooring and shower curtains

Phthalates are used to soften the plastic that goes into vinyl flooring and shower curtains. This chemical has been associated with causing harmful effects to growth and development in children, and impacting brain functions like                                                                                                learning, behavior and memory.

Nonstick pots and pans

There’s some controversy over the effects of the coating on nonstick pans, commonly known as Teflon. The Teflon chemical, PTFE, is thought to be harmless. But non-stick pans heated past 500 degrees Fahrenheit, or that have started to flake, can emit toxic byproducts of PTFE that can cause flu-like symptoms in humans.

Consumer electronics

This category can be a toxic cocktail. Phthalates are found in the power cords of devices or controller cables of game consoles. Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which have been linked to impaired brain development and cancer in humans, are added to circuit boards and plastic casings.

Hard plastic bottles and containers

Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many plastic bottles and containers. Recent studies have shown that BPA could have effects on the brain, behavior and prostrate gland in infants and young children.

                                                                                                                                                              

Insulation

BFRs are added to housing insulation materials to meet fire safety codes. These chemicals can accumulate in the body over a long period of time and have been linked to impaired brain development and cancer in humans.

Air fresheners and cleaners

Sprays or even some scented candles that “freshen” the air often use phthalates to spread the fragrance.

Cosmetics

Phthalates can also be found in perfumes, deodorants and hair sprays, as well as nail polish.

Carpets

Carpets, and some furniture, are also treated with the same non-stick chemicals, PTFE, used in Teflon. When PTFEs break down, one of the byproducts is a carcinogenic chemical, PFOA, also linked to infertility and birth defects in humans.

Personal hygiene products

The antimicrobial chemicals, such as triclocarban, added to soaps and lotions have been linked to interfering with the production of thyroid hormones, which affect neurological development in children. Some of these products also include phthalates.

Free Radicals

The human body is made up of cells. Cells are made up of molecules, and molecules are made up of atoms. Atoms contain the following components:
- a nucleus-the center of the atom
- protons-positively-charged particles in the nucleus
- neutrons-particles in the nucleus that have no charge
- electrons-negatively-charged particles circling the nucleus in layers called shells

Electrons always travel in pairs-or at least they prefer to travel that way. Occasionally, though, an atom or a group of atoms (a molecule) may lose one electron. When this happens, the atom or molecule becomes a free radical.

Like the human body in general, atoms prefer stability. An atom that's missing an electron will steal one from the nearest stable atom-turning that atom into a free radical. As you can probably imagine, this is the start of a chain reaction.

What causes free radicals?
Free radicals are created as a result of the process of oxidation, when a substance combines with oxygen. This is part of the body's normal metabolism, and does increase with age. Free radicals can also be created by the immune system to help destroy bacteria and viruses during an infection. And they can form as a result of exposure to certain chemicals, environmental toxins like pollution and radiation, and cigarette smoke.

Under normal circumstances the body can easily rid itself of free radicals. But problems can occur if the number of free radicals increases beyond the body's ability to neutralize or destroy them.

Hidden dangers of the 'Everywhere Chemicals " - The Pthalates & BPA

What is Bisphenol-A (BPA)?BPA is used to make polycarbonate plastic, a shatter-resistant and clear material used in products ranging from plastic bottles and eyeglasses to sports safety equipment.  BPA is also found in baby bottles, sippy cups, teethers, water bottles, food storage containers, and the lining of many food and beverage cans.  

C₁₅H₁₆O₂ or (CH₃)₂C(C₆H₄OH)₂  

What are phthalates?  

Phthalates  are esters of phthalic acid (or benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid). They include di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), to name a few.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used as solvents (dissolving agents) for other materials. They are used in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes). Phthalates are used widely in polyvinyl chloride plastics, which are used to make products such as plastic packaging film and sheets, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage containers, medical tubing, and some children's toys. Also responsible for the smell of new vinyl shower curtains and  a frequent component of fragrances used in air freshners , detergents , cleaning products . They show up in cosmetics to hold color and scents and have been found in nail polish and treatments .

DBP ( dibutylphthalate)    Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP; dioctyl phthalate, DOP),   Diisobutylphthalate  BPA can leach from plastic containers into foods and beverages, especially when they are heated, or used for long periods of time. Also, when kids put toys, teethers, and other products that contain phthalates in their mouths, the chemical may leach from the product to the child.  Animal studies have shown that exposure to BPA can have developmental effects. In laboratory animals, exposure to high levels of BPA has been associated with adverse effects on reproduction. Some human studies suggest a possible effect of BPA on reproductive hormones, especially in men exposed to high levels in the workplace, but human data are not sufficient to determine if BPA adversely affects reproduction. Animal studies have associated phthalate exposure with adverse effects on the liver, kidney, and male and female reproductive system, especially when exposures occur to the developing organism. Tips to minimize exposure to BPA and Phthalates: Use refillable glass, porcelain and stainless-steel containers for food and beverages, particularly for hot foods and liquids.  When you have something plastic, look at the little triangle on the bottom of the container. Avoiding plastic containers marked with a 1 or a 7 pc and instead choosing those marked with a 2, 4, or 5 will reduce the likelihood of exposure to BPA and phthalates. Glass baby bottles are recommended for babies who don't yet feed themselves. For bottle feeding, since latex rubber nipples may contain phthalates, use of silicone nipples may reduce phthalate exposure. Do not use plastic containers in microwaves.   To minimize exposure to phthalates, avoid vinyl toys, perfumed shampoo and lotion. Choose fragrance-free products whenever possible. Companies are now making baby bottles, food containers, teethers, shampoo, lotions, and other children’s items that are "BPA-free" and/or "phthalate-free.” Always read the package label or check with the manufacturer to know what you are bringing into your home.