Plastic Dangers

Common Plastics in the Home

Plastic Dangers - A deeper look at some of the common plastics found in the home interior: PET, PETE, HDPE, LDPE, EPS, PC, PU, ABS, Melamine.

Polyethylene-Terephthalate (PET, PETE)

Category 1, clear, tough, durable, shatterproof, able to contain carbon dioxide, carbonates soft drinks, obstructs oxygen, water and carbon dioxide. American Chemistry Council, PET has been approved as safe by the FDA and the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) when for single use.
Building block: Ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate
Additives: UV stabilizers and flame retardants
Plastic Dangers Health: Liver problems, reproductive problems, linked to cancer.
Leaching: Reuse causes leaching into food and water, water left in containers for long periods release higher concentration levels of antimony. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Packaging, drink bottles, salad dressing bottles, mouthwash bottles, food jars, microwave dishes soft drink, juice, water, beer, mouthwash, peanut butter, salad dressing, detergent and cleaner containers.
Recyclable: High recycling rate
Recycled products: Bags, food and non-food containers, fabric, trainers, luggage, upholstery, furniture, carpet, sleeping bag stuffing, coat filling, industrial strapping, sheet, and film, car parts (luggage racks, bumper, grill, door panels), fuse boxes.

High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Category 2, tough, strong, moisture resistance, chemical resistance, suitable for packaging products that have a short life span. Easy to form and process, gas permeable.
Building block: Carbon and hydrogen
Plastic Dangers Health/Leaching: Documented as safe according to guidelines. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Opaque milk cartons, water bottles, juice cartons, household product bottles, personal care bottles, bin bags, pipes, tiles, cling film, plastic sheets, buckets, recycling bins, plastic crates.
Recyclable: Yes
Recycled products: Drainage pipe, liquid laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, benches, doghouses, recycling containers, floor tile, picnic tables, fencing, lumber, and mailbox posts.

Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Category 4, tough, flexible material, opaque/translucent, strong, good chemical resistance, breakable.
Building block: Carbon and hydrogen
Additives: Solvents
Plastic Dangers Health/Leaching: Documented as safe according to guidelines. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Flexible bottles, bin bags, cling film, lining of milk cartons, packaging, toys, plastic food bags.
Recyclable: Yes
Recycled products: Bin liners, furniture, panels, bins, lumber, sheets & film, composters, PC parts, playground slides, worktops.

Polystyrene (PS) Expandable Polystyrene (EPS)

Category 6, known as Styrofoam, can be manufactured as a foam or rigid. Good insulator at low temperatures, low density, low weight, highly flammable, foam ignites easily. Polystyrene in cavity wall insulation and building materials must conform to fire regulations.
Building block: Benzene, styrene, 1,3-butadiene
Plastic Dangers Health: Benzene is a known carcinogen. Combined butadiene and styrene (in ABS) take on the characteristics of benzene. Reproductive & development problems, neural and nervous system problems, hormone disrupter, Polystyrene is linked to cancer.
Environment: Production vapours erode ozone. Foam does not easily decompose, it is a major contributor to marine debris and recorded to cause starvation to marine wildlife and birds. A report detailed that EPS is second place in materials that have the highest environmental impact. Many US states have banned Polystyrene. Present in second hand cigarette smoke and car exhaust fumes.
Leaching: Leaches styrene into the air. Leaches into food containers where hot oil is present in food.
Products: Foam insulation, building materials, furniture foam packaging, electronics, packaging, disposable cups, take away containers, disposable cutlery, CD case, cups, plates, bowls, trays, bottles, egg boxes Recyclable: Difficult to recycle, low scrap value, easier to recycle than PVC
Recycled products: Light switches, insulation, vents, packing, takeaway containers, rulers, egg boxes.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Category 7, polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, 6 billion pounds of BPA are produced and used annually. Lightweight, hard, clear, durable, break resistance, single use or refillable
Building block: Bisphenol A (BPA)
Additives: Highly toxic phosgene, derived from chlorine gas. Requires solvents for production; methylene chloride, a carcinogen, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethylene, tetrachloroethane and chlorobenzene.
Plastic Dangers Health: Neural and behavioural effects, genetic damage, hormone disrupter, female reproductive problems, enlargement of reproductive organs, effects child growth, insulin resistance, inflammation and heart disease. Foetus exposure is linked to breast cancer as an adult. Detected in 93% of urine samples, highest rate present in children and infants due to objects being put in their mouth e.g. dummies, baby bottles. Detected in breast milk, blood of pregnant women.
Leaching: Heating releases more toxins than room temperature. Strong cleaners increase leaching rate. Offgasses VOCs
Recyclable: Can be downcycled into lower grade products or mixed with virgin materials.
Products: CDs, refillable milk bottles, plastic utensils, drinking glasses, tin can lining, microwave dishes, disposable water bottles, refillable water bottles, food storage containers. Epoxy resins are used to line metal products such as canned foods, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.
Alternatives: BPA free plastic, ‘Tritan copolyester’

Polyurethane (PU)

Not categorised in the original resin identification system. Highly flammable and highly toxic
Building block: Organic compounds containing carboxyl groups, polyols and diisocyanates.
Additives: Stabilisers, foamed products contain chemical catalysts, surfactants, emulsifiers, pigments, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and organotin compounds.
Plastic Dangers Health: Incineration releases hazardous chemicals; isocyanates, carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, PAHs and dioxins. Hazardous by-products; phosgene, isocyanates, toluene, diamines, and methylene chloride gas, CFCs (both ozone-depleting), halogenated flame retardants and pigments. Leaching: Documented as safe according to guidelines. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Insulation, soft foam, mattresses, surface coatings, carpet, underlay, car interiors, sealants, lining, adhesives, ceiling installations, flooring, mouldings, moulded furniture.
Recyclable: Yes
Alternatives: Now include 20% soy based foam (non toxic, non fossil fuel, renewable material, soy foam is not biodegradable), the remaining 80% is made of PU. Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) used for building insulation is not known to contain formaldehyde, ozone depleting chemicals or leach into the air or earth (studies ongoing). A new modified polyurethane plastic has been developed that sinks to the sea bottom and degrades in sea water in 20 days (similar to dissolvable stitches). This combats the damage to marine life from marine waste.

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)

Not categorised in the original resin identification system. ABS is a plastic resin, hard, impervious and resilient. Good heat, impact and chemical resistance. Degrades when exposed to acetone.
Building block: Acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene
Plastic Dangers Health: Highly toxic in vapour and liquid form, all three substances are associated carcinogens.
Leaching: Leaches into the body through the skin and inhalation. Offgasses VOCs
Products: Guttering, plumbing pipes, drainage pipes, car bumpers, electronic equipment cases
Recyclable: Yes
Recyclable products: Downcycled into lesser grade products e.g. ground into flakes and processed into casing, garden furniture

Melamine (thermosetting plastic)

Not categorised in the original resin identification system. Fire resistant, fire barrier, versatile, stable, easy to mould when warm, cured by cool temperatures.
Building block: Melamine, formaldehyde, urea
Plastic Dangers Health: Recorded as the cause of pet death through food contamination (wheat gluten) with symptoms of renal failure.
Leaching: Dishware not suited to high temperatures as begins to break down.
Products: Floor and wall tiles, fire retardant fabrics and upholstery, white boards, commercial filters, foam, Formica heat resistant worktop, mixed with composite materials, splashback
Recyclable: Difficult to recycle, decomposes with heat exposure

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