Are the plastics containers you are using safe?

November 2nd, 2009 Posted in Toxins, carcinogens and drugs Tags: Bottle Caps, Bottles And Jars, Broad Brush, Cosmetic Cases, Dibutyl Phthalate, Frypans, High Density, Ldpe, Low Density, Milk Bottles, Oil Bottles, Packaging Materials, Pet Bottles, phthalates, Plastics Containers, Poly Vinyl Chloride, Ps Polystyrene, Rubbish Bags, Short Answer, Soft Drink Bottles

Is there a problem using PET bottles for packaging oils?

The short answer is NO! From time to time I read articles about plasticizers such as Dibutyl Phthalate in plastics. We know that plasticizers are likely to leach from plastic into food, especially oily foods and therefore should be avoided.

PET does not contain plasticisers. On the other hand, plasticisers such as the phthalates are added to hard, brittle plastics such as PVC (Poly vinyl chloride) and Polystyrene to make them pliable, so quite often writers take a broad brush and label all the plastics as if they all required plasticizers, when such is not the case.

A brief overview of plastics in common use:

PET (1 in the triangle – discovered in 1941) is the preferred plastic for soft drink bottles, oil bottles and jars. It is preferred because of its inertness, flexibility and clarity. HDPE (2 in the triangle – discovered in 1933) is High Density Polythene, commonly used for milk bottles. It is translucent in appearance.

PVC (3 in the triangle – discovered in 1937) is Poly Vinyl Chloride, commonly used for plastic hoses and pipes. It has clarity but requires plasticizers. LDPE (4 in the triangle – discovered in 1933) is Low Density Polythene commonly used for rubbish bags.

PP (5 in the triangle – discovered in 1952) is Polypropylene, commonly used for bottle caps because of its toughness and its inertness. More expensive than HDPE. PS Polystyrene(6 in the triangle – discovered in the 1950s) is commonly used for packaging materials and cosmetic cases. It is clear and bright in appearance and requires plasticizers. NYLON (discovered in the 1930s) is a polyamide plastic and one of the best, unfortunately, it is expensive and not easy to mould into bottles. Nylon and all other plastics such as Polycarbonate ”babies bottles” and Teflon for coating frypans are number 7.

From all the studies on toxicity, PET stands out as a highly acceptable plastic for use in food and drinks; tough, nonbreakable and with no evidence of leaching minute substances into oily contents on storage over considerable time periods.

Recycling has proven difficult. The biggest problem is the sorting of plastic waste as it is labour intensive. Recycled plastics are being used for non food applications such as plastic pallets, park benches and a unique process of lamination whereby new plastic is used on the food contact inside of a bottle and recycled plastic on the exterior.

Biodegradable Plastics. Considerable work is being done to make plastics biodegradable. Apart from the starch based resins, an additive called Bio-Batch results in total biodegradability in landfills where 94% of most plastics end up.

Geoff Steinicke
Melrose Founder and Chemist

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49 Most Harmful ingredients in Cosmetics

The EWG (Environmental Working Group) analysed 14,841 personal care products and compared ingredients found in these products against chemicals listed in 37 toxicity and regulatory databases. From this study the EWG has developed a list of top ingredients which are known and probable carcinogens; known and probable reproductive and developmental toxins; and ingredients that are illegal for use in cosmetics in the U.S. or E.U., or that have been found unsafe for use in cosmetics by authoritive bodies.

1. MERCURY

Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to FDA; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Possible human carcinogen

2. THIMEROSAL

Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to FDA; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Possible human carcinogen

3. LEAD ACETATE

Known human reproductive or developmental toxin; Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products

4. FORMALDEHYDE

Known human carcinogen; Not safe for use if aerosolized, in aerosolized product; Skin sensitizer

5. NICKEL

Known human carcinogen; Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Skin sensitizer

6. TOLUENE

Unsafe according to International Fragrance Association; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products

7. PETROLEUM DISTILLATES

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Possible human carcinogen; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products

