Sofia Martinez
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an organic synthetic compound used to manufacture plastics containing polycarbonate, like food and drink containers. It is also found in epoxy resins that can be found as liners in metal products like food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. The Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) created a simple numbering system, called SPI codes, to help identify and sort various plastics for recycling. Plastic recycling codes 1, 2, 5, and 6 represent plastics that are commonly recycled and collected in residential and community recycling collection programs. Number 7 plastics are a catch-all for all plastics that don't fit into the 1-6 category, and while one type of number 7 plastic does contain BPA, the rest are BPA-free.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic codes that are BPA-free | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 |
| Plastic codes that may contain BPA | 3, 7 |
| Plastic code that contains BPA | PVC |
| Plastic with BPA used for | Food and drink containers, epoxy resins in metal products like food cans, bottle tops, water supply pipes |
| Plastic without BPA used for | Bottles, jars, food storage containers, jugs, pails |
| BPA stands for | Bisphenol A |
| BPA effects | Can affect the brain, the prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children, and might increase blood pressure |
| BPA safety | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing shows BPA to be safe at the low levels sometimes found in foods |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling codes 1, 2, 5 are typically BPA-free
Plastic recycling codes are numbers 1–7 surrounded by three chasing arrows in a triangle. These recycling codes help identify and sort plastics for recycling. Plastic recycling codes 1, 2, 5, and 6 represent plastics that are commonly recycled and collected in residential and community recycling collection programs. These plastics are typically considered BPA-free.
BPA, or Bisphenol A, is an organic synthetic compound used to manufacture plastics containing polycarbonate. It is also found in epoxy resins used as liners in metal products like food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Exposure to BPA typically occurs through food and drink.
Plastics with recycling codes 1, 2, and 5 are typically considered BPA-free. Code 1 plastics, or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate), are commonly used for soft drink bottles, mineral water, fruit juice containers, and cooking oil. Code 2 plastics, or HDPE (high-density polyethylene), are often used for milk jugs, cleaning agents, laundry detergents, shampoo bottles, and washing and shower soaps. Code 5 plastics are also likely to be BPA-free, although specific information about this type of plastic was not immediately available.
On the other hand, Code 7 plastics are a catch-all category for various types of plastics that don't fit into the other categories. While most Code 7 plastics are BPA-free, polycarbonate plastics labeled with Code 7 do contain BPA. These plastics are typically hard, clear or clear-tinted, and unbreakable. They are often used for products like reusable water bottles, food storage containers, drinking glasses, pitchers, baby bottles, and sippy cups.
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Number 7 plastics are a catch-all category, so may contain BPA
Number 7 plastics are a catch-all category, also known as "Other", which includes any new plastics, such as bioplastics, and could be made from different types of resins. This category is composed of various materials, including polycarbonate (PC), acrylic, SAN, Tritan, PLA compostable plastic blends, SAN and NAS blends, nylon, and polypropylene. Polycarbonate is just one of the many types of plastics categorised as Number 7. It often contains BPA, a chemical associated with health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. However, not all Number 7 plastics contain BPA, and some are BPA-free, such as PLA plastics, which are made from renewable resources like corn, and Tritan, a plastic marketed as safe.
The Number 7 category is tricky because it is challenging to know what is safe and what is not. It is difficult to recycle Number 7 plastics, and most curbside recycling programs do not accept them, leading to increased environmental waste and pollution. The low recycling rates of Number 7 plastics and the uncertainty of what these materials contain have raised safety concerns.
When it comes to plastic tableware, only one type of Number 7 plastic contains BPA – polycarbonate plastic. If a plastic product is stamped with a 7, it indicates a possibility that BPA was used in its production, but it is not a certainty. Other recycling codes that may indicate the presence of BPA include Number 3, which may contain phthalates, and PVC, which contains phthalates and BPA.
To summarise, Number 7 plastics are a diverse group, and while some may contain BPA, others are BPA-free. It is important to note that even if a product is labelled BPA-free, it might still contain other harmful substances, so it is advisable to opt for alternative materials like glass or stainless steel for food storage.
