AVOID Re-using

Plastic Bottles - a compilation of emails from caring friends

Be

Aware

Seen this?

Marked at the bottom of plastic bottles

with numbers from 1 to 7.

7

What are the numbers about?

Polyethylene terephalate (PET)

High density polyethylene (HDPE)

Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) or Plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PPVC)

Low density polyethylene LDPE Polypropylene (PP)

IT TELLS YOU

THE CHEMICAL MAKE UPOF THE CONTAINERS

Chemicals Can Leachinto your food and drinks

If you think your drink or food taste like plastic,

it’s because it is plastic.

Most toxic numbers?

Polystyrene (PS) or Expandable olystyrene (EPS)

Other, including nylon

and acrylic

Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) or Plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PPVC)

AVOID THESE NUMBERS

What are their

applications based on the

codes?

Source:

Environmental Protection Department,

Hong Konghttp://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/eindex.html

Search “plastic coding”

Don’t serve in polystyrene containers.

When it’s alcohol, oily, hot or sour.

Use glass or ceramic plates, bowls, mugs or cups.

TIME TO CHANGE

Shopping? Check packaging!

Remove food from all

polystyrene packaging.SAFE? Store in

non-plastic containers.

"When you microwave, it's a good idea not to have the plastic touch the food." - Catherine Bailey

FDA Science Policy Analyst

“I won't microwave plastic”. -Joel Tickner,

Researcher and doctoral candidate studying environmental hazards at the University of Massachusetts.

For More Information/Sources:

CHEC Health House: Plastics: What Do Those Numbers Mean? http://www.checnet.org/HEALTHEHOUSE/education/quicklist-detail.asp?Main_ID=353Californian Against Waste: Health effects of polystyrene on the human bodyhttp://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/eps_healthGrinning Planet: CLOUDS IN YOUR COFFEE? TRY LESS STYRO, MORE FOAMhttp://www.grinningplanet.com/2008/04-08/foam-cups-polystyrene-cups-article.htm

Wall Street Journal: Does Plastic in Microwave Pose Health Problems?http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Microwave-Health-Problems.htmWNBC Consumer Alert: How safe are plastic bottles?http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=238518The Sun: Polystyrene can cause cancer: CAPhttp://www.myhealth.gov.my/myhealth/bm/template.jsp?showMe=28&storyid=1222319596315

Urban Legend: Microwave Ovens, Plastic Wrap and Dioxinhttp://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-microwave-dioxin.htm

What others said…Malaysian Plastic Forum (MPF) defended polystyrene as both environmentally sound and medically safe, and complies with US FDA (Food and Drugs Act) standards.

Polystyrene is also confirmed by Japan Hygienic Olefin and Styrene Plastics Association to be safe for its intended use in contact with food.

Polystyrene is Sirim-certified. Our Ministry of Health confirmed that no regulatory health organisation has classified polystyrene as a carcinogen.

You DecideAVOID re-using plastic bottles?

or stay on the safe sideSTOPPED RE-USING RIGHT AWAY!!!

What motivates you?

Created with thanks to:

Friends who care enough to share

MS Clipart artists discovered

http://greenbeingnancy.blogspot.com/

http://www.slideshare.net/GreenBeingNancy

Spurred to act by email alerts.