Sunday, February 11, 2007
Statistics Sundays - Plastic Edition
David Johnston and Kim Master told us, three years ago, which plastics are safe and which ones are not...
Basically, it goes like this:
1. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) Used to make soft drink, water, sports drink, ketchup, and salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars. GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.HDPE though (the number two slot on the super seven billboard there) is deceivingly harmless and can turn into a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode in your face...! It has all to do with time indeed - water bottles have a limited shelf life, as it is, just like everything else that should be consummable really...! All of it should have an expiry date or, better yet, a "package on this date" marking. It will be up to the consumer to decide if he wants to "risk it" or not...! For, the longer that bottled water remains in its container of origin, the better are the chances that the plastic might start releasing toxins - producing in effect a chemical cocktail instead of safer water to drink! We've talked about this before, here and there; tap water has strict rules to ensure that it is consumable (which we can and really must strengthen by always BOILING the water before consuming it) while bottled water has no such rules to observe! We might as well be buying toilet water - how can we really tell the difference, eh? Add the hazard of buying a bottle of water that has spent way too much time on the damn store shelf, and we're getting close to something akin to near-suicide here...?!?
2. High density polyethylene (HDPE) Milk, water, and juice bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners, and grocery, trash, and retail bags. GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
3. Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other foods sold in delicatessens and groceries are wrapped in PVC. BAD: To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add “plasticizers” during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen.
4. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles. OK: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.
5. Polypropylene (PP) Some ketchup bottles and yogurt and margarine tubs. OK: Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.
6. Polystyrene (PS) Foam insulation and also for hard applications (e.g. cups, some toys) BAD: Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling.
7. Other (usually polycarbonate) Baby bottles, microwave ovenware, eating utensils, plastic coating for metal cans BAD: Made with biphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. A hormone disruptor. Simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.
I guess we all know what to do now... BOIL!
In other randomly-picked statistics - with a quirky luminous twist:
all 800,000,000 cells that comprise your skin complain as one under the plight of winter dryness and irritability...
Heed their call for help - MOISTURIZE!
And the one type of plastic that all of us L.O.V.s that visit the TLB Prime network with any kind of regularity should be recycling is the one that inkjet and laser cartridges are made out of!
The plastics used in inkjet cartridges can take over 10 centuries to decompose - did you know that?
(Not that I think that the planet will go through 10 more centuries of the, ah, "current administration" - that is human administration - or should I say man's administration, lest some may think that I infer the aliens are taking over soon... I believe GOD Is taking over soon - not E.T.! But I digress...)
Here is one stat that shall please Dubya & Cheney aka The Dick (hey - Trump is "The Don", so, logically... I know - digressing again...)
In just seven months, cartridge recycling can save over 11 million gallons of oil. This is more oil than what was tragically spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989...
So, if you won't do it for the kids of 3000 A.D., do it for the oil, NOW!
Final bit of statistical data to throw at ya today: in North America, over 40,000 tonnes of plastic and metal is saved from landfills every year as a result of cartridge recycling...
We're doing our part - yay - tap yourselves on the back and open another six-pack...? NOT!
Thus, in conclusion, this week's lessons to put into dutiful luminous practice are: BOIL... MOISTURIZE... and RECYCLE (what a surprise...!)
It's good for you! ;)
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Following is the original data from Dave & Kim - now, don't you DARE sue me, you two...! DON'T YOU DARE EVEN DREAM OF IT...!!!
*lol*
Peace!
Respect!
;)
*lol*
Peace!
Respect!
;)
Which Plastics Are Safe?
More Environmental Health & Safety Solutions
Adapted from Green Remodeling,
by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).
The news about plastics has been pretty alarming lately, causing some of us to go dashing for the water bottles to see what kind of plastic they are--and find out if we’ve been unwittingly poisoning our children and ourselves with chemicals leaching into the water from them.
Simple Solution:
If you’ve been concerned, here is a handy chart that identifies the good, bad, and ok plastics and where they are found. Find out here:
1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) Used to make soft drink, water, sports drink, ketchup, and salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars. GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
2 High density polyethylene (HDPE) Milk, water, and juice bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners, and grocery, trash, and retail bags. GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
3 Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other foods sold in delicatessens and groceries are wrapped in PVC. BAD: To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add “plasticizers” during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen.
4 Low density polyethylene (LDPE) Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles. OK: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.
5 Polypropylene (PP) Some ketchup bottles and yogurt and margarine tubs. OK: Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.
6 Polystyrene (PS) Foam insulation and also for hard applications (e.g. cups, some toys) BAD: Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling.
7 Other (usually polycarbonate) Baby bottles, microwave ovenware, eating utensils, plastic coating for metal cans BAD: Made with biphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. A hormone disruptor. Simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.
Shop for Supplies:
Green Remodeling
Changing the world one room at a time.
Resources and Articles:
New Society Publishers - New Society Publishers' mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment.
Copyright: Adapted from Green Remodeling, by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).Copyright (c) 2004 by David Johnston and Kim Master. Reprinted by permission of New Society Publishers.
Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.
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More Environmental Health & Safety Solutions
Adapted from Green Remodeling,
by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).
The news about plastics has been pretty alarming lately, causing some of us to go dashing for the water bottles to see what kind of plastic they are--and find out if we’ve been unwittingly poisoning our children and ourselves with chemicals leaching into the water from them.
Simple Solution:
If you’ve been concerned, here is a handy chart that identifies the good, bad, and ok plastics and where they are found. Find out here:
1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) Used to make soft drink, water, sports drink, ketchup, and salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars. GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
2 High density polyethylene (HDPE) Milk, water, and juice bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners, and grocery, trash, and retail bags. GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
3 Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other foods sold in delicatessens and groceries are wrapped in PVC. BAD: To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add “plasticizers” during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen.
4 Low density polyethylene (LDPE) Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles. OK: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.
5 Polypropylene (PP) Some ketchup bottles and yogurt and margarine tubs. OK: Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.
6 Polystyrene (PS) Foam insulation and also for hard applications (e.g. cups, some toys) BAD: Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling.
7 Other (usually polycarbonate) Baby bottles, microwave ovenware, eating utensils, plastic coating for metal cans BAD: Made with biphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. A hormone disruptor. Simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.
Shop for Supplies:
Green Remodeling
Changing the world one room at a time.
Resources and Articles:
New Society Publishers - New Society Publishers' mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment.
Copyright: Adapted from Green Remodeling, by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).Copyright (c) 2004 by David Johnston and Kim Master. Reprinted by permission of New Society Publishers.
Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.
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