Are all plastics toxic or are some more than others?

Is it really true that when you wash plastic in the dishwasher that many toxins are released?

I use plastic food storage containers and I wash them in the dishwasher.

I have heard from some people that it is not safe.

My kids also drink from the colorful plastic cups from IKEA and I've been washing these in the dishwasher for years and now I'm concerned.

Thanks for any info :-D

I don't know the answers to all the questions, but I know that plastic can leach into/onto food. I store all my food in glass containers when I'm at home and then when I have to leave the house, I transfer the food to a plastic container for better transportation.

I'll try to do some searches to find out more about this and get back to you.

I don't know the answers to all the questions, but I know that plastic can leach into/onto food. I store all my food in glass containers when I'm at home and then when I have to leave the house, I transfer the food to a plastic container for better transportation.

I'll try to do some searches to find out more about this and get back to you.


What do these glass containers look like? I never thought aobut doing that, but it sounds like a great idea.

Some plastics are much more toxic than others. Some are mostly inert. Most will leach plasticisers (softening agents) into products stored in them, though some do this very slowly (most food grade plastics such as polyethylene and I believe polypropylene). Polyester can leach/outgas toxic solvents. Epoxy is fairly inert once it outgases/leaches, I think, but when leaching is quite toxic.

Cars are supposed to be one of the most toxic plastic envirnoments; new cars outgas a lot of solvents and plasticizers. This causes a film on the inside of the windshield.

Even though I use a lot of these materials in my work, I'm not completely up to date on their toxicity. You can get toxicity data from the manufacturers, in "Material Safety Data Sheets" which they have to produce for OSHA, at least in the US.

Glass is a much better material to store food in than plastic, that's for sure, at least for long-term storage.

What do these glass containers look like? I never thought aobut doing that, but it sounds like a great idea.

I just use old food jars (ie spaghetti sauce jars). You can buy used jars at the Goodwill often times, or you can even pick up mason jars w/ lids (typically used for canning - I use them for freezing).

I just use old food jars (ie spaghetti sauce jars). You can buy used jars at the Goodwill often times, or you can even pick up mason jars w/ lids (typically used for canning - I use them for freezing).

Good Idea saving old jars. I try to reuse a lot of stuff I don't know why I never thought of glass jars. Thanks for the tip.

Is this why I was told never to freeze a bottle of water that you buy? I use to do this for years and then take it to work, then I heard that and stopped.

Is this why I was told never to freeze a bottle of water that you buy? I use to do this for years and then take it to work, then I heard that and stopped.

Most likely.

My cousin is big into exercising and physical fitness. He bought a special water bottle that is suppose to leech fewer plastic particles into the water. He saw me refilling a bottle of water once and told me that over time it can be dangerous to consume that much plastic.

I have a bad habit of chewing on plastic pens and pencils, so I wonder how many particles I've consumed through that.

Most likely.

My cousin is big into exercising and physical fitness. He bought a special water bottle that is suppose to leech fewer plastic particles into the water. He saw me refilling a bottle of water once and told me that over time it can be dangerous to consume that much plastic.

I have a bad habit of chewing on plastic pens and pencils, so I wonder how many particles I've consumed through that.

Lol, I can give you one of my dogs bones, but they are not vegan. lol

What do these glass containers look like? I never thought aobut doing that, but it sounds like a great idea.


Like FreshTart said, saving glass jars and reusing them to store stuff is great. I've also gotten some good ones from places like Goodwill and the salvation army.

I really wanted some that stack, so I got some kind of like these http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=74062&PRODID=66840 in different sizes. Saves room in the fridge and on the counter.

I agree with Ludi on this one (I used to be quite knowledgeable in this area, but have been out of the loop for some time). If it concerns you I would avoid vinyl, which tends to have the most plasticizers (it's also quite environmentally unfriendly to manufacture). Personally I don't worry much about plastics poisoning me, but there's no question that glass is better.

There's a book you can check out: "Polymeric Materials and Processing" by P. Charrier...it mentions some of the plasticizers that are commonly used in some plastics (but not whether they're dangerous...to find that out, you can look up an MSDS like Ludi said).

Thanks for the link.

