BPA and Plastic codes

BPA and Plastic codes

BPA and Plastic codes:

Usage of plastic containers to carry food and water, or consuming tea or coffee in plastic cups is hazardous for health. Medical studies have found that those persons who regularly used plastics containers or bottles were found to contain Bisphenol A (BPA) in their blood.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that is used to make certain plastics and resin since the 1960s. BPA causes health problems like hair fall, high cholesterol, variations in HDL levels, high fasting blood sugar, poly-cystic ovarian disease (PCOD), hypothyroidism and high blood pressure.

Avoid using plastics in any form; instead use steel, glass, porcelain or earthen wares.

If you still want to use plastics then always look for plastic recycling codes to be on the safer side of using plastics.

Plastic codes are indicated with a number between 1 and 7 enclosed in a triangle of arrows at the bottom of the plastic containers or on it. The code indicates the type of plastic you are using and gives you important clues about safety. Plastics with codes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are considered to be the safest.

Try to avoid using plastics with codes 3 or 6, as these plastics contain chemicals that may be harmful. Plastics with code 7 are very hazardous as these plastics are BPA-containing plastics called polycarbonates. These plastics have the letters PC printed underneath 7 and these are the plastics which you should completely avoid using them.