When it comes to “plastic products”, it should be a household item that everyone is familiar with, whether it is a plastic bottle or a plastic bowl (of course, plastic bottles will be used more). When it comes to plastic bottles, most people are always concerned about their safety issues, whether they are carcinogenic or toxic. There are many comments on the Internet about “plastic bottles cause cancer”. Some comments are entangled in the numbers at the bottom of plastic bottles; some comments are on the plasticizers contained in plastic bottles. How should we view these more frightening “plastic bottles cause cancer” remarks? Plastic bottles, however, are not scary, the scary thing is that you don’t know it.

A “1” on the bottom of a plastic bottle proves that it is a single-use plastic bottle? What exactly do the numbers represent?

In fact, the number on the bottom of the plastic bottle does not indicate whether the plastic bottle is a disposable item, which is a complete misunderstanding. Some people say that the bottle marked with “1” on the bottom of the plastic bottle is disposable and cannot be reused. If the dimethylhydroxylamine and plasticizer contained in it are reused, it is easy to precipitate out and cause DNA mutations in the body. It can even increase the risk of certain cancers.

The sign of the “triangular number” is actually the sign code for the use of plastic types formulated by the American Plastics Industry Association, mainly in the middle of the triangle formed by three arrows representing the cycle, plus the sign of numbers; the numbers 1-7 and English The abbreviation mainly refers to the type of resin used in plastics. This way of labeling can make the identification of plastic varieties easier and the cost of recycling will be greatly reduced. In 1996, our country developed a plastic labeling standard that is almost identical to this theory.

Generally, the bottom of the transparent mineral water bottle will be marked with “1”, and its material is mainly “PET“. The full name of “PET” is “polyethylene terephthalate”. The heat-resistant temperature of this material is generally around 70 degrees Celsius, and the operating conditions are generally between -20 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsiu. Saying “1” means one-time use is unreliable, and saying that it can’t be used repeatedly is not so absolute. It’s just that you should make sure that “PET” is safe to use within 70 degrees Celsius. It can be used once or twice, but it is not recommended to use it repeatedly.

In addition to “1”, “2” stands for high density polyethylene, “3” for polyvinyl chloride, “4” for low density polyethylene, “5” for polypropylene, “6” for polystyrene, “7” Represents other plastics (other plastics such as polycarbonate).

Plastic drinking water bottles contain plasticizers, which are easy to cause cancer?

Plasticizers are actually plasticizers that are often mentioned in life. This substance is added to hard plastics mainly to increase elasticity and durability. The most used plasticizers are “phthalates”. Substance (DEHP)”.

As for “plasticizer”, there is a misunderstanding in itself. The use of plasticizer itself is the need of plastic processing technology. It is allowed to be used in the production of food packaging materials.

When it comes to the carcinogenic problem of plasticizers, the Cancer Research Center under the World Health Organization lists “DEHP (phthalates)” as a 2B carcinogen, and “2B carcinogen” mainly refers to “possible to human beings”. Carcinogenic substances for which there is limited or insufficient evidence”. Although plasticizers represented by DEHP may indeed migrate from some plastic products to food and eventually enter the human body under certain conditions, the use of DEHP in food packaging is strictly limited, and its migration amount is actually It cannot reach the dose that will cause harm to the human body, and there is insufficient evidence of its carcinogenicity to the human body (it is a Class 2B carcinogen). Because of this, the statement that “plasticizers cause cancer” is not reliable and needs to be viewed scientifically.

For the number “1”, that is, the plastic bottle made of “PET”, its fluidity is very good, and it is easy to be plasticized during the production and processing process. In fact, it is not necessary to use plasticizers and bisphenol A. Not to mention the so-called “carcinogenic theory”.

The safety risk of plasticizers is mainly in how much and how often (time) they are ingested. Comprehensive consideration, in fact, as long as it meets the requirements of food packaging materials in the national standard, it will not cause harm to health. The so-called illegal products and substandard products have more problems of abuse or excessive migration.

Can plastic products hold hot water?

This question needs to be differentiated.

First of all, if you use plastic basins or buckets for bathing and washing your face, you don’t have to be afraid at all, you can use it with confidence; because the ingredients in plastic products will not cause harm to the human body through contact with our skin.

Secondly, if you use plastic cups to drink water, you need to pay proper attention. It is okay to hold hot water, but you need to distinguish the plastic material. Generally, the plastic cup (PP) marked with “5” at the bottom of the plastic cup can hold hot water. It has good heat resistance and can also be used for heating.

Plastic bottles contain “bisphenol A”, which can easily lead to precocious puberty in children?

For “bisphenol A”, it is indeed often used to make hard containers such as sports water bottles, baby bottles, space cups, etc. The material components used in these plastic products belong to “7” plastic.

It is worth noting that the acute toxicity of bisphenol A itself is relatively low, and there is no indication that bisphenol A is genotoxic or carcinogenic. Whether it is the European Food Safety Authority or the relevant US agencies, they all believe that there is currently no ” There is strong” evidence that BPA has an effect on the physical health of infants and young children.

What’s more, the mineral water bottles and beverage bottles we use in our daily life do not contain bisphenol A, and so far there is no evidence that bisphenol A causes cancer. Please correct your thoughts.