The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

StephakneeSays — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:25:44 GMT

I dump the microwave from time to time. Last year the one I had broke - but I couldn't deal with being out the $50, so I returned it and got an exchange (they wouldn't refund).

So, these are my questions:

What is the best way to dispose of the microwave? Want ad? Good will? Free cycle? Those mean passing the evil along. Will I be a bad person then?

2. I can recycle some of my plastic containers, but not all (my area only takes 1 & 2). Goodwill here also? Any ideas?

3. Unrelated to plastics and microwaves, but related to reducing landfill: What is the best way to get rid of cat litter? I throw away about 2-3 lbs a day. I use plastic sifting pan liners (I may be evil for that, but I would die without them - that will be one vice I hang onto for a while, at least until I have an outdoor hose.) I throw that away in 2 plastic grocery bags- nicer for my garbage man.

Suggest away! And thanks!

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

N. C. — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:28:26 GMT

After I filter my water I put them in PETE #1 gallon old spring water bottles. Once they are used there is no plastic taste at all. I use them for up to 5 years and my water tastes fine.. Eventually I will try to have 6 gallons in glass. I do not understand what's wrong with the microwave for warming water for coffee. If coffee is added after what's the problem? Even if it kills the water, I drink plenty of unmicrowaved water. I also use pyrex, isn't that glass?

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

Sylv — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:02:36 GMT

Petroleum-based products make me ill. What does me in? Not only plastics, but fragrances, "regular" cleaning products, "regular" personal care products, "regular" cosmetics; the list of what I must avoid goes on ad infinitum. I am the canary in the coal mine. What makes me sick today will effect others in the future.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

patdnaseq — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:56:31 GMT

Joan Courtenay, don't you think that 4 posts on here in which you give the same exact advice is enough? Do you, perhaps, own stock in, or have a financial interest in, these Sigg water bottles? If not, then please know that posting the same thing over and over again is annoying and is just wasting our vital time in which we could be learning new, unique, information.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

MuleMarm — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 09:52:48 GMT

DANGER! Be wary of using aluminum in any form for food or drink.

Suggesting aluminum as a good alternative to plastic, may be going from the frying pan into the fire.

Aluminum is a "soft" metal, and easily leeches into foodstuffs. Aluminum is strongly suspect in altzheimers. If you research, I think you'll find that all altzheimers patients are overloaded with aluminum -- found in deodorants, cosmetics, drink containers, cooking utensils.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

Joan Courtenay — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 23:44:13 GMT

Looking for non-plastic drink bottles? We bought metal bottles coated with an inert substance (enamel?) . It's made by Sigg Switzerland, and can be ordered online at www.mysigg.com or look for them at Eco-type stores in your area.

It is a lightweight, durable, eco-friendly, leak-proof, sturdy water bottle extruded from a single piece of aluminum and coated with a patented secret formula liner. The Sigg water bottle will not leach anything harmful into your beverage. It will not give your beverage any plastic taste or overtone. Good for you, good for the environment.

Ours cost about $20 but they're worth it. We've had them for about a year now and wouldn't use anything else. And for those interested in such things, they have lots of cool designs, and several sizes, including smaller ones for kids.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

vym — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 22:26:03 GMT

Suzanne, I'm curious. What brand of water filtration system do you use? I'm looking into buying one and am in the process of researching.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

Topaz Tina — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 18:56:41 GMT

I buy alot of extra virgin cocunut oil in glass jars. The jars have nice screw-on lids and I make good use of them after they are empty to store veggies and left-overs in the fridge. I also use one to shake up my Living Fuel drinks. My family thinks that I am really weird because I don't use plastic or the microwave. But I don't care because I am feeling so much better after ten years of ill health and being abused by the medical establishment to the point that I avoid doctors and hospitals like the plague.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

pinkskittles — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:09:05 