Plastic pollution of the planet. Is there life without plastic? Plastic dishes and bags. Impact on humans and nature Useful plastic

Plastic bottles, containers and utensils have become a part of our everyday life. But simultaneously with “plasticization,” reports are increasingly appearing about the danger that this material poses: under certain conditions, it releases toxic compounds that, when entering the human body, gradually undermine his health.

American scientists claim that up to 80% of “plastic” substances found in the human body come from construction and finishing materials, in particular from such popular plastic windows, furniture, but most of all - from dishes: from food-grade plastic, all kinds of compounds pass into food products. Domestic manufacturers, in turn, assure that certified plastic tableware is absolutely safe. However, there is a reservation: if you use it for its intended purpose.

The most common polymer materials (or plastics) are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and polycarbonate. Both technical and food plastics are produced from them. The polymers themselves are inert, non-toxic and do not “migrate” into food. But intermediate substances, technological additives, solvents, as well as chemical decomposition products can penetrate into food and have a toxic effect on humans.

This process can occur while food is being stored or when it is heated. In addition, polymer materials are subject to change (aging), as a result of which destruction products are released from them. Moreover, different types of plastic become toxic under different conditions - some cannot be heated, others cannot be washed, etc.

Dangerously brittle plastic

Polyvinyl chloride is a chlorine-based polymer. It is distributed all over the world because it is extremely cheap. It is used to make drink bottles, cosmetics boxes, containers for household chemicals, and disposable tableware. Over time, PVC begins to release a harmful substance - vinyl chloride. Naturally, it gets from the bottle into soda, from the plate into food, and from there directly into the human body. And vinyl chloride is a carcinogen. A PVC bottle begins to release this dangerous substance a week after the contents are poured into it. After a month, several milligrams of vinyl chloride accumulate in mineral water. From the point of view of oncologists, this is a lot.

Often plastic bottles are reused, tea or fruit drinks and even alcoholic drinks are poured into them. Milk and butter are sold in plastic bottles in markets. Five-liter bottles have replaced buckets and cans for summer residents, and advocates of a healthy lifestyle go with them to springs for “living” water and store Epiphany water in them for a year. Experts are unanimous: water bottles should not be refilled with anything other than water. And even then not all of them. Only PET bottles can be reused. PVC bottles release toxic vinyl chloride.

However, many experts are confident that any bottle plastic remains neutral only in the absence of oxygen, that is, as long as the water retains its original chemical composition. As soon as the bottle is opened, the water quickly changes its properties, after which the plastic inevitably changes its properties. As for “living” and holy water, its healing properties can only be preserved in glass containers.

How to distinguish dangerous PVC products from safe plastic? You need to inspect the bottom. Conscientious manufacturers put a symbol on the bottom of dangerous bottles - a three in a triangle. Or they write PVC - this is how PVC is designated in English. But there are few such bottles with honest inscriptions. A harmful container can also be recognized by the influx on the bottom. It comes in the form of a line or a spear with two ends. But the surest way is to press the bottle with your fingernail. If the container is dangerous, a whitish scar will form on it. The “correct” bottle remains smooth.

Disposable cups can only be used for water. It is better not to drink acidic juices, sodas, hot and strong drinks from them! It is not recommended to place hot foods in polystyrene plates.

Convenient, practical, but risky

The time for picnics is approaching, and in order to minimize household inconveniences, we stock up on plastic plates. Pour tea from a thermos or alcoholic drinks into plastic cups. Cheap, practical, but not safe.

Disposable plastic tableware costs pennies. But plastic is a delicate material. It cracks in the light. The heat melts. For strength, stabilizers are added to it. Plastic becomes stronger and... more toxic.

Polystyrene (denoted by the letters PS) is indifferent to cold liquids. But as soon as you pour a hot or alcoholic drink, the innocuous glass begins to release a toxic compound called styrene. Polystyrene plates are often used in summer cafes for barbecue. And the client, in addition to hot meat and ketchup, also receives a dose of toxins.

The Mystery of the Tin Can

Any polymer material ages under the influence of light, heat, heating and contact with all kinds of substances. Then it becomes cloudy, absorbs odors and ingredients from the contents and releases toxic substances. Food manufacturers indicate that shelf life applies not only to the product itself, but also to the packaging. This is most true for canned goods. For example, a toxic substance can be found in them - biphenol. Plastic film containing biphenol is used to line the inside of cans to prevent the metal from coming into contact with food. From here biphenol can pass into the contents. That's why:

give up canned food in favor of fresh and frozen foods.
transfer food from opened cans to glass ones, even if we are talking about short-term storage (under the influence of oxygen, the corrosion of cans increases sharply and the content of lead and tin in food begins to increase rapidly).

