What is Pp Plastic Bowls and Why Do We Use Them?
Sep. 02, 2024
Is Polypropylene Safe and BPA Free? - Healthline
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Polypropylene is a plastic thats used in many products, including food storage containers. You can recognize it as the number 5 surrounded by a triangle on the bottom. Its generally considered one of the safer plastics and isnt known to have any cancer-causing effects.
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We live in a very plastic world. Nearly everything we eat, drink, or own contains plastic or is contained in plastic. Some plastics, like those that contain BPA or other harmful chemicals, can negatively affect our bodies or the world we live in.
Polypropylene, a complex plastic, is generally considered safe for humans. But what do we know about this useful and ubiquitous product?
Whats polypropylene, and whats it used for?
Polypropylene is a plastic. Of the commercial plastics on the market today, polypropylene is considered one of the safest.
Its FDA-approved for food contact, so youll find polypropylene in food containers like those that hold yogurt, cream cheese, and butter products. Because it has a high heat tolerance, its also often used in packaging of food that can be heated in a microwave.
Some surgical devices and implants are also made of polypropylene, and polypropylene fibers are commonly used to weave area rugs for indoor and outdoor use.
Is it safe?
Polypropylene, which is derived from petroleum, is considered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be a safer choice than some other types of plastics. Its not known to cause cancer in humans, and its less flammable in fabrics than wool.
Its important to note, however, that some newer research does point to toxicity in certain polypropylene containers.
The researchers in a study looked at many kinds of plastic in a wide range of products. They found that the toxicity of a particular plastic varied dramatically from product to product because of each products manufacturing process.
In this study, researchers found that some polypropylene products affected androgen hormones and caused a toxic or stress response in cells.
More research is needed, especially since plastics are chemically complex, and each product could have different effects.
This research hasnt changed the FDAs or the EPAs recommendations for the use of polypropylene.
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Is it BPA free?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics. Its also used in epoxy resins that coat the insides of canned goods and water supply pipes.
BPA leaches into food and water supplies easily. More than 93 percent of the urine samples examined in a CDC study contained BPA concentrations.
Although the FDA has said that small amounts of BPA are safe for humans, some environmental and health experts are concerned that exposure to BPA could lead to problems with brain development, immune function, learning abilities, reproductive disorders, and other health issues.
The growing concern around BPA has led to the production of several types of BPA-free plastics. Polypropylene is one type of plastic thats free of BPA.
What are the other types of plastic?
To make it easier for consumers to recycle and for recycling facilities to process plastics, containers are labeled with a resin ID code.
This code is identified as a number between 1 and 7 stamped on the bottom of a package and framed by arrows forming a triangle.
Polypropylenes number is 5. Heres an at-a-glance guide to resin recycling codes:
NameResin IDFound inWhat to knowPolyethylene terephthalate (PET)1Plastic water and drink bottles, condiment containersGenerally safe, but at high temperatures may leak a metal called antimony.High-density polyethylene (HDPE)2Jugs and bottles, plastic bagsReleases low levels of chemicals that raise estrogen levels.Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)3Sandwich meat containers, sturdy bags for bedding, toysCan contain toxins such as DEHP, which the EPA says is likely to cause cancer in humans in high concentrations. May also contain dioxins, vinyl chloride, and other toxins that can cause birth defects, learning difficulties in children, hormonal dysregulation, and cancer. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)4Dry cleaner and bread bags, shrink wrapsGenerally considered safe.Polypropylene (PP)5Potato chip bags, diapers, yogurt containersGenerally considered safe.Polystyrene (PS)6Styrofoam cups, egg cartons, packing peanuts, cigarettesStyrene, a chemical believed to cause cancer, can leach out of polystyrene containers, though the amount of styrene in packaged foods is very low. Other miscellaneous plastics7Oven baking bags, other plastic containersThis is a catch-all category for plastic that doesnt fall into the other categories. It contains BPA and is generally not considered safe.Tips for safe plastic use
Because plastic is everywhere, eliminating it entirely is a tall order. Here are some tips for reducing plastic use, as well as using it more safely:
- Doctors dont recommend heating food in plastic containers because heat increases the chances that chemicals will seep out of the container and into your food. Choose to heat food in glass or metal containers instead.
- Choose products marked BPA-free if you can. Try to avoid plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7, unless theres a leaf beside the number (which indicates the plastic is BPA-free). Theres typically a higher risk that these plastics contain BPA and other potentially harmful chemicals.
- Discard any plastic containers youve had since before . Thats the year the FDA banned the use of BPA in sippy cups, baby bottles, and baby formula containers.
- Avoid using plastic or coated roasting and steaming bags. Heat may cause chemicals to be released into your food from these products.
- Dont refill plastic water bottles labeled with a resin recycling code 1. They are intended as single-use containers.
- Avoid handling cash register receipts coated with a shiny film. According to advocacy group Breastcancer.org, that shiny coating contains BPA.
- You may want to consider replacing your plastic serve-ware and storage containers with glass or metal alternatives over time. Although polypropylene remains a safer alternative to some other types of plastic, the manufacturing process for plastic products may not be good for the environment.
The bottom line
Polypropylene is a plastic thats used to make everything from rugs to sour cream containers. Its generally considered to be one of the safer plastics. The FDA has approved its use as a food container material, and there are no known cancer-causing effects associated with polypropylene.
You can tell youre using a polypropylene container if the number 5 surrounded by a triangle is on the bottom of the container.
If youre concerned about the possibility of chemicals leaching out of a polypropylene package, you can take some steps to minimize your exposure. Transfer food into a glass or metal container before you heat it, and dont reuse containers that are intended as single-use packaging.
Polypropylene Plastic Uses & Applications
Due to the fact that polypropylene adapts well to the injection moulding process, it can be used to make incredibly thin layers of plastic. It is very suited to applications such as
- hinges on medication pots,
- lids on shampoo bottles
- and other containers that will be bent and manipulated a lot and mustnt break.
Polypropylene can even withstand twisting motions of up to 360 degrees without snapping and is very hard to snap as a result. It is relatively low cost and straightforward to produce and readily available in multiple countries and communities.
High chemical and fatigue resistance add to its durability and versatility as a packaging material and option for hinges and bottle tops attached to the main bottle by a thin layer of plastic. It can offer great versatility in colour, as it can be produced as an opaque or transparent thermoplastic and used when some transfer of light is desired. Its lighter density allows it to be used in applications where weight saving has to be a key consideration.
Polypropylene is waterproof and extremely resistant to moisture absorption, which adds to its packaging benefits and flexibility as a packaging material. Its semi-crystalline nature offers high flexural strength too, making it resilient to general wear and tear and ideal for items that must undergo higher levels of physical stress. It is also resilient against mildew, mould, rot and bacteria.
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