Have We Been Poisoning Ourselves Unknowingly?

Poisoning might be a strong word to use here in association with our use of plastic bottles, but there are certainly severe health risks that are involved by using them. Over these many years plastic bottles have become a very convenient alternative to the heavier, breakable glass bottles or containers. It really wasn't really all that long ago, that beverages such as soda, juice, water and milk were sold in glass bottles. Also, women with babies also relied on glass bottles to fed their children formula.

I suppose when plastic bottles replaced glass, we all thought of the wonderful advantages of such containers. They were lighter in weight, and best of all of course, was the fact that plastic bottles didn't break. Not only have beverages been commonly sold in plastic bottles, but more and more plastic container usage is being found in many food items as well, such as ketchup, mustard, vinegar, cooking oils, mayonnaise, salad dressings and so forth. Many canned food items as well, have a thin layer of plastic lining the cans. With all this seeming convenience however, have we been putting our health at risk?

Almost on a daily basis, we're are hearing not only of the harm plastics are creating to our environment, as none are biodegradable, but worse we are hearing of the potential dangers plastic bottles and containers have toward our health.

All plastics are made of chemical compounds that includes the use of petroleum, but many also contain other added chemicals that are known toxins. If one looks on the bottom of any plastic bottle or container, one will see a triangle that has a number rating on it from #1 to #7. These are the numbers to be aware of and can tell you which plastic bottle has the most potential for health risks. For instance one of the chemicals used in plastics is di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate or DEHP, and is one of the chemicals used and found in the #3 PVC or Polyvinyl plastics, however there are traces of DEHP in the more commonly used #1 PETE (polyethylene terephthalate).