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Polycarbonate plastics are labelled with a 7 and contain BPA
The number 7 plastic recycling code is a catch-all category for many different types of plastics not commonly collected in recycling programs. Polycarbonate plastics are labelled with a 7 and may contain Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a chemical produced in large quantities primarily for the use in polycarbonate plastics. It is used to strengthen plastics and can be found in a number of everyday products, including kitchen utensils, children's toys, and plastic water bottles.
BPA is also found in epoxy resins that can be found as liners in metal products like food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. It is important to note that not all plastics labelled with a 7 contain BPA. Only one type of #7 plastic contains BPA, which is polycarbonate plastic. Other types of plastics labelled with a 7, such as acrylic, SAN, Tritan, and PLA compostable plastic blends, are BPA-free.
The potential health effects of BPA exposure are still being studied. However, some research suggests that infants and children may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of BPA. It is recommended that parents and caregivers reduce their children's exposure to BPA by avoiding the use of polycarbonate plastic food containers in the microwave and opting for glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers, especially for hot food or liquids.
To identify if a plastic product is BPA-free, you can check the recycling number at the bottom of the container. Plastics labelled with 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6 recycling codes are typically BPA-free. If the plastic is opaque, it is also likely to be BPA-free. However, if the plastic is hard, clear (or clear-tinted), and unbreakable, it may contain BPA.
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Opaque plastics are usually BPA-free
BPA, or bisphenol-A, is an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. It is commonly found in food storage containers and reusable water bottles. While BPA has been banned in some products, such as baby bottles, it can still be found in many household items.
To identify if a plastic product contains BPA, you can look for recycling codes or numbers on the bottom of the product. These codes, surrounded by a triangle made of three arrows, range from 1 to 7 and indicate the type of plastic used. Products labelled with the numbers 1, 2, 4, and 5 typically do not contain BPA, while products labelled with 3, 6, and 7 may contain BPA.
In addition to checking recycling codes, you can also identify BPA-free plastics by their texture and flexibility. Plastics containing BPA are usually translucent and hard, such as water or baby bottles. Softer and more flexible plastics are typically not polycarbonates and are less likely to contain BPA. It is important to note that older plastic products, especially those made before 2012, are more likely to contain BPA and may lack identifying labels.
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New plastics are often BPA-free and labelled as such
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an organic synthetic compound used to manufacture plastics containing polycarbonate, like food and drink containers. It is also found in epoxy resins used as liners in metal products like food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.
Due to concerns about the potential health impact of BPA, many consumers actively seek out BPA-free products. In response to this demand, manufacturers have increasingly shifted towards producing plastics that do not contain BPA and market their products as such.
However, it is important to note that the presence of a number 7 recycling code does not necessarily mean a product contains BPA. Number 7 is a catch-all category for various types of plastics that do not fit into the categories of 1 through 6. While polycarbonate plastic, which typically contains BPA, is labelled with a 7, many other types of plastic carrying this code are BPA-free.
Opaque plastics are generally BPA-free, whereas clear, hard, and unbreakable plastics are more likely to contain BPA. Additionally, containers labelled as "microwave-safe" or "unbreakable" may indicate the presence of BPA, whereas hand-wash only containers are likely acrylic and BPA-free.
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Frequently asked questions
Turn the plastic bottle or jar upside down and look at the bottom to see if it contains a plastic resin identification code (commonly referred to as a recycling code). If you see 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6, you can assume the plastic is BPA-free. If it is 3 or PVC, it likely contains BPA. If you see a 7, it's hard to tell, as 7 is considered the "catch-all" category that all other plastic resins are grouped under.
BPA stands for Bisphenol A. It is an organic synthetic compound used to manufacture plastics containing polycarbonate, like food and drink containers.
BPA exposure can affect the brain, the prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children, and it might increase blood pressure.
Opaque plastics are usually BPA-free. Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), found in soft drink bottles, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), found in milk jugs, are also usually BPA-free.
Polycarbonate plastics, which are hard, clear (or clear-tinted), and unbreakable, often contain BPA and are labelled with a 7.