Follow the markings

At one time, to simplify the sorting of plastic, a special international marking was developed - triangles formed by arrows with a number inside. The number indicates the type of plastic. Instead of the number or under the triangle, at the same time as the number, you can find the letter code of the plastic:

PET
Polyethylene terephthalate: bottles for carbonated drinks, water, juices, dairy products, vegetable oils, cosmetic products, etc.
HDP
High density polyethylene: packaging bags, garbage bags
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride: construction and finishing materials, furniture, shoes, medical products, water bottles, cling film
LDP
Low-density polyethylene: detergent bottles, toys, pipes
PP
Polypropylene: medical products, dishes for hot dishes, food packaging film
PS
Polystyrene: disposable tableware, cups for dairy products, yogurt, electrical insulating film
Other types of plastic: multi-layer packaging or combined plastic

Expert opinion

Nadezhda Tarakanova, technologist at Bytplast
Plastic used for the production of products in contact with food and children's assortment must undergo examination for compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards and be certified. And if the manufacturer declares, for example, that the product is intended for drinking water, then it is tested as a container for drinking water. The manufacturer is obliged to label its products. Food-grade plastic has the generally accepted marking - “glass and fork”. It may state that it is intended for cold, bulk or hot foods, for use in the microwave or for freezing, sometimes indicating a temperature range. “Snowflakes” indicate that the container is suitable for freezing food, “stove with waves” - that the dishes can be heated in the microwave, and “shower plates” indicate that the containers can be washed in dishwasher. This marking is also used by some Russian manufacturers, including us.

Polypropylene glass (marked PP) can withstand temperatures up to +100°C. But it does not tolerate chemical attack - it releases formaldehyde or phenol. If you drink vodka from such a glass, not only your kidneys, but also your eyesight will suffer. Formaldehyde is also considered a carcinogen.

Disposable packaging - for one time only

Buy food, plastic utensils and cling film only from famous manufacturers and only in reliable stores.

To ensure that plastic utensils are safe, they must be used strictly for their intended purpose. Different brands of food grade plastic have different properties. One brand of this polymer raw material is intended for the production of water bottles, the other for carbonated drink bottles. Yogurt cups are made from a grade of plastic that allows the casting method to produce a lightweight, cheap container that is neutral to milk fat, while pudding cups must resist sugar.

Therefore, experts insist: in no case should plastic packaging be used as containers for storing food, and disposable tableware should not be used repeatedly. How plastic will react to contact with ingredients for which it was not intended, and what compounds may form in this case, no one has studied. Particularly insidious are fats and acids, which can extract free toxic compounds from plastic.

There is one more important point. Before reuse, the plastic container must be washed. Disposable packaging was not intended for washing, so the result is unpredictable.

The release of various compounds from plastic increases many times over when heated. Therefore, only special containers can be used in the microwave oven.

Store food in glass and ceramic containers.
Try, if possible, to avoid products packaged in plastic, give preference to those that are weighed.
Trim off the top layer of food stored in plastic packaging.
At home, immediately remove the packaging film from food.
Buy drinks only in PET bottles and do not reuse them.
Buy baby food only in glass or cardboard.
Do not use plastic containers for baby food.
Do not microwave food in plastic containers.
Do not keep water in pitcher filters for a long time. In the morning and evening, replace the remaining water with fresh water.
A water jug that becomes cloudy should be thrown away.

Flexible packaging

Mayonnaise, ketchup and other sauces, seasonings, juices, jams, as well as ready-made soups and cereals that require heating, are sold in regular or standing bags. Such bags are made from multilayer combined films. The choice of film depends on the properties of the product, the period and conditions of its storage. Soups, cereals, and main courses are packaged in bags made of films that have a high melting point. Dishes in such packaging can be heated in the microwave or boiled directly in the bag. But physiologists advise eating them less often: the less chemicals in life, the better.

Plastic or plastic Organic material based on natural or synthetic high molecular weight compounds. The most popular type of plastic is made from synthetic polymers.

The most common polymer materials (types of plastic):

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Polystyrene
Polycarbonate

They are used to produce both technical and food plastics.

Plastics used for the production of products in contact with food and children's assortment must undergo examination for compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards and be certified. The manufacturer is obliged to label its products. Food-grade plastic has the generally accepted marking - “glass and fork”. It may say that it is intended for cold, bulk or hot foods, for use in the microwave or for freezing, sometimes indicating a temperature range.

For example, “Snowflakes” indicate that the container is suitable for freezing food, “stove with waves” means that the dishes can be heated in the microwave, and “shower plates” indicate that the containers can be washed in the dishwasher. This marking is also used by some Russian manufacturers.

Harm

The harm of plastic

Plastic in its pure form is a rather fragile, fragile material - it cracks in the light and melts in the heat. For strength, stabilizers are added to it. This makes the plastic stronger, but also more toxic. Because of this, it appears harm from plastic dishes.

The polymers themselves are inert, non-toxic and do not “migrate” into food. But intermediate substances, technological additives, solvents, as well as chemical decomposition products can penetrate into food and have a toxic effect on humans. Under certain conditions, plastic releases toxic compounds that, when entering the human body, negatively affect his health.

American scientists claim that up to 80% of “plastic” substances found in the human body come from construction and finishing materials, in particular from the popular plastic windows, furniture, but most of all from dishes: from food plastic, all kinds of compounds pass into food nutrition. Domestic manufacturers assure that certified plastic tableware is absolutely safe - if used as intended.

Benefit

Advantages of plastic dishes

Compactness, lightness, hygiene, low cost, ease of operation allow you to use plastic dishes outside the home - on the road, outdoors, etc. They do not require washing or cleaning. Therefore, the need for using plastic utensils is growing. Plastic utensils are also used by fast food restaurants, outdoor cafes and snack bars.

