Plastic chemicals migrate from jars to human body

Those functional plastic containers used for packaging and storing foods, candy wrappers, juice bottles, among others, have invaded every nook and cranny of everybody’s kitchen worldwide. It is hard to imagine life without them.

However harmless they may seem, these ubiquitous plastic containers are serious health risks, according to Merci Ferrer, Asia coordinator of Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), a global campaigner for environmentally responsible health care.

The chemical additives that give plastic products desirable performance properties have negative environmental and human health effects because these chemicals migrate from the host containers to the foods stored in bottles and other packaging materials, Ferrer said.

Toxins, endocrine disruptors and carcinogens or agents of cancer-carrying substances are just lying in ambush in plastic materials waiting to transfer to the food guests and finally finding their way into the humans’ life support systems, Ferrer pointed out.

There are seven types of plastic materials:

• Polythylene terephthalate, or PET for short, is a lightweight thermoplastic that is resistant to chemicals, has low moisture absorption and exhibits good insulating properties. What people don’t know is that a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is used in the manufacture of soda and water bottles, peanut butter jars, cooking oil bottles, coffee stirrers, drinking cups and toys, is a suspected carcinogen.

• Polystyrene which is to be found in food containers for meats, fish, cheese, yogurt, cushion foams and rigid plates, clear bakery bags, audio cassette housings, CD casings, disposable cutleries, building insulation, ice buckets, wall tiles, paints and serving trays can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and can bring about dizziness and unconsciousness. The contaminants, after migrating into the stored food, are deposited in human body fats.

• Polyester, a material used in beddings, clothing, disposable diapers, tampons and upholsteries, can cause eye and respiratory tract inspection and acute skin rashes.

• Polyvinyl chloride can be found in toiletry containers, cosmetics, crib bumpers, baby pacifiers and milkbottle nipples, floor tiles, shower curtains, water pipes, garden hoses, and inflatable swimming pools. It can cause cancer, birth defects, genetic changes, chronic bronchitis, ulcers, skin diseases, vision failure and liver dysfunction. The migratory material called plasticizers are composed of lead and mercury, among others.

• Polyurethane foam, used in the manufacture of cushions, mattresses and pillows, can cause bronchitis, coughing, skin and eye problems and severe lung ailments.

• Urea formaldehyde materials used in particle board, plywood, building insulations and fabric finishes can cause birth defects and genetic changes.

• Acrylic can cause breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, headache and fatigue. This material is used in clothing, blankets, carpets, adhesives, contact lenses, dentures, floor waxes, sanitary napkins and paints.

• Tertrafluroethlyne, which is used for coating non stick cookware, clothes iron, ironing board covers and plumbing and tools, can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and can cause breathing difficulties.

Health Care Without Harm has urged that households find alternatives whenever possible like buying foods in glass or metal containers; avoiding heating food in plastic containers, storing fatty foods in plastic; using natural fiber clothing, beddings and furniture; refusing plastic teethers or toys and avoiding PVC and styrene products.

Apart from the adverse health effects to humans, used plastic containers find their way to the soil, water and air, thus bringing about another ugly face in our environmental concerns, Ferrer said.