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By now, most Natural News readers are familiar with the potential health hazards of plastic containers for foods and beverages. Harmful chemicals can leech into the foods or liquids in these containers and bottles. Of course, one remedy is to avoid plastic food containers and bags completely. But this is not possible for most.

Thanks to a resin ID code numbering system, created for recycling purposes, anyone can judiciously determine which plastic containers and bottles have minimal health issues. There are seven types of petrochemical resins used for containers. Each single digit number, usually at the bottom of the bottle or container, represents one type. Of those seven types, three must be avoided.

Number 3

The number 3 on a plastic item tells you it contains PVC or polyvinyl chloride. Plastics containing PVC are toxic, mostly due to the plastic softener DEHA used in processing them. Reports of small children having negative health reactions from chewing on soft plastic toys containing PVC drew attention to this.

Even incinerating PVC plastics results in toxic dioxides released into the air. Long term DEHA exposure is carcinogenic. If cancer doesn`t occur, liver problems and loss of bone mass are consequences linked to DEHA. A lot of flexible plastic containers and plastic bags or wraps use PVC/DEHA as a softener

Number 6

Styrofoam cups are numbered 6 for the toxic polystyrene. Polystyrene is bad for the environment and your health, especially with hot liquids. The heat breaks the polystyrene into toxic styrene. This material is often used in cups containing soup concentrates that are brought to life with hot water, as well as in Styrofoam coffee and tea cups.