Plastic food utensils: how to use

To plastic utensils are not harmful health, it must be used strictly for its intended purpose. Different brands of food grade plastic have different properties. One brand of this polymer raw material is intended for the production of water bottles, the other for carbonated drink bottles. Yogurt cups are made from a grade of plastic that allows the casting method to produce a lightweight, cheap container that is neutral to milk fat, while pudding cups must resist sugar.

Experts insist: in no case should plastic packaging be used as containers for storing food, and disposable tableware should not be used repeatedly. Disposable packaging should be used for one time only.

How plastic will react to contact with ingredients for which it was not intended, and what compounds may form in this case, no one has studied. Particularly insidious are fats and acids, which can extract free toxic compounds from plastic.

Foods high in sugar and fat should not be cooked in plastic containers. They are heated to the point where the plastic melts and deforms. You need to cook them in a special container that can withstand heating up to 140, 180 or more C.

When reusing disposable plastic tableware, its outer protective layer is damaged, and carcinogenic substances - formaldehyde, phenol, cadmium, lead - begin to be released.

You should not drink alcohol from disposable plastic glasses. Any plastic contains toxic substances that do not dissolve in ordinary cold drinks, but cannot withstand the chemical attack of alcohol.

The release of various compounds from plastic increases many times over when heated. Therefore, only special containers designed for this purpose can be used in a microwave oven.

At home, immediately remove the packaging film from food. Trim off the top layer of food stored in plastic packaging.

Do not use disposable packaging to store food. Store food in glass and ceramic containers. Try to avoid products packaged in plastic whenever possible, preferring loose ones.

Buy baby food only in glass or cardboard. Do not use plastic containers for baby food. Do not microwave food in plastic containers.

Do not keep water in pitcher filters for a long time. In the morning and evening, replace the remaining water with fresh water. A plastic water jug that becomes cloudy should be thrown away.

Also, disposable packaging was not intended for washing, so the result may be unpredictable.

Food manufacturers indicate that shelf life applies not only to the product itself, but also to the packaging. This is most true for canned goods. For example, a toxic substance can be found in them - biphenol.

Plastic film containing biphenol is used to line the inside of cans to prevent the metal from coming into contact with food. From here biphenol can pass into the contents.

It is advisable to replace canned food with fresh or frozen foods.

Transfer food from opened cans into glass containers, even if we are talking about short-term storage (under the influence of oxygen, the corrosion of cans increases sharply and the content of lead and tin in food begins to increase rapidly).

Toxins can accumulate in the body for years, undermining your health. Even small amounts are poisonous if exposed for a long time.

Buy food, plastic utensils and cling film only from reputable manufacturers and only from reliable stores.

Today there are disposable tableware made from environmentally friendly pure materials- reed, bamboo, eggshell based, as well as paper tableware made from cardboard.

ADDITIONALLY

Labeling of plastic utensils

To simplify the sorting of plastic, a special international marking has been developed - triangles formed by arrows with a number inside. The number indicating the type of plastic is located inside the triangle. Below the triangle is a letter abbreviation indicating the type of plastic.

PET Polyethylene terephthalate: bottles for carbonated drinks, water, juices, dairy products, vegetable oils, cosmetic products, etc.

Frozen prepared meals in trays that can be reheated in the microwave or oven are made from crystallized polyethylene terephthalate. Its properties remain unchanged in the range from -40º to +250ºС. True, some brands may lose the necessary heat resistance after being subjected to deep cooling.

Buy drinks only in PET bottles and do not reuse them.

PP Polypropylene: medical products, bottle caps, hot dishes, food packaging film

Dishes made of polypropylene (PP marking) are safer. The polypropylene glass can withstand temperatures up to +100°C. You can drink hot tea or coffee from polypropylene glasses; you can heat food in the microwave in plates made from it. But upon contact with strong drinks and alcohol, it releases formaldehyde or phenol. If you drink vodka from such a glass, not only your kidneys, but also your eyesight will suffer. Formaldehyde is also considered a carcinogen.

PS Polystyrene: disposable tableware, cups for dairy products, yogurt, electrical insulating film

Polystyrene is indifferent to cold liquids. But when polystyrene dishes come into contact with hot water or alcohol, they begin to release toxic compounds (monomers) - styrene. It is not recommended to place hot foods in polystyrene plates. Polystyrene plates are often used in summer cafes for barbecue. And along with hot meat and ketchup, the client also receives a dose of toxins - styrene, which accumulate in the liver and kidneys.

Disposable cups can only be used for water. It is better not to drink sour juices, sodas, hot and strong drinks from them. Some coffee machines use polystyrene cups. That is, you cannot drink hot coffee or tea from them.

When purchasing instant products (those that just need to be poured with boiling water), pay attention to the packaging (cup, bag, plate). Although Rospotrebnadzor and certification bodies monitor the safety of materials, nevertheless, manufacturers often use polystyrene packaging. Therefore, it is better to transfer the products into ceramic or enamel dishes and then pour boiling water over them.

Cool food before storing it in a container. For hot food and microwave ovens, use only special containers.

