Bout to make some posts about PLASTIC... PLASTIC is a war tactic... IJS Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) These plastics are typically used to hold soft drinks, water, juice, sports drinks, beer, mouthwash, ketchup, and salad dressing. They’re also used as containers for peanut butter, jelly, jam, and pickles. This type is also used in oven-friendly film and microwavable food trays. This plastic is considered to be safe, but there are some issues to be aware of. The primary problem is that antimony, a metalloid element with toxic qualities, leaches from PET. The rate of leakage increases with temperature. Normally, the amount of antimony that seeps into liquid is well below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level. But that assumes the container stays at room temperature. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), antimony can cause acute and chronic health issues, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach ulcers. Studies indicate that storage of these bottles at extended periods of time, and at increased temperatures, can result in unhealthy amounts of antimony. For example, a bottle stored at 60 degrees C for 176 days will yield unhealthy levels (maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 6 ppb), as would a bottle stored at 85 degrees C for just 1.3 days. These are very reasonable temperatures, and could typically be reached in warm garages or cars in the summertime. Three years ago, a study showed thatmicrowaving can significantly increase the rate at which antimony leaches into PET bottles. The authors recommended that plastic bottle manufacturers wash bottles before first use to remove metal contaminants like antimony. And in 2012, a study indicated that, in addition to antimony, brominated compounds can also leach into PET bottles. Bromine, a naturally occurring element that is a liquid at room temperature, can irritate the skin, mucous membranes, and tissues. But it’s not clear from the study if the concentrations of leaked bromine are at dangerous levels.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 03:43:53 +0000
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