Do you know the seven kinds of plastics?

Plastics are divided into different grades, and a small triangle symbol is generally engraved on the bottom of the plastic container. The numbers in the triangles range from 1 to 7. Behind each number represents a plastic container of a certain specification. Let‘s tell you one by one!

"01" Throw it away after drinking

"01" stands for PET (that is, polyethylene terephthalate), which is most commonly used in the production of bottled beverages such as mineral water and carbonated drinks. PET is often used for beverage bottles and sub-bottling, usually heat-resistant up to 65°C, and cold-resistant to -20°C. It is only suitable for warm or frozen drinks. It is easily deformed when it is filled with high-temperature liquids or heated, and has substances harmful to humans Melt out. It is well known that beverage bottles made of this material cannot be filled with hot water. They are only suitable for warm or frozen drinks. They are easily deformed when they are filled with high-temperature liquids or heated, and substances harmful to the human body can be dissolved. Scientists also discovered that this plastic product may release carcinogens after being used for more than 10 months. Therefore, it is recommended to throw away the drink bottles that have been drunk, and do not use them as water cups or storage containers. So as not to cause harm to health, the gain outweighs the loss.

"02" It is not recommended to be used as a water container

"02" stands for HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Plastic containers containing cleaning products and bath products or plastic bags commonly used in shopping malls are mostly made of this material. There are also some industrial products that can withstand a high temperature of 110°C, and can be used to hold food if it is marked for food. Plastic containers containing cleaning supplies and bath products can be reused after careful cleaning, but they are often difficult to clean and leave residues, thus becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. Unlike other beverage bottles, the bottom of the 4L Nongfu Spring is marked 02. Although it looks much stronger than a normal mineral water bottle, it is not recommended to be used as a water container. Long-term use of harmful substances is very likely. The material itself is also difficult to clean thoroughly, so it is recommended not to recycle it.

"03" Don't let it get hot

"03" stands for PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is commonly found in raincoats and plastic films. Plastic products made of this material are prone to produce two toxic and harmful substances: one is the monomolecular vinyl chloride that is not fully polymerized during the production process, and the other is the harmful substances in the plasticizer. These two substances are easy to separate out when encountering high temperature and grease. If they accidentally enter the human body, they are likely to cause cancer. Therefore, it is rarely used for food packaging. If you happen to encounter it, don't let it heat up.

"04" Hot melting will occur if the temperature exceeds 110°C

"04" means LDPE (low-density polyethylene), a raw material for cling film and plastic film, which is not resistant to heat. Qualified PE plastic wrap will melt when the temperature exceeds 110°C, leaving some plastic preparations that cannot be decomposed by the human body. If the food is wrapped and heated at the same time, the fat in the food will more easily dissolve the harmful substances in the plastic wrap.

"05" Can be reused after careful cleaning

"05" stands for PP (polypropylene), which is the only material that can be heated in a microwave oven, so it becomes the raw material for making microwave lunch boxes. High temperature resistance of 130℃, melting point as high as 167℃, poor transparency, it can be reused after careful cleaning.

"06" Do not directly heat the bowl of instant noodle box

"06" stands for PS (polystyrene), which is the material used to make bowls of instant noodle boxes and foam snack boxes. It can not be used to contain strong acids (such as orange juice) and strong alkaline substances, because it will decompose polystyrene (carcinogen) which is not good for the human body. Although it is heat-resistant and cold-resistant, it will also release chemicals due to high temperatures. Therefore, do not directly heat the bowl of instant noodle boxes in the microwave!

"07" Use caution to avoid "bisphenol A"

"07" stands for PC and other types of PC. It is a material that is used in large quantities. It is mostly used to make baby bottles and space cups. It is controversial because of its toxic bisphenol A. In theory, as long as the bisphenol A is 100% converted into a plastic structure in the process of making PC, it means that the product is completely free of bisphenol A, let alone released. But no manufacturer can guarantee that bisphenol A has been completely converted, so some attention needs to be paid during use.