If there is no marking on the plastic, you can distinguish PS from PP by touch - polystyrene crunches and breaks, and polypropylene wrinkles. Also, the main distinctive feature of polystyrene bottles is the bluish color of the container. And when pressing with a fingernail on PS plastic, a whitish scar (stripe) always remains; on PP plastic, the container will remain smooth.

HDP High Density Polyethylene: packaging bags, garbage bags

PVC Polyvinyl chloride: construction and finishing materials, furniture, shoes, medical products, water bottles, cling film

Synthetic poison dioxin can be released from PVC utensils in cases of heating food in microwave ovens, freezing water in freezers. Dioxins accumulate in human adipose tissue and are not eliminated from the body for a very long time (up to 30 years). Dioxin released causes cancer (especially breast cancer).

LDP Low density polyethylene (low pressure): bottles for detergents and edible vegetable oils, toys, pipes, plastic bags.

Other types of plastic are multilayer packaging or combined plastic.

Mayonnaise, ketchup and other sauces, seasonings, juices, jams, ready-made soups and cereals that require heating, sold in bags. Such bags are made from multilayer combined films. The choice of film depends on the properties of the product, the period and conditions of its storage. Soups, cereals, and main courses are packaged in bags made of films that have a high melting point. Dishes in such packaging can be heated in the microwave or boiled directly in the bag. Such dishes can withstand temperatures from -40 to +230° C or more. But physiologists still advise eating them less often.

Dishes made of melamine (polymerized formaldehyde) - it is white, shiny (reminiscent of porcelain), weighs lighter, and does not break. When tapped, melamine dishes produce not a ringing sound, but a dull sound.

Using such utensils is extremely dangerous. To make the dishes stronger, asbestos can be added to it, which is prohibited even in construction (such dishes come to Russia from Turkey, Jordan and China). It cannot be used for hot food. When hot water is poured into melamine dishes, formaldehyde begins to dissolve in the water. Formaldehyde and asbestos can cause cancer. To ensure that the design on such a plate lasts for a long time, paints containing heavy metals, primarily lead, are used.

When heated and in contact with water, plastic releases various harmful toxic compounds, which, when entering the human body, undermine his health, accumulate and cause various diseases.

USA scientists claim that up to 80% of “plastic” substances found in the human body come from construction and finishing materials (from plastic windows, furniture), but most of all from dishes. Various toxic compounds are transferred from food-grade plastic into food products. Using plastic utensils is very harmful. The use of plastic containers, which have now become fashionable, is especially harmful, since they are often used for storing and heating food in microwave ovens. It is with this use - heating and contact with water and food - that toxic substances and poisons are released and formed that enter the body. It turns out that we do not directly use poisons, and there seem to be none around us, but everything we touch under certain conditions releases poisons.

The same situation is observed as with the “Teflon” coating of frying pans. In itself, it is not harmful, but when heated and in contact with water and food, it releases carcinogens and poisons. In turn, these carcinogens entering the body cause severe and chronic diseases, cancer, and weakened immunity. As a result, then people die and doctors don’t know why.

Technical and food plastics are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and polycarbonate.
Polymers themselves are inert and non-toxic, but technological additives, solvents, and chemical decomposition products, when they get into food, have a toxic effect. This can happen when food is stored or heated. In addition, these materials, when subjected to change (aging), release destruction products.

Polyvinyl chloride is a chlorine-based polymer. It is distributed all over the world because... extremely cheap. It is used to make drink bottles, cosmetics boxes, containers for household chemicals, and disposable tableware. Over time, PVC begins to release a harmful carcinogenic substance - vinyl chloride. From a bottle it gets into a drink, from a plate into food, and with food into our body. Harmful substances from PVC begin to be released a week after the contents are poured into it. After a month, several milligrams of vinyl chloride accumulate in mineral water (oncologists believe that this is a lot). Often, plastic bottles are reused: tea or other drinks, even alcoholic ones, are poured into them. Milk and sunflower oil are sold in these markets. Large bottles are used as buckets and even “living” and holy water are stored in it (the healing properties of water can only be preserved in glass containers)

Water bottles should not be refilled with anything other than water. Only PET bottles can be reused. Toxic vinyl chlorine is released from PVC bottles. Experts believe that bottle plastic only remains neutral in the absence of oxygen, as long as the water retains its original chemical composition. As soon as the bottle is opened, the water and plastic quickly change their properties.
Conscientious manufacturers put a symbol on the bottom of dangerous bottles - a three in a triangle, or PVC, i.e. PVC. A harmful container can also be recognized by the influx on the bottom. It comes in the form of a line or a spear at two ends. If you press the bottle with your fingernail, a whitish scar will form on the dangerous one. The “correct” bottle remains smooth.

Disposable cups can only be used for water. It is better not to drink acidic juices, sodas, hot and strong drinks from them!
It is not recommended to place hot foods in polystyrene plates

Don't stock up on plastic utensils.

Plastic is a delicate material (it cracks in the light and melts in the heat). For strength, stabilizers are added to it. Plastic becomes stronger and...more toxic.

Polystyrene (designated with the letters PS) for cold liquidsindifferent to bones. But when the liquid is hot, the glass begins to release a toxic compound (styrene).

