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Plastic Identification Code
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Type of plastic polymer
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Common Applications
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Safety Information
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Polyethylene
Terephthalate
(PET, PETE)
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Soft
drink, water and salad dressing bottles; peanut butter and jam
jars, thermoformed sheets, strapping, and polyester fibers.
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GOOD:
Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing
cancer or disrupting hormones.
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High
Density Polyethylene
(HDPE)
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Milk,
juice and water bottles; trash bags, grocery bags, recycling bins,
agricultural pipe, and playground equipment.
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GOOD:
Not
known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer
or disrupting hormones.
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Polyvinyl
Chloride
(PVC)
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Juice
bottles, cling films, PVC piping, and fencing.
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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.
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Low
Density Polyethylene
(LDPE)
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Frozen
food bags, squeezable bottles, cling films, flexible container
lids, 6 pack rings, tubing, and various molded laboratory
equipment.
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GOOD:
Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing
cancer or disrupting hormones.
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Polypropylene
(PP)
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Reusable
microwaveable ware, kitchenware, yogurt containers, margarine
tubs, microwaveable disposable take-away containers, disposable
cups and plates, and auto parts.
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OK:
Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals.
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Polystyrene
(PS)
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Egg
cartons, packing peanuts, disposable cups, plates, cafeteria trays
and cutlery, disposable take-away containers, toys, and video
cassettes.
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BAD:
Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen.
Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of plastic) are
suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recyclability.
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Other
(often Polycarbonate
Acrylic,
Acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene
or ABS,
Fiberglass,
Nylon,
and Polylactic
acid)
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Beverage
bottles, baby milk bottles, electronic casing, eating utensils,
microwave ovenware, and plastic coating for metal cans.
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BAD:
Polycarbonates
are made with Bisphenol-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 or beverages as container ages or is heated.
Other
plastics in this category are not known to leach any chemicals
that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.
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