I guess there is not a black and white answer to this question :-(

I use items like this for food storage, and cooking! they don't stain and i can transfer my lasagna pan straight to the fridge. I use plastic containers to bring leftovers to work. I try not to reheat anything in them - i leave that job for a ceramic bowl/plate at work.

http://www.epinions.com/Martha_Stewart_Everyday_Glass_Square_Baking_Dish_P lastic_Lid_1033807_Bakeware#

I really wanted some that stack, so I got some kind of like these http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=74062&PRODID=66840 in different sizes. Saves room in the fridge and on the counter.
Hmmm, those look familiar.

I had no idea plastic was that bad. I only thought you weren't supposed to microwave in it because that definitely releases toxins.

What do these glass containers look like? I never thought aobut doing that, but it sounds like a great idea.

If you can't find anything else, quart canning jars are excellent for storing food.

Ask around, if you know someone who cans, they might have a few jars to give away. If the top of a canning jar is chipped, it shouldn't be used for canning.

Then again, I store my flour and sugar in tupperware containers. :p I'll tell y'all if I keel over one day.

There's a book called "Our Stolen Future" about the long-term toxic effects of plastics on the environment. Plastics get out into the ecosystem and have unhappy effects on wildlife, and of course to a greater or lesser degree on humans.

http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/New/newstuff.htm

I do save glass jars from food I buy, but I don't buy food that lives in glass jars very often. I've seen many kinds of glass storage containers for sale at various supermarkets, but they always have plastic lids. Any ideas on how to make my own lids? (Oh, and there are no thrift stores out here, so old canning jars are out for me.) :(

If you can't find anything else, quart canning jars are excellent for storing food.
The Classico brand tomato sauces effectively come in these, and the Walnut Acres that I buy now comes in ones about the same size.

I use the square glass Anchor Hocking cannisters to which jenna posted a link to store nuts, etc. The tops have plastic seals, but they don't really contact the contents. I also keep most glass jars that I buy things in for reuse, even if it's to fill with something to give to somone.

Some resins are definitely more of an issue than others wrt leaching plasticizers or outgassing chlorine-containing gasses. When at all possible I avoid buying things in plastic for this reason, and for the limited reuse/recycle potential.

Pthalates found in a number of resins have had a lot of attention in recent years wrt their toxicity to kids. At least some manufacturers have switched to less toxic materials, though I'm not sure if pthalates have actually been outlawed.

Keep in mind many synthetic fabrics, leather,wool, and silk substitutes are plastics....

Keep in mind many synthetic fabrics, leather,wool, and silk substitutes are plastics....

Yes and as I understand it the manufacturing process is terrible for the environment. It is best to go with natural vegetable fibers whenever possible. hemp :up:

I do save glass jars from food I buy, but I don't buy food that lives in glass jars very often. I've seen many kinds of glass storage containers for sale at various supermarkets, but they always have plastic lids. Any ideas on how to make my own lids? (Oh, and there are no thrift stores out here, so old canning jars are out for me.) :(

Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/) is your friend.

Don't be only a leech, donate a few things as well. :)

I do save glass jars from food I buy, but I don't buy food that lives in glass jars very often. I've seen many kinds of glass storage containers for sale at various supermarkets, but they always have plastic lids. Any ideas on how to make my own lids? (Oh, and there are no thrift stores out here, so old canning jars are out for me.) :(

Spaghetti sauce jars dont have plastic lids :bow:

Yes and as I understand it the manufacturing process is terrible for the environment. It is best to go with natural vegetable fibers whenever possible. hemp :up:

Yes definitely, and *organic* cotton. Or buy used fabrics.

Das Nut,

I live in a small town in South Korea. My circumstances are very different than yours. I DO donate when I have something to donate, but that doesn't mean that there are thrift stores around here. I honestly don't know where the donated stuff even goes. I've only ever heard of one real thrift shop and it's in Seoul. If I wanted to spend the time and money to get there to go shopping, I'd still only be able to buy what I could carry on my back to get back home. I do not have a car and only take public transportation or walk.

Ilovemydragon~ Yes, but one can consume only so much spaghetti sauce in the quest for useable containers. :) I'm only one person, so it takes a long time to get through a jar of spaghetti sauce. Have you any good methods for removing the nasty gummy sticky glue they use to hold the label in place? I can always get the label off, but then I'm left with a yellow sticky jar. I've tried soaking them in boiling water, using the sharp side of a knife to scrape it off, but it doesn't work. :(