Polystyrene plates are used in summer cafes for barbecue. In addition to hot meat and ketchup, you can also get a dose of toxins.

DISPOSABLE PACKAGING FOR ONE TIME ONLY

To ensure that plastic utensils are safe, they must be used strictly for their intended purpose. Different brands of food grade plastic have different properties. One brand is designed for the production of water bottles, the other for carbonated drinks. Yogurt cups are made from a brand of plastic that is neutral to milk fat and acids. Under no circumstances should plastic packaging be used as a container for storing food, and disposable tableware should not be used repeatedly - it is still unknown how it will react and what may form when it comes into contact with products for which it was not intended.

Before reuse, the plastic container must be washed. Disposable packaging was not intended for washing, so the result is unpredictable. Do not use disposable packaging for food storage or reuse disposable tableware. Cool food before storing it in a container. Use special dishes for the microwave oven.

Mayonnaise, ketchup and other seasonings, juices, jams, as well as ready-made soups and cereals that require heating, are sold in bags made from multilayer composite films. The choice of film depends on the properties of the product, the period and conditions of its storage.

Soups, cereals, and main courses are packaged in bags made of films that have a high melting point. Dishes in such packaging can be heated in the microwave or boiled directly in the bag. Doctors advise eating them less often: the less chemicals, the better.

Manufacturers of instant products (cups, bags, plates) often use polystyrene packaging.

And when it comes into contact with hot water, it begins to release harmful styrene. It is better to transfer everything into a ceramic or enamel bowl and then pour boiling water over it.

Frozen prepared meals in reheatable trays may lose adequate heat stability after being deep-chilled (some brands).

MELAMINE TABLEWARE

Using dishes made of melamine (formaldehyde) is extremely dangerous. To make the dishes stronger, asbestos is added to them. And asbestos is prohibited even in construction, not to mention in dishes. Formaldehyde and asbestos are very harmful and can cause cancer. The design on such a plate is also harmful. You cannot apply a harmless dye to melamine - it will not stick. Therefore, paints containing heavy metals, primarily lead, are used.

Food in such containers becomes toxic (when heated, harmful carcinogenic substances are formed). Heating soup in such a container can cause cancer. Studies were conducted on animals: some were fed for 2 months from porcelain dishes, and others from bright plastic. The latter experienced changes in blood composition, which often leads to neoplasms. Together with food, formaldehyde enters the body - a poison that negatively affects many vital organs, even causing them to fail. This even affects the offspring (future children are born with various disabilities and will be delayed in development). The dishes come from Turkey, Jordan and China - for Russian market it is painted with scenes from “our life.” At home, manufacturers do not risk selling such dishes. And in Europe they don’t like melamine; some countries write on the label: on the territory of the EEC, it’s not allowed, for export - please. This is how foreign manufacturers and sellers take care of the health of their citizens.

Before you buy such dishes, think about whether it is worth risking your health.

Modern plastic dishes and plastic containers

Plastic containers for microwave ovens must be heat-resistant. Special markings on the bottom of this dish will indicate its suitability for microwaves or heat resistance up to 140° C. If the marking indicates that the dishes can be washed in the dishwasher, then they are resistant to heat. If the container in which the product is frozen can withstand heating up to 95° C, then it is suitable for use in the microwave. Otherwise, it is necessary to defrost in another microwave-safe container.

Ordinary plastic ice cream packaging and other similar containers are not suitable for microwave use. Resistant to freezing, they can be deformed when heated. Do not heat food in plastic bags intended for storing food. Plastic dishes that cannot withstand high temperatures become deformed, the plastic decomposes and releases harmful substances. This also includes Chinese dishes, which are made mainly of plastic that is not suitable for food.
Foods high in sugar and fat should not be cooked in plastic containers. They are heated to the point where the plastic melts and deforms. It is better to cook them in special dishes that can withstand heating up to 140, 180 or more C.

Currently, dishes are produced that are specifically designed for use in microwave ovens. Such dishes can withstand temperatures from -40 to +230° C or more. In the microwave, you can use special plastic plates and bags designed for the oven that can withstand boiling temperatures (but without a metal clamp so as not to melt the packaging) and pierce the bag to allow steam to escape.

Plastic dishes - used mainly for storing food (cheese, butter) or ready-made dishes. You can't cook in it. When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the markings on the bottom of the cookware.
If there is an inscription - “for technical purposes” - it cannot be used for food even for a short time. You cannot store acidic foods, cabbage, pickled cucumbers and other vegetables in plastic containers.
Wash with not very hot water.

Some argue: if you do not exceed the permissible level of chemicals, there will be no harm. You need to eat more than 2 kg of canned food per day to get closer to the maximum permissible dose.
Others insist: the more chemicals a person consumes, the more it destroys the body...
Plastic entered our lives about 30 years ago. Now the first truly “plastic” generation is growing, and to draw conclusions about the effect of plastic on the body, you need to observe at least five generations...

Plastic and plastic are artificial synthetic materials that are necessary for industrial production and have a fairly low cost. In the modern world, their use is widespread, and the negative impact of plastics on health is not taken seriously, despite the fact that most adults and children come into close contact with the products.

