WHAT'S IN THE PLASTIC? MAKE YOUR OWN!

It's amazing how many of our everyday items are made from plastic. Unfortunately, many of the plastic items that we use are unstable and made of toxic substances. Research has shown that these substances are being absorbed into the human cells.

The following news report is dated December 22, 2007.

http://www.letstalkdetox.com/index.php?itemid=70

Study: Chemicals from household plastics found in volunteers' blood
BY DELTHIA RICKS | delthia.ricks@newsday.com
November 9, 2007

Compounds used in a vast array of everyday products that range from plastic microwaveable containers, toys and medical devices were found in the blood and urine of participants in a nationwide monitoring program sponsored by a coalition of environmental health groups.

Even though there were only 35 volunteers, and the research did not rise to the level usually required of scientists who report findings in peer-reviewed journals, results were strikingly similar to those in a much larger, ongoing study overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results from the project were released in Albany, as well as in several other states where groups sponsored the study.

Participants, who ranged from 12 years old to people in their 50s, volunteered from around the country. All were found to have evidence of the substances in their bodies.

The upshot of the analysis was to find whether compounds known as bisphenol-A, polybrominated diphenyl ethers -- PBDEs -- and phthalates (pronounced: THA-lates) are permanently in the tissues and blood of children, teens and adults.

Additionally, we expose ourselves to xenoestrogens which are present in many of the ingredients used to manufacture plastics:

http://www.fwhc.org/health/xeno.htm
Xenoestrogenic material leaches out of polycarbonate plastics, often used in food and cosmetic packaging - even tin cans thinly lined with polycarbonate plastic leak estrogen into their contents.

Xenoestrogens are estrogens that are not found in nature. They are synthetic, man-made substances that mimic natural estrogen. This fools the body into trying to use them as it would naturally occurring estrogen. Since xenoestrogens are NOT true estrogens, the human system has difficulty processing and dispensing with these pretenders. This in turn affects vital biological functions. This leads to a buildup of the hormonal chemicals, creating hormonal imbalances.

It is believed by many in the natural health field that this is just ONE part of the puzzle as to why young girls are showing early onset puberty. Xenoestrogens also contribute to hormonal imbalances in men and women. Hormonal imbalances have a domino effect that can lead to a multitude of symptoms ranging from sexual or reproductive issues to issues such as cancer and/or heart disease.

Scientists in Germany have found that PET plastics -- the kind used to make water bottles, among many other common products -- may also harbor hormone-disrupting chemicals that leach into the water.

It's too soon to say whether drinking out of PET plastic bottles is harmful to human health, said lead researcher Martin Wagner, an ecotoxicologist at Goethe University in Frankfurt. But it now appears possible that some as-yet unidentified chemicals in these plastics have the potential to interfere with estrogen and other reproductive hormones, just as the infamous plasticizers BPA and phthalates do.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/04/28/water-bottles-health-print.html

I'm thinking that if I like my man acting like a MAN, my boys remaining BOYS and I don't want any hormonally challenged females running around, I need to toss the plastic bottles.

Many additives used to make plastic more durable and elastic are known to have endocrine-disrupting effects in laboratory tests, and the average developed-world body is suffused with these so-called xenohormone residues. Research suggests that the consequences, though not fully understood, are real: fetal xenohormone exposures have been linked to reduced virility in boys and he early onset of puberty in girls. The effects may even linger in subsequent generations.

It wasn’t known, however, whether xenohormones entered human bodies
from food-packaging plastics in addition to other already-established sources, including polluted air, personal care products and food additives. The latest findings, published recently in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, suggest that packaging is at least partly responsible.
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/plastichormone/

Steve Meyerowitz is the author of a book called Water, The Ultimate Cure (November, 2000, ISBN-10: 1878736205). He recommends glass for food and beverage storage containers. When this isn't possible, the author recommends you investigate the plastics you are using. Look at the bottom of the plastic container for a triangle made out of arrows. Inside that triangle is a number. What follows is a chart showing those codes, what they represent and how those materials are used.

