Two components in plastic products should be used with caution

There are two kinds of toxic components in plastics.

In the 1950s, when American photographer Alexander Parks "inadvertently" mixed a new substance, plastic, he never imagined that it would cause such controversy in later generations. Plastics replace steel, glass, ceramics and other materials that are cumbersome and can't change shape as desired. They are used more and more widely in the pursuit of efficient and convenient society. However, in the development of plastics, its plague has never stopped: it is extracted from the non-renewable energy of petroleum; once it is produced, it will not rot and degrade in the underground for 200 years, which will lead to soil compaction. Affects plant growth.

If it is only a hazard to the environment, many people still refuse to accept plastic products, after all, it is light and durable. But in the 21st century, news about certain chemical components in plastics is "toxic" and will be released under certain conditions. In 2006, the US government found in a national nutrition survey that the urine of the respondents contained a high amount of bisphenol A, most of which came from plastic products and had a great relationship with heart disease. Since then, more and more food and drug regulatory authorities in the United States, Canada and other countries have participated in the study of the safety of bisphenol A. In recent years, the phthalate plasticizer, another component of plastics, has been published in human health, pointing out that it can cause premature birth and cause liver and other organ poisoning. Toxic residues can jeopardize future generations. Bisphenol A is an important substance added to space cups, cutlery, water bottles and baby bottles made of polycarbonate (PC) materials. It can make plastic products colorless, transparent, durable and drop-proof. Bisphenol A is one of the world's most productive chemicals, producing more than 2.2 million tons per year, and 90% of Europeans and Americans can detect their residues.

At present, Canada has banned the production of plastic bottles containing bisphenol A, but in the United States, its attitude is still controversial. Many research institutes have experimentally proved the harm of bisphenol A, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not made a conclusion. The harm of bisphenol A to the human body is like smoking, which is caused by long-term accumulation. The reason why it has been neglected in the past is because we have only conducted animal experiments, and whether animals can be equated with the human body is currently controversial. The chemical substance of bisphenol A is very stable. Once it is ingested by the human body, it is difficult to decompose, it will be passed on to future generations, and it may be mutated to produce new toxic and harmful substances. For different individuals, its impact is different. The younger the age, the more vulnerable it is to it.

Another type of material plasticizer that is blamed is mainly used in soft plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic wrap to enhance color and flexibility, and is released in high temperature and grease environments. Dou Yansheng, director of the Environmental Impact Assessment Office of the China CDC, told reporters that Tongji University's research has found that almost all brands of plastic barreled edible oil in China contain plasticizers. It has been reported that the total amount of plasticizers used in China is among the top three in the world. Compared with the plasticizers in Europe and the United States that have been used less toxic but more expensive in recent years, the most used in China is still A toxic but inexpensive type.

Try not to heat when using

Although some additives in plastic products have problems, whether it will really harm the human body is closely related to the method of use.

Plastic cups cannot be filled with boiling water. Like bisphenol A, it will be released at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius. If we don't use plastic cups to boil water or disinfect at high temperatures, we don't have to worry about it.

Plastic bags cannot be filled with hot food. Plastic bags made of PVC and cling film can not be packaged, which has long been stipulated in China. However, some people do not pay attention to it. When they buy breakfast, they still use it to fill the fritters or pasta. Just a snack bar will put a thin plastic bag on the bowl, which may cause toxic substances to be released at high temperatures, resulting in Chronic poisoning. Plastic bags for food are generally made of polyethylene (PE) with the words "food", high colorless transparency, flexibility, a layer of wax on the surface, and plastic bags made of PVC. Feel sticky. In addition, colored plastic bags cannot be used for food, especially for food, because they are mostly made of recycled plastic and may release a lot of harmful gases and substances.

Use a special bowl for microwaves. Many people buy food and put it in a microwave oven with a plastic bag. This service is also available in supermarkets. In fact, when the temperature exceeds 50 ° C, the toxic components in the plastic bag will precipitate, contaminating the food, causing harm to the human body. Even if it is a special food bag, do not put it in a microwave oven. It is best to use a special microwave oven for heating food.

As for what kind of plastic products are safer? US FDA research has shown that old plastic products are safer than new ones, because the additives have been released almost before the use. Therefore, the newly purchased plastic products can be soaked in warm water for several days, and the use of the additive and residual bisphenol A can be quickly released, which is safer.