Have you ever noticed how much of the food that we consume comes into contact with plastics? Since 1976 plastic has been the most widely used material in the United States. The plastic that protects much of our food is important to keeping it safe, but some of these plastics may actually be doing more harm than good to the products we consume. Plastics can cause serious health risks when the chemicals used to create them leach into the foods and beverages that they come in contact with. So, should we be afraid of all plastics and ban them from our homes or should we ignore these warnings and hope that they don't affect us? The answer lies somewhere in the middle. This is because not all plastics are created equal. Plastics are generally classified into one of seven recycling categories. These are the seven categories and examples of each type of plastic:

#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Products: Soft drink, juice and water bottles, medicine, detergent and peanut butter containers.
#2 high density polyethylene (HDPE)
Products: Toys, opaque plastic milk or water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.
#3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)
Products: Pipe, cling wrap, some plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil, peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles.
#4 low density polyethylene (LDPE)
Products: Most plastic wraps, grocery bags, and some bottles.
#5 polypropylene (PP)
Products: Most Rubbermaid, syrup, yogurt and deli soup containers, straws and most clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.
#6 polystyrene (PS)
Products: Styrofoam clam-shell take-out containers, some egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, Styrofoam food trays and opaque plastic cutlery.
#7 other (usually polycarbonate)
Products: Medical storage containers, some Nalgene and other "sport" water bottles, most plastic baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, metal food liners, children's clear plastic "sippy" cups, some clear plastic cutlery.

Among these plastics, some are far safer than others. The safest types of plastics come from categories 1, 2, 4 and 5. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) (#1) containers are the most safe single-use plastic bottle. This type of plastic is recyclable but should not be reused. Research suggests that PET containers that are reused may leach DEHP, an endocrine-disrupting phthalate and probable human carcinogen into the food or beverage that comes into contact with it. If you do reuse a #1 bottle, it is important to remember that the longer you leave a liquid in the bottle, the more chemical leaching will occur. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) (#2) is unfortunately one of the least available types of plastics. If you are able to find products in this category, the plastic is very durable and accepted by most curbside recycling programs. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (#4) could be considered the cousin of #2, HDPE. It is a food-safe plastic, mostly used to make food wraps and plastic bags. Polypropylene (PP) (#5) has not been shown to leach any carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. However it is less recyclable than some of the other safe plastic categories.

Polycarbonate (#7) plastics should be used with extreme caution. This is because they have not been proven as dangerous as the following group of plastics but there is a growing amount of research suggesting that they belong with this unsafe group- particularly because of its use in baby bottles and subsequent effect on children. Polycarbonate is used in the popular Nalgene sports bottles and some baby bottles. It contains bisphenol-A, a known hormone disruptor that may leach in some circumstances. (Note: many are now available without bisphenol-A as well, so check the labeling!) Bisphenol-A mimics the action of the human hormone estrogen. Some of the noted adverse affects of bisphenol-A exposure include: early onset puberty, changes in gender-specific behavior, changes in hormones- including decreased testosterone, altered immune function, and behavioral effects including hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning and other changes in behavior. More research is needed before any potential health risk is definitely known. In the meantime, do not expose bottles to heat or use when visibly worn and limit your use of #7 plastics.

Plastics that have been proven most dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible are those from categories 3 and 6. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (#3) has been proven to release carcinogenic dioxins into the environment when manufactured or incinerated and can leach phthalates. The EPA has estimated that the average American's risk of contracting cancer from dioxin exposure "may be as high as one in 1,000--1,000 times higher than the government's current 'acceptable' standard of one in a million." As well as being a serious carcinogenic, dioxin exposure can disrupt the immune system, affect reproduction and childhood development, cause skin disease, acne-like lesions, and in large amounts, can cause excessive body hair and possibly mild liver damage. In order to soften PVC #3 so it can be easier to use (often used to wrap meats and cheese at delis and grocery stores), producers add phthalates- a possible human carcinogen, which leach out of PVC when in contact with food. Polystyrene (PS) (#6) can leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen.

All this can be very overwhelming, so here are a few tips to begin with to make your kitchen safer:

Avoid using plastic containers in the microwave. Chemicals are released from plastics when heated. Instead use glass or ceramic containers free of metallic paint. If you must use plastic, use one that is marked as "microwave safe," but note that this does not mean that it will prevent chemical leaching.
Beware of cling wraps and do not use them for microwaving. Instead use wax paper, parchment paper, or paper towels to cover food. If you use plastic wraps, do not let them touch the food. If you purchase foods such as deli meats wrapped in plastic wrap, cut off a thin slice where the food has touched the plastic and rewrap in a non-PVC wrap or put in a safe container.
Whenever possible, use alternatives to plastic packaging. Recent technological advancements have led to the creation of several types of biodegradable plastics which look and feel like regular plastic but do not leach chemicals and decompose when composted. These new plastics are also available in household products like garbage bags, disposable dinnerware (plates, cups, etc.), flatware, straws and more. Check out www.biobagusa.com and www.simplybiodegradable.com for household biodegradable plastic alternatives. These along with creative ideas like bringing your own reusable bag to the grocery store are great alternative ideas to plastic.
Avoid plastic bottled water. In many cases, tap water is more closely regulated for purity and is far less expensive. Use a filter for even better water quality. Only use bottled water when entirely necessary. A great alternative to plastic water bottles are reusable stainless steel bottles like those found at the Kleen Kanteen's website: http://www.kleankanteen.com
If you use plastic water bottles, use precaution. Do not use water bottles for warm or hot liquids and discard them if there is any scratching. It is best to use #1 and #2 plastics for single use only. Wash any bottles that you are reusing to avoid bacterial buildup, however avoid using harsh detergents that may break down the bottle and increase chemical leaching. Be aware that some companies, like Nalgene use different types of plastics for different products. For instance, their Wide Mouth Round 32-oz., and Wide Mouth Round 1-gal. bottles are their most safe alternatives. Available at http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com
Use alternatives to polycarbonate plastic baby bottles and "sippy" cups. Use glass, polyethylene, or polypropylene alternatives whenever possible. Bottles made of pliable, milky colored plastics contain no polycarbonates. If you have any questions about the type of plastic used, call the toll free number listed on the packaging. For polycarbonate free baby bottles and a wide array of safe products for babies and children check out: http://naturalbaby.stores.yahoo.net
Use wood instead of plastic cutting boards. Spray your wooden board with a mist of vinegar, then with a mix of hydrogen peroxide, to kill bacteria.