Some source information from: http://www.earthodyssey.com/symbols.html

SYMBOL	MATERIAL	PROPERTIES
1	PETE (or PET) Polyethylene terephthalate	CHARACTERICSTICS: Clear (may be green), strong, shatter-resistant plastic. Thicker PETE bottles are firmer than others and more durable. Used for most transparent bottles. Generally not safe for reuse. Often recycled into carpet yarns. USED TO MAKE: beer bottles, juice bottles, lightweight large-capacity containers, mouthwash bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing containers, Soft drink bottles, vegetable oil bottles, water bottles
2	HDPE high-density polyethylene	CHARACTERICSTICS: Soft, but stiff plastic that easily contaminates its contents. Is opaque. Resin can be pigmented or unpigmented and is translucent. Used to package products with a short shelf life. Chemical resistance lends it to use as storage for chemicals. USED TO MAKE: bleach, butter, cereal box liners, detergent, grocery, household cleaner bottles, juice bottles, margarine tubs, milk containers, motor oil bottles, retail carrying bags, shampoo bottles, trash bags, water bottles, yogurt containers
3	PVC polyvinyl chloride	CHARACTERICSTICS: More sturdy; less likely to impart taste, not as widely used for food containers. Stable electrical and physical properties. Chemical and weather resistant. Additives in PVC can increase the risk of birth defects and hormone-related cancers. Its production can be hazardous to workers and the environment. Generally not safe; not recycled. USED TO MAKE: building materials, clear food packaging, cooking oil bottles, cooking oil bottles. detergent bottles, detergent, household products, medical tubing, piping, plastic wrap, shampoo bottles, siding, window cleaner bottles, windows, wire and cable jacketing
4	LDPE low density polyethylene	CHARACTERICSTICS: Tough, flexible and transparent. Used commonly where heat sealing is necessary. Most number 4 plastics are not designed for reuse. Generally, LDPE is not recycled. USED TO MAKE: baby bottle liners, bread bags, other food bags, carpet, clothing, dry cleaning bags, frozen food bags, furniture, squeezable bottles, tote bags, wraps, wire and cable insulation and jacketing
5	PPE or PP Polypropylene	CHARACTERICSTICS: PPE is strong and has a high melting point, making useful in the manufacture of items that hold hot material. PPE is resistant to grease, oil, chemicals and water. Polypropylene has the lowest density of the resins used to manufacture packaging. Recyclable. USED TO MAKE: caps, ketchup bottles, margarine tubs, medicine bottles, reusable food containers, straws, squeeze bottles, syrup bottles, Yogurt containers
6	Polystyrene	CHARACTERICSTICS: PS can leach styrene when heated, a possible endocrine disruptor and human carcinogen. Not safe when heated; has a low melting point. Generally not recycled. USED TO MAKE: aspirin bottles, carry-out containers, compact disc jackets, cups, cutlery, egg cartons, foam meat trays, take our containers, plates
7	PC Polycarbonate plastic	CHARACTERICSTICS: PC is a group that can include various other plastics. It has limited recycling potential. PC is strong and rigid; most often used for 5 gal. water cooler jugs. Because it imparts no taste to its contents, PC has a long history of being used in baby bottles & food storage containers (30+ years). PC can leach out the hormone-disruptor bisphenol A, especially when heated. The label "Other" includes resins which don’t fall into the category of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, or combinations of one or more of these resins. USED TO MAKE: baby bottles, five-gallon water jugs, food product bottles, reusable sports water bottles, three and five gallon water bottles

BUT WHAT IF YOU REALLY NEED A PLASTIC THING-A-MA-BOB?

There IS a way to make your own bio plastic. If a proper mold can be fashioned, this method could be used to repair many favorite items in the home.

You will need:
* Non stick pan
* Stove Top or Hot Plate
* 1 Tbsp powdered starch (tapioca, corn, potato)Spatula wooden spoon
* 4 Tbsp cold water
* 1 tsp glycerine
* 1 tsp distilled white vinegar
* silicone pad or aluminum foil

Make your own bioplastic

Coming soon: How to make your own starch.