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PLASTIC! 😒

Updated: Apr 5, 2021

First of all, I have to address my love/hate relationship with plastic. I can’t actually say I have ever loved plastic, but I can see why it exists. It is super convenient and can be mass produced. It is highly durable, water resistant and lightweight. It makes sense that it is everywhere.


However, there is growing evidence that certain plastics can leach dangerous chemicals that end up in our kids’ mouths, our food, our lungs… There are studies linking these chemicals to problems with hormones, the developing brain, behavior, cancer, asthma and many other diseases. Also, it takes a REALLY long time to decompose (if at all) so all of this plastic that isn’t recycled is just sitting in landfills and the ocean.


Types of Plastic AKA “7, 6 and 3 are not for me!”

We’ve all seen those triangles on the bottom of products with a number inside. But what do they mean?? Since completely avoiding plastic is very difficult, a quick glance will let you know if it is a “safer” product or something to stay away from. This is all relative, and I’d still recommend using alternatives such as glass, wood, stainless steel, silicone, etc. depending on the type of product.


Also, even if a product claims to be dishwasher and/or microwave safe, this just means it won’t deform. I would still avoid placing plastic in the microwave and dishwasher if at all possible to avoid leaching of chemicals.

PET/PETE is a maybe because it is considered relatively safe under normal usage. However, it can leach chemicals if heated or if reused. Sooooo... just refrain from things like keeping a case of water bottles in your car or reusing any #1 plastic.


It is also important to note that #7 can contain the newer plant-based plastics which are actually awesome! Those should be easy to detect amidst the not-so-good plastics.


If you want even more detail on the 7 types of plastic, here is a link to a very cool image I happened upon on alansfactoryoutlet.com:



What are these toxins and what harm can they cause?


The most common players…


BPA as well as BPS and substitutes


Pretty much everyone has heard of BPA. It stands for bisphenol-A, a chemical used in plastics since the 1960’s. It is also found in other places such as the lining of aluminum cans and water supply lines. There has been a lot of attention given to the harmful effects, and you probably notice a lot of products are labeled as BPA-free now. In fact, the EU has banned BPA from many products. This family of chemicals can mimic estrogen, leading to problems with hormones, infertility, behavior issues, the nervous system, obesity, and possibly even cancers.


If a product is BPA-free, does that mean it is safe? Not necessarily. The BPA has likely been replaced by BPS or other similar substitutes. Some studies show these relatives can do just as much harm, if not more. Gee whiz!


Phthalates


Phthalates are a group of man-made chemicals intended to make plastic soft and flexible. They are very often in cahoots with the Poison Plastic PVC. To make them even more unlikeable, they are hard to spell (I definitely forgot a couple letters in the first version I wrote!) and pronounce (THAL-ates). There have been studies linking them to respiratory and heart issues, obesity, cancer, and problems with the reproductive organs. A paper was just published on 2/18/2021 calling for a complete ban on phthalates due to their role in “neurodevelopmental harm in fetuses, infants and children”.


Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Chromium and other heavy metals


We hear a lot about the effects of lead on children. In fact, most pediatricians check it routinely at certain well visits. Heavy metals such as lead can accumulate in the body over time and have harmful effects on multiple organs of the body.


Styrene


Styrene is a chemical used to make polystyrene and… you guessed it… Styrofoam. It can cause acute irritation to the skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract. Over time it can cause neurologic symptoms and maybe even cancer. NEVER heat Styrofoam. I am really regretting all of those Styrofoam cups we melted over the campfire into fun shapes as kids. 😢


Others


Plastics can leach many other chemicals that can be harmful. It’s hard to think about something you can’t really see, but there can be acute symptoms after exposure to some, and accumulation over time can lead to many problems, especially with little growing bodies. This is why raising awareness is so critical to protect our vulnerable little people!


Completely avoiding plastic isn't possible. Your kiddoes will likely have plastic toys. The best thing to do is try to minimize the number of times those toys go in their mouths (try to sub in a healthier teething toy) and wash their hands before eating!


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