Plastics
There is growing concern about the plastics we use in our everyday lives. From widespread pollution in every stage of a plastic product’s lifecycle, to toxic chemicals released into our bodies when plastic items break down, the problem with plastic is everywhere. Chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) are added to plastics to make them hard and durable, and phthalates are added to plastics to make them soft and flexible. BPAs are also commonly added to the lining of food cans to prevent the metal from rusting, and phthalates are commonly found in a variety of personal care products. Understanding the impacts of plastics, BPA, and phthalates and how to reduce your exposure to them can increase the health and well-being of your family, your community, and the world we share.
Ways To Reduce Exposure
While it might be impossible to avoid plastics and canned products, there are many things you can do to reduce your exposure to toxics in those materials. Try to:
- Eat less canned and plastic-packaged food and eat more fresh foods or foods packaged in glass jars.
- If you can’t get fresh food, consider buying frozen. Frozen food is usually higher in nutritional value than canned food and BPA in cans can be absorbed by the food the longer it sits in the can.
- Switch from canned beans to dried beans; they are just as tasty, often less expensive, and reduce your exposure to BPAs.
- Re-use glass jars to store leftover food.
- Avoid black plastic cooking utensils and instead use wooden, stainless steel, and food-grade silicone.
- Choose plastic-free cutting boards.
- Avoid microwaving food and beverages in plastic containers.
- BPAs can get into our food when the plastic gets hot, so only store food in plastic once it has cooled.
- Do not heat baby formula or food in plastic containers or store hot food in them. If you have heated breast milk or formula, allow it to cool to room temperature or chill it in the fridge before placing in a plastic bottle.
- Glass and stainless steel are the safer options for water bottles, coffee mugs, and travel cups.
- Consider buying wooden toys instead of plastic or look for "BPA-free" on the plastic toy package.
- Purchase products marked "BPA-free" or "phthalate-free." If possible, check that these claims are backed up by a third party, not the manufacturer.
- Check the recycling triangle with the code number on the bottom of plastic containers. This tells you the type of plastic used.
- Avoid phthalates and BPA in #3 (PVC) and #7 (polycarbonate) plastics. Polystyrene, another toxin, is in #6 plastics.
- Safer plastic choices are #2 (HDPE – found in bottled juice, milk, and water bottles, yogurt cups, and some plastic bags), #4 (LDPE – found in plastic bags and food wraps), and #5 (Polypropylene – common in straws, food storage containers, yogurt containers, and some baby bottles).
- Plastic water bottles are recommended for single use only.
- Cover food with paper towels instead of cling wrap in the microwave.
- Don’t put plastics in the dishwasher even if they are labeled “dishwasher safe.” Hot water from the dishwasher can make plastic items break down faster, resulting in more microplastic pollution.
- For storing or heating food, try stainless steel, glass, and bamboo cookware.
- The older the plastics are and the more they are washed and scratched, the more they can leach chemicals into their contents. Discard (recycle if possible) old, cloudy, and cracked plastic containers.
Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that come in all shapes and sizes and measure less than five millimeters long (about the length of a pencil eraser). Some microplastics are made when a larger object made of plastic breaks down into tiny pieces. Other types of microplastics are purposefully put into health and beauty products as an exfoliant. Once microplastics enter our water and bodies, they’re almost impossible to remove, and will have long-lasting impacts on water quality, our food systems, and human and wildlife health for years to come.
In a 2024 study done by Toxic-Free Future and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, scientists studied common household items made of black plastic like toys, take-out containers, and cooking utensils. They found high amounts of hormone-disrupting, cancer-causing, and unneeded flame-retardant chemicals in items we use every day.
If you get rid of your black plastic cooking utensils, safer items are available, including those made from wood, stainless steel, and food-grade silicone. Depending on the brand you buy, your alternative cooking utensils might be dishwasher-safe, but handwashing is a great way to lengthen the life of the utensils.
Phthalates are a type of chemical that is used to make plastics, primarily polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, more flexible and last longer. Many everyday items contain phthalates, including garden hoses, shower curtains, raincoats, food wrap, bath toys, and personal care products like nail polish, shampoo, lotion, and perfume. Over time and with use, plastics containing phthalates break down and contaminate our food, dust, and air.
Children are especially vulnerable to phthalate exposure because they spend more time on the ground, breathing closer to where dust settles, and their hand-to-mouth behavior means they are more likely to put dirty hands and toys in their mouth. Damp dusting and vacuuming weekly is a great way to protect children’s exposure to toxics that collect in dust.
Other ways to reduce your exposure to phthalates is to:
• avoid PVC vinyl products and packaging
• avoid products with fragrances
An easy way to reduce your exposure to harmful toxics, including phthalates, is by choosing products with the EPA Safer Choice label. Products with this label go through extensive quality control to meet certain health and safety standards, which means scented products with this label do not contain phthalates.
Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, is a type of hormone-disrupting chemical, which means that it can mimic or block how estrogen and other hormones interact with the body. Exposure to BPAs can lead to complications in pregnancy and may cause breast cancer to develop and grow.
BPAs are polycarbonate plastics used to make certain types of food and beverage containers (often the rigid water bottles and jugs), receipts, plastic dinnerware, impact-resistant safety equipment, automobile parts, and toys. BPA epoxy resins are used in the protective linings of food cans, dental sealants, and other products.
Most people are exposed to BPAs through their diets, specifically through the containers that their food and beverages are stored in. While all old plastic containers break down over time with age and wear, the biggest factor for how much BPA comes off the container and into the food you eat is the temperature of the food in the container.
Companies are not required to tell consumers if their product contains BPAs. Look for the number 7 inside a triangle of arrows (the recycling symbol) on the bottom of plastic containers to learn if the product could contain BPAs. If you see “PC” next to the number 7 on the underside of a plastic bottle, it does contain BPA.
Resources
Learn more:
American Lung Association: Do It Yourself Healthy Home Assessment
Environmental Protection Agency: Reducing Household Hazardous Waste in Your Home
Environmental Protection Agency: Safer Choice
Green Science Policy Institute Six Classes
Safer Cleaning Recipes
Thurston County Healthy Homes Vendor List
Washington State Department of Ecology: Healthy Home Guide
Washington State Department of Ecology: What's hazardous in my home?
Washington State Department of Health: Eight Principals of a Healthy Home
Contact Us
Contact our Environmental Health Education and Outreach Team for more information at healthyhomes@co.thurston.wa.us or call 360-867-2674 if you have additional questions.