What to Know About the Toxicity of Polypropylene

20 Feb.,2024

 

Plastic has many uses in our everyday lives. You may think that plastic is safe for your health because of its widespread availability. However, some kinds are not. With many different plastic compounds to choose from, how do you know what’s safe for your health and what isn’t?

Polypropylene is a soft, flexible type of plastic that is considered safer than other plastics. Polypropylene is most often used for:

  • Yogurt cups
  • Water bottles that have a cloudy finish
  • Medicine bottles
  • Ketchup bottles
  • Syrup bottles‌
  • Straws 

Research shows that plastic containers, plates, and bottles all contain chemicals that leach out into food when scratched or heated. The reason that the toxicity of polypropylene is lower than other plastics is because it doesn’t contain bisphenol A, more commonly called BPA. 

BPA is a synthetic estrogen used in plastics that are rigid versus being more flexible like polypropylene. These products include: 

  • Some water bottles‌
  • Food and formula container liners
  • Dental sealants
  • Shiny side of receipts‌

Plastic products are marked with numbers indicating the type of recyclability. If you see a recycling symbol with the numbers two, four, or five, they are usually safe for use. Polypropylene is marked with recycling number five.

For more information polypropylene toxicity, please get in touch with us!