The Quick Facts: Most of us are aware that there are health risks associated with the leaching of chemicals from plastics into our food and beverages—particularly when the plastic is heated. What we may not realize is that dishwashing plastics, even on the top shelf, results in significant degradation of the plastics. This degradation (which may not be visible) leads to increased leaching into our food and beverages of the chemicals that compose our plastic kitchenware and food storage containers. To protect your family’s health, stop washing plastics in the dishwasher and seek alternatives to plastics (such as wood, bamboo, stainless-steel, and glass) for all containers and kitchenware that come in contact with your family’s food and beverages.
By now, most of us have heard that there are some health risks associated with chemicals in plastics leaching from containers into our food and beverages. Most recently, Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics (those with the number 7 universal recycling symbol), has faced public scrutiny. Canada and several states, cities and counties in the United States have banned the use of BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups and other children’s products. The bans are a result of research that has found BPA mimics estrogen and can, at low exposure levels, lead to significant developmental, reproductive or immune effects. (For more on the issue of plastics safety, see Real Mama’s articles: Bisphenol-A: Controversy over Safety of Plastics and Kids’ Health and Plastics and Children: Friend or Foe.)
Many of us have heard that higher temperatures result in increased leaching of BPA and other chemicals from plastics. So, shrewdly, we no longer drink hot beverages out of plastic mugs or microwave food in Tupperware. But, when we’ve scooped the last of the leftovers out of the plastic storage container or scraped Janey’s uneaten lima beans off of her plastic plate, most of us don’t think twice about tossing them in the dishwasher. After all, as ever eco-minded stewards, we know that washing our dishes in the dishwasher uses less water than washing them by hand. And, we feel confident putting the plastic on the dishwasher’s top shelf because—well—it says “dishwasher top shelf safe” right on the plate.
Only thing is, the dishwasher douses the plastic with super hot water and then scrapes it clean with the harsh, abrasive detergents that most of us use. That repeated exposure to high temperatures and “harsh cleaning agents” can deteriorate plastic and leach the chemicals that compose them — which may include BPA, phthalates, DEHA (Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate), styrene, formaldehyde, acetyltributylcitrate, and diocytlapidate.
As featured in Appliance Magazine, the Eastman Chemical Company’s Specialty Plastics Business Organization (the “SPBO”) recently put “dishwasher-safe to the test.” In order “[t]o address the lack of information regarding the interaction of plastics and the dishwasher,” the SPBO conducted a “series of tests for polycarbonate, copolyesters, and some other common kitchenware plastics.” Generally, what they found was that “[t]he harsh environment of a dishwasher is particularly aggressive toward plastics.” Among other things, heat, chemicals from high-pH detergents and stresses from repeated washings and over-packing of dishes combined to degrade the plastics. What this means is that even though your plastic kitchenware may resist shrinkage and distortion (and thus be “dishwasher top rack safe” from warping), the heat of the dishwasher can be activating chemical reactions between plastics and foods, detergents and water—thereby accelerating the deterioration of the plastic. Broken down and worn plastic (whether visible or not) results in increased leaching of chemicals from the plastic into food and beverages.
The National Toxicology Program — which is an interagency program located within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, whose mission is to evaluate agents of public health concern — recognizes the potential health risks associated with plastic degradation and recommends that we avoid washing plastic food containers in the dishwasher.
So, if you stop washing all plastics in the dishwasher today, is it safe to use them? Well, many would argue it’s not. Plastics which were “abused” in the dishwasher may have broken down, making it more likely that they will leach chemicals into your food and beverages. And, the dishwasher issue aside, other factors can lead to the leaching of chemicals into our foods and beverages. For example, hot, highly acidic or fatty foods may cause the plastics on which they sit to leach chemicals.
You can take simple steps to reduce your family’s exposure to the known—as well as the yet unknown—risks associated with the leaching of chemicals from plastics into food and beverages, including:
- Stop using plastic plates and cups; switch to: ceramic/porcelain, wood, bamboo, stainless-steel, or glass. (Note: Some ceramic glazes or decorations could contain lead.)
- Stop using plastic water bottles; switch to stainless-steel or glass.
- Stop using other plastic kitchenware; use glass, metal or wood alternatives to plastic mixing bowls, colanders, funnels, cutting boards, spatulas and utensils.
- Stop storing food in plastic; switch to glass, ceramic or stainless-steel containers.
- Wrap sandwiches in reusable cloth wraps or in wax paper, or place them in stainless steel containers.
- Don’t cover food that is to be microwaved with plastic; instead use a cloth, paper towel, or wax paper.
- Don’t wash plastics in the dishwasher (even those that say “dishwasher safe”).
- Don’t microwave plastics (even those that say “microwave safe”).
- If you must use plastics, avoid #7-PC; instead choose #7-PLA, which is made from corn.
- Avoid canned fruits and vegetables, as most cans are lined with an epoxy resin that contains BPA; instead buy fresh or frozen produce.
- Contact manufacturers of plastic dinnerware, baby cups and bottles, and food storage containers, and ask them to phase out dangerous chemicals in their products.
- Contact your elected government officials and urge them to fund more research on the health risks associated with chemicals used in plastics and to enact regulations to protect consumers from toxic chemicals used in plastics.
Keep in mind that avoiding the use of plastics not only helps you avoid health risks associated with them, but it also helps the environment: Most plastics are made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource. The manufacturing of plastics creates air and water pollution, as does the incineration of plastics for waste management. Additionally, plastics do not biodegrade in landfills and plastic trash will be here for generations to come.
Please see Real Mama’s related articles:
Bisphenol-A: Controversy over Safety of Plastics and Kids’ Health.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94699105
Appliance Magazine, “Putting Dishwasher-Safe to the Test” by David S. Porter, PhD, technical associate, and Randy S. Beavers, polymer solutions executive, Specialty Plastics Business Organization, Eastman Chemical Co. (May 2008); http://www.appliancemagazine.com/editorial.php?article=1965
National Toxicology Program, “Bisphenol A (BPA)”; http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, “Smart Plastics Guide Healthier Food Uses of Plastics” (September 2008); http://www.iatp.org/foodandhealth/
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, “Cooking with Plastics” (December 3, 2004); http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_plastics.html
Green Your, “Choose nontoxic baby dishes and utensils”; http://www.greenyour.com/lifestyle/baby/baby-feeding/tips/choose-nontoxic-baby-dishes-and-utensils
“Plastic Rap—10 Ways to Reduce Plastics in Your Home,” by Lisa Davis; http://rismedia.com/2009-01-13/plastic-rap-10-ways-to-reduce-plastics-in-your-home/