Harm of plastic bottles to the body

Many oncologists say that such popular plastic dishes pose a danger to human health, since when heated, the container intensively produces carcinogenic substances, in particular bisphenol-A.

Foreign scientists expressed this opinion many years ago. Statistics show that one of the main etiological factors in the occurrence of breast cancer is the consumption of water from plastic bottles. The harm increases several dozen times if you drink water from such a container and leave it in the sun for a long time.

Doctors recommend drinking water from glass bottles, but plastic is much cheaper, and, therefore, drinks in plastic containers will also have a reasonable price. But in countries where drinks have been sold in plastic for many years, the incidence of cancer is much higher.

Other factors also contribute to the occurrence of cancer - for example, poor environment, heredity, unhealthy lifestyle, consumption of GMO products, etc. However, scientists from Australia conducted an experiment among people who regularly consume drinks from plastic bottles, and the carcinogen bisphenol-A was found in their urine, which increases the risk of developing not only cancer, but also arthritis, diabetes, heart and vascular diseases.

Harm from plastic utensils

Disposable tableware has been in great demand in recent years. It is divided into several types depending on the composition and hazard class.

It is strictly forbidden to heat drinks and food in plastic containers and plastic bags in a microwave (which itself can, in principle).

The composition of the plastic is indicated in the form of a special marking, so you can find out what the dishes are made of:

Polyethylene terephthalate. Disposable cups, bottles, and plates are made from it. It is extremely harmful and dangerous to heat and reuse this container. Heat above 25 degrees increases the rate of carcinogen release tens of times.
Polyethylene. It is used to produce bags, bottles, jars and cups. It is also prohibited to expose it to high temperatures due to the intense release of the powerful carcinogen formaldehyde.
Polyvinyl chloride. It is used to create plastic bottles and cling film. Do not heat or cool it to avoid the production of phthalates, dioxide and vinyl chloride, which can cause many diseases. It is recommended to avoid contact of such utensils with fatty foods.
Low-pressure polyethylene. Widely used in the production of flexible packaging and oil bottles. When heated, formaldehyde is released.
Polypropylene. It is often used to make cling film, yogurt cups, disposable plates, forks, spoons, lids, baby food bottles and hot food containers. Such dishes can withstand temperatures up to 100 °C, but you cannot drink alcohol or eat fatty foods from them. This type is the safest for health.
Polystyrene. These are trays, lunch boxes for food, glasses and other disposable tableware. It is forbidden to heat it, drink hot drinks and alcohol from it. The dishes are used exclusively for chilled food. Styrene, produced when heated, is an aggressive chemical and leads to diseases of the reproductive system.
A mixture of many plastics. Typically, several materials are used to produce coolers, etc.

Thus, any plastic utensils are harmful to health to one degree or another, so it is better to reduce their use as much as possible.

Harm to the environment and ecology

Due to the pollution of the planet with plastics and masses, natural and environmental problems also arise. The negative impact extends to animals, the earth's surface, oceans, seas and rivers:

Plastic can leach chemicals into the soil, which end up in groundwater and other water sources. So-called biodegradable plastics emit methane and tritanium, which have a negative impact on global warming.
One of the main components of garbage in the sea is plastic, which takes many years to decompose, releasing carcinogens bisphenol-A and polystyrene. In the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans there are huge garbage patches, sometimes growing to the size of islands.

Researchers have estimated that there are about 300,000 tons of plastic in the world's oceans.

Plastic pollution poisons and kills animals: they either accidentally eat the plastic or become entangled in it and die. Every year, about 500,000 thousand mammals in the ocean die for this reason, and this figure is growing rapidly.

How to protect yourself from harmful substances

It is worth paying attention to the fact that on any plastic container there is a special code indicating the type of plastic. For example, 2, 4 and 5 indicate its harmlessness. It is commonly used to make dairy products, toys, glasses and baby bottles.

It is impossible to completely protect yourself and prevent chemicals from entering the body, but you can try to minimize the harm. To do this you should:

limit the use of utensils with dangerous coding;
do not heat drinks and food in plastic containers;
do not reuse plastic utensils;
do not store drinks and food in containers for a long time;
if possible, drink and eat from glass containers;
follow the rules for using plastic;
do not buy disposable products with bright colors and strong odors;
For children, use only environmentally friendly or glassware.

Countries like Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland and China strictly prohibit the use of plastic bottles.

Plastic has become so deeply ingrained into our reality that we simply cannot imagine our existence without it. Think about how many things and objects made from this synthetic material surround us in everyday life. On the other hand, more and more often these days they talk about the dangers of plastic bottles, dishes and other products, both for human health and for the environment. This article describes in detail about plastic, its varieties and labeling, as well as the possibilities for recycling plastic products.

What is plastic

The names “plastic” and “plastic” come from the word “plastic”. This means that this material, as a result of heating, is able to form a certain shape and retain it after cooling. The general name “plastics” refers to a number of organic materials based on high-molecular compounds - polymers.

The production of synthetic plastics is based on polymerization and polycondensation reactions of certain substances. It can be benzene, phenol, ethylene or acetylene. The set of mechanical and physical properties of plastics is approximately the same as that of metals (density, hardness, brittleness, heat resistance, etc.).

