What Does The Marking Of The Plastics Used In Everyday Life Show Us?

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Plastic products are extremely common in everyday life. We don't even realize how much plastic we use, starting with the famous nylon bags, including Teflon household utensils and ending with toothbrushes. Plastic is all around us in everyday life.

Marking of plastic products

Most of the plastic items that serve us have a number from 1 to 7, which is located in a triangle. This figure indicates whether it is subject to recycle this plastic and how it harms our health. If we take some time, we can get acquainted with the qualities of the most commonly used plastics.

• Bottles for mineral water, carbonated drinks, biscuits and others are made of PET or RET plastic. Until recently, they were considered completely harmless if used once. However, when used repeatedly, they emit substances harmful to humans. They are harmful both to the chemicals released by PET plastic and to the organisms that grow in them with repeated use;

• HDPE plastic is used for bottles, shopping bags, freezer bags, shampoo packages and is currently considered safe for health;

• PVC is used for bottles for storing non-food products plastic, but they also put it in meat packages. It affects the balance of human hormones and causes hormonal disturbances;

• PELD plastic is used for disposable bags, dispensers and household foil, which is also considered harmless;

• Coffee cups and food cans that are ordered for home consumption are made from PS, which is considered harmful plastic and should be avoided;

• For baby bottles, medical packaging uses OTHER or O. They are from recycled plasticswhich contain bisphenol A, which is harmful. They must be replaced with glass bottles;

• PC is another plastic that should be avoided because it contains bisphenol A, which is associated with the most severe modern diseases. Cancer, diabetes, obesity and others are thought to be related to this material;

• Teflon - when heated, the Teflon coating emits gas, which is toxic and causes health problems;

Photo: VILI-Violeta Mateva

• ABS is mainly used for monitors, telephones, coffee machines and computer components;

• Modern plastics are PES. They undergo repeated sterilization and are suitable for contact with food.

Safe use of plastics

Safe use of plastics includes tracking of the markingswhich show the type of plastic used to make the product. If it belongs to the harmful ones, an alternative that is harmless should be avoided and sought.