Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m Lou Rhea Rubio and I’m here today to inform you

all about
the different types of plastics.

Plastic isn’t as simple as you may think. Each one of them is different from the others. Some of them are
reusable, the others produce hazardous material after several uses. Take your nearest plastic product,
maybe the lunch box or your water bottle. Study closely, and you might find a number at its back or
bottom. The number indicates the type of plastic used to make the product you are holding right now.
But do you know exactly what number you should avoid and what number holds the biggest chance of
damaging the environment?

So these are the seven types of plastics exist in our current modern days.

One, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET), this kind of plastic is typically used on Coca-Cola bottles.
We may not know that this type contains antimony trioxide – a matter that is considered as a carcinogen
– capable of causing cancer in a living tissue. And the longer a liquid is left in a PET container the greater
the potential for the release of antimony.

Two, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), commonly used as shampoo bottles, juice container, etc. This
type is not only recyclable but it is also more stable than PET. It is considered as a safer option for food
and drinks use, although some studies have shown that it can leach estrogen-mimicking additive
chemicals that could disrupt human’s hormonal system when exposed to UV light.
Three, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) typically used in toys, medical tubes and blood bags. PVC has been
declared as the cause of serious health risks and environmental pollution issues. In the term of toxicity, it
is considered as the most hazardous plastic. The use of it may leach a variety of toxic chemicals such as
bisphenol A (BPA), lead, dioxins, mercury, and cadmium. Several of the chemicals mentioned may cause
cancer; it could also cause allergic symptoms in children and disrupt the human’s hormonal system. PVC
is also rarely accepted by recycling programs. This is why it is better best to be avoided at all cost.

Four, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), it is mostly used for plastic bags in the market, plastic wraps,
container lids and may also used for wire and cable covering. Although some studies have shown that
LDPE could also cause unhealthy hormonal effects in humans, LDPE is considered as a safer plastic option
for food and drink use. Unfortunately, this type of plastic is quite difficult to be recycled.

Five, Polypropylene (PP), it’s stiffer and more resistant to heat, it is widely used for hot food containers.
Its strength quality is somewhere between LDPE and HDPE. Besides in thermal vests, and car parts, PP is
also included in the disposable diaper and sanitary pad lines. Same as LDPE, PP is considered a safer
plastic option for food and drink use. And although it bears all those amazing qualities, PP isn’t quite
recyclable and could also cause asthma and hormone disruption in human.

Six, Polystyrene (PS) or Styrofoam we all commonly used for food containers, disposable cups and bowls,
packaging, and also bike helmet. When exposed with hot and oily food, PS could leach styrene that is
considered as brain and nervous system toxicant, it could also affect genes, lungs, liver, and immune
system. On top of all of those risks, PS has a low recycling rate.
And seven, Polycarbonate (PC) which are commonly used in baby bottles, sippy cups, water gallon, etc.
Due to its toxicity, several countries have banned the use of PC for baby bottles and infant formula
packaging. The BPA that contained inside PC have been linked to numerous health problems including
chromosome damage in female ovaries, decreased sperm production in males, and many more. Added
with its very low recycle rate quality, PC is to be avoided at all cost.

Memorizing all of those 7 different types of plastic could be overwhelming, so here are some key points
you need to remember.

Though it varies between types, every single category of plastic could leach hazardous materials if put in
an extreme situation such as extreme heat. The 3 types of plastic that are considered as safer options
among the others are 1-PET, 2-HDPE and 5-PP. Although the experts are currently working on inventing
the best method and strategy to recycle all of those types of plastic, the 2 types of plastic that are mostly
picked up by the recycling programs are 1-PET and 2-HDPE.

I hope you now know what type of plastic you want to use as your food and drink containers and what
plastic you may want to avoid due to its low recycle rate quality. Don’t forget to separate your wastes
responsibly. Segragate your trash, from plastics to other wastes ‘cause that’ll help with the recycling
process. Start doing that now so that we can still help Mother Earth.
Reference:

https://waste4change.com/7-types-plastic-need-know/