In general, plastics are characterized by low strength, relatively low density (no more than 1.8 g/cm3), and high resistance to moisture, acids and some solvents. When heated, they usually decompose. Plastics are much more brittle than most metals.

A little history

Parkesine was obtained by Parks from cellulose, as a result of treatment of the latter with nitric acid and a solvent. The revolutionary new substance was nicknamed “ivory.” Parkes planned to establish mass production of parkesine and founded his own company, the Parkesine Company. However, the company quickly went bankrupt, since the quality of its products was not so good.

Plastic began to be used for commercial purposes only after the Second World War. Mass production of plastic bottles began in the 1960s. Very quickly they gained wild popularity among both consumers and manufacturers.

Production of plastic products

Today in the world there are many enterprises producing sweet drinks, mineral water and alcohol. All of them, of course, require a huge amount of appropriate plastic containers. How are plastic bottles made? How complex is this production process?

The raw material for the production of plastic bottles is granulated polyethylene terephthalate (abbreviated as PET). The substance is loaded into a special machine (injection molding machine), where it is turned into a blank (preform) with thick walls and a formed neck. Then it is placed in the desired shape and a steel tube is inserted there. Through it, air is supplied into the preform under high pressure, which evenly distributes the melt along the walls of the mold.

The mold is then cooled. The final stage is the removal of all defects resulting from plastic flowing through cracks in the mold. After this, the finished bottle is removed from the mold and sent for sorting. It is important to note that during the manufacturing process of plastic bottles, about 25% of products are rejected and recycled.

Another key feature of plastic production is its energy intensity. So, to produce one thousand plastic bottles you will need to spend up to 10 kW of electricity.

The harm of plastic bottles

The excessive cheapness and ease of use of plastic have resulted in other significant problems for humanity. The harm from plastic bottles and other products made from this material is colossal. Moreover, both for the environment and for the health of the human body.

Almost all plastic food containers contain various harmful substances and toxins. Most often these are phthalate and bisphenol-A. Through food and drinks, they enter the digestive system and are carried by the blood throughout the body. Toxins contained in plastic food containers can affect our bodies in the following ways:

Knocks down hormonal balance.
They accumulate in the liver, gradually destroying its cells.
Reduce the defenses of the body's immune system.
Impairs the functioning of the heart and circulatory system.
Provoke the development of cancer cells.

Many people wonder: is it possible to store alcoholic beverages (such as beer or wine) in plastic bottles? The answer is clear: no. Alcohol is an active chemical medium. Alcohol, being in prolonged contact with polymers, begins to interact with them. You yourself will feel the result of this interaction when you taste wine made from plastic: there will be clearly synthetic “notes” in the drink.

The same thing happens with beer. In plastic bottles, methyl alcohol absorbs all harmful toxins, turning into a real “organic solvent”. Plastic containers cause maximum harm to the body when they heat up. So, for example, polystyrene (one of the types of plastic) when heated to 35-40 degrees turns, in fact, into poison. By the way, in many European countries you will have great difficulty finding beer in plastic for sale.

Thus, it is better to store alcoholic drinks in glass or porcelain containers. Plastic water bottles (still) are relatively harmless and harmless. However, it is strictly not recommended to reuse such containers.

The harm of plastic bottles and packaging to humans largely depends on the labeling of the products themselves. This issue is worth dwelling on in more detail.

Labeling of food plastics

Not ready to completely give up plastic yet? Then learn to choose products from it with minimal damage to your health. Special labeling of food plastics will help you with this. It looks like a triangle consisting of three arrows. The number placed inside it, as well as the letter symbols under the figure, will tell you what type of plastic a particular product was made from.

So, take a plastic container or bottle and inspect it carefully. It must have one of the following signs:

No. 1 PET (or PETE) - polyethylene terephthalate. Relatively harmless. The most common type of plastic, used for bottling soft drinks and liquid products. Recyclable.
No. 2 HDPE (or PE HD) - high density polyethylene. Plastic with a low level of danger, although the possibility of releasing formaldehyde, a substance that provokes genetic disorders and changes in hormonal levels, cannot be ruled out. It is often used in the manufacture of bags, disposable tableware, containers for milk and dairy products.
No. 3 PVC (or V) - polyvinyl chloride. Technical plastic used in the production of plastic windows, pipes, furniture parts, etc. Not suitable for food use.
No. 4 LDPE - low density polyethylene. Garbage bags, CDs, and linoleum are made from this cheap and relatively safe plastic. It is harmless to humans, but causes significant damage to the environment.
No. 5 PP - polypropylene. Of all, it is considered the safest. It is often used to make children's toys, medical supplies and food containers.
No. 6 PS - polystyrene. Used in the production of a wide range of products - meat and vegetable trays, sandwich panels, yogurt cups, etc. May release styrene, which is considered a dangerous carcinogen. Experts recommend reducing the use of this type of plastic to a minimum.
No. 7 O (or OTHER) - all others (in particular, polyamide and polycarbonate). When heated strongly, they can release bisphenol-A, a rather dangerous substance that provokes hormonal imbalances in the human body.

