A public-service announcement: PLASTIC IS POISON

[openspace4life]

As far as I know, swallowing solid plastic objects doesn't cause a big problem because they go straight through your digestive tract without being broken down. But when exposed to liquid for longer periods, or when heated, plastic starts to leach hazardous chemicals into that liquid. Here are some safety tips:

• When you buy bottled water, don't reuse the bottle more than once or twice.  (In other words, don't make the same mistake I just found out I've been making for the past three years.)  Reuseable water bottles may have some protection against leaching.


• Storing liquidy or acidy foods in glass containers is a good idea (source).


• NEVER MICROWAVE PLASTIC.


• In general, plastics number 3, 6 (styrofoam), and 7 are the most potentially dangerous, although if a #7 container also has the letters PLA on it, then it's a safe and biodegradable plastic (source).

Thank you for your attention.

Comments

[fairydust3654.livejournal.com]

i suggest you invest in an awesome metal water bottle. I love mine... I think it's made by SIGG and I got it for 20 bucks. Your water won't taste like Nalgene and the bottle lasted through 6 months in China, so it's a pretty sound choice.

[scifiben.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip. I also recently realized that I break the third rule every time I warm up a frozen dinner. As if that kind of "food" weren't bad enough for me as is...