8. ACRYLONITRILE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Possible human carcinogen; Skin sensitizer

9. ETHYLACRYLATE

Unsafe according to International Fragrance Association; Possible human carcinogen; Skin sensitizer

10. COAL TAR

Known human carcinogen; Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products

11. DIBUTYL PHTHALATE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Endocrine disruptor

12. POTASSIUM DICHROMATE

Possible human carcinogen; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Skin sensitizer

13. METHYL CELLOSOLVE

Unsafe according to International Fragrance Association; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Endocrine disruptor

14. FERROUS SULFATE

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Reproductive or developmental harm – limited evidence

15. SELENIUM SULFIDE

Possible human carcinogen; Restricted in EU cosmetics (manufacturing/structural limits); Reproductive or developmental harm – limited evidence

16. DIMETHYLAMINE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Respiratory toxicity hazards; Skin or sense organ toxicity hazards

17. CHROMIUM

Known human carcinogen; Reproductive or developmental harm – limited evidence; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards

18. ZIRCONIUM SILICATE

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Restricted in EU cosmetics (manufacturing/structural limits)

19. ACRYLAMIDE

Possible human carcinogen; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products; Restricted in EU cosmetics (impurity limit)

20. PHENYLPHENOL

Possible human carcinogen; Endocrine disruptor; Reproductive or developmental harm – limited evidence

21. D&C BLUE 6

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Color additive – banned or not approved for use in food

22. EXT D&C GREEN 1

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Color additive – banned or not approved for use in food

23. EXT D&C RED 1

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Color additive – banned or not approved for use in food

24. EXT D&C RED 3

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Color additive – banned or not approved for use in food

25. ACID VIOLET 43

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; May contain harmful impurities or form toxic breakdown products; Skin sensitizer

26. HEXACHLOROPHENE

Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to FDA; Lung sensitizer used in products that may be inhaled; Cancer – limited evidence of carcinogenicity

27. FD&C RED 3

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Color not approved for use around eyes, in eye products; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

28. LIDOCAINE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Neurotoxicity hazards; Respiratory toxicity hazards

29. HYDROXYANISOLE

Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to industry panel; Skin sensitizer; Neurotoxicity hazards

30. BHA

Possible human carcinogen; Endocrine disruptor; Skin sensitizer

31. LITHIUM CARBONATE

Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Endocrine disruptor; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards

32. DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Reproductive or developmental harm – limited evidence; Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards

33. IODINE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Endocrine disruptor; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards

34. PHENACETIN

Possible human carcinogen; Kidney toxicity hazards; Neurotoxicity hazards

35. PHENOLPHTHALEIN

Possible human carcinogen; Reproductive or developmental harm – limited evidence; Gastrointestinal or liver toxicity hazards

36. PROGESTERONE

Possible human carcinogen; Possible human reproductive or developmental toxin; Endocrine disruptor

37. ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM TETRACHLOROHYDREX GLYCINE COMPLEX, ANHYDROUS

Unsafe for use in cosmetics according to FDA; Restricted in EU cosmetics (manufacturing/structural limits); Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

38. DISPERSE BLUE 1

Possible human carcinogen; Kidney toxicity hazards; Industry-recommended limits on concentration/use

39. FERRIC AMMONIUM CITRATE

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Persistent and bioaculative; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

40. BASIC VIOLET 14

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Coal tar dye – cancer studies unavailable; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

41. ACID ORANGE 24

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Coal tar dye – cancer studies unavailable; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

42. 2- AMINO- 4- NITROPHENOL

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Cancer – limited evidence of carcinogenicity; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

43. BRUCINE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Highly toxic; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

44. ACID BLUE 3

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

45. ACID YELLOW 3

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

46. PIGMENT BLUE 15

Color additive – banned or not approved for use in cosmetics; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; In other consumer products besides personal care products

47. NAPHAZOLINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; Not assessed by industry panel

48. DIPHENHYDRAMINE HCL

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; Not assessed by industry panel

49. TETRAHYDROZOLINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Prohibited for use in cosmetics in the European Union; Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel; Not assessed by industry panel

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