Plastic and ecology

Plastics are perhaps one of the most controversial materials. On the one hand, it is a very cheap and convenient material that has found wide application in medicine. Plastic products help save thousands of lives every day, and it's true. But on the other hand, plastic waste has been rapidly polluting our planet in recent decades. Here is a list of seven impressive facts that will help you understand the scale of this environmental problem:

It takes up to 500 years for one unit of plastic to completely decompose.
Up to 40% of all plastic waste is bottles.
When buying water in a plastic bottle, you pay approximately 90% solely for the packaging.
In Europe, only 2.5% of total plastic is recycled.
In the US, this figure is 27%, which is still the highest figure in the world.
13 billion plastic bottles are produced worldwide every year.
Every year, about 150 tons of various plastic waste are thrown into the ocean.

"Trash Islands": Realize the scale of pollution

Please pay Special attention to the last point. In 2014, environmentalists estimated that there are about 270 thousand tons of plastic waste on the surface of the World Ocean. And in 2017, Dr. Jennifer Lavers discovered that the coast of the uninhabited Henderson Island, located in the Pacific Ocean, is literally littered with garbage. The pollution indicator here reaches 670 objects per square meter of territory. Both numbers are amazing!

There is so much plastic garbage in the World Ocean that they have already formed several “spots” or islands: two each in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and one more is located in the Indian Ocean. The largest of them is the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Sometimes it is also called the “Eastern Garbage Continent”.

The Pacific Garbage Patch is located approximately between 35° and 42° north latitude and between 135° and 155° west longitude. It occupies a relatively stable area of 700 thousand square kilometers of ocean (roughly the size of Turkey). was first discovered in 1988. The whirlpools of the Pacific Current System carry debris and waste here from all over the North Pacific Ocean, including coastal areas of the United States and Japan.

Of course, a garbage spot is not a continuous carpet of household waste. According to research, for one square meter The water surface here contains at least 5 mg of whole or partially decomposed plastic. Jellyfish and fish often mistake it for food, confusing it with plankton. Birds are also suffering from plastic pollution in the oceans. Thus, bottle caps, lighters and other “goods” of human civilization are often found in the stomachs of dead albatrosses.

Refusal of plastic and polyethylene: environmental trends of the 21st century

The accumulation of plastic waste in the environment negatively affects the habitat of many animals and contaminates water and soil. Moreover, two things are considered the main enemies of our planet - plastic bottles and disposable plastic bags.

Measures aimed at reducing plastic pollution on the Earth have long been implemented in various regions and countries. First of all, they aim to collect plastic bottles, sort them and recycle them, as well as to generally reduce the consumption of plastic products in the world.

According to environmentalists, every year humanity uses about 4 trillion plastic bags for their household needs! As of 2017, about 40 countries around the world have already completely abandoned their production and operation. Among them are states that are quite “advanced” in environmental terms (France, Denmark, Australia, Finland), and, surprisingly, third world countries (for example, Rwanda and Tanzania).

But, one way or another, humanity is not yet ready to completely abandon plastic and polyethylene. Therefore, centralized reception of plastic bottles (and other waste), as well as their sorting and further processing, plays an extremely important role in each country. Thus, in the USA, at almost every waste collection point there are special containers for collecting plastic products.

Plastic recycling

As mentioned above, the period of complete decomposition of plastic containers can last up to 500 years. It is quite obvious that our planet can turn into one global dump even before it has time to completely “digest” all the deposits of plastic that humanity has already produced.

That is why industrial processing of products made from this material is so important. In addition, PET raw materials can be reused an unlimited number of times. There are also special technologies that make it possible to obtain automobile fuel from plastic raw materials.

But most often plastic is processed into so-called “granulate”. And this process includes several successive steps:

Reception of plastic bottles and other containers, as well as their sorting.
Cleaning PET products from debris and dirt (an extremely important stage, because poor removal of dirt and glue from bottles has a detrimental effect on the quality of the final product).
The use of crushing equipment and the transformation of plastic into small crumbs.
Repeated cleaning (rinsing) of plastic crumbs from contaminants.
Drying and temperature treatment of crumbs (agglomeration).
Granulation of the resulting material to particles of the desired size.

Necessary equipment

For the first stage of plastic processing (sorting and pressing), you only need two units:

Conveyor (or sorting table).
Press machine.

In this case, labels, caps and rings from bottles are usually removed manually.

For further processing, a wider range of equipment is needed. This:

Vibrating sieve (removes debris and solid impurities).
Conveyor (sorts raw materials).
Crushing machine (crushes plastic into small fractions).
Centrifuge (dries plastic).
Extruder (processes plastic chips into granulate or other product of a given shape).

The list of additional equipment includes:

Dispenser.
Rinse bath.
Friction screw.
Container for soaking flex.

The minimum cost of one processing line is about 4 million rubles. Domestic equipment costs much less (about 1.5 million rubles). However, it is more likely to break down and is less productive. Leading companies in the production of equipment for plastic processing: Herbold, Sorema, Redoma, Shredder.

Finally…

Planet Earth is rapidly becoming polluted with plastic waste. There are real garbage islands the size of large states drifting in the Ocean. One of the most obvious solutions to this global environmental problem lies in the comprehensive recycling of already produced plastic and a complete (or partial) refusal to produce new plastic containers. Many countries around the world are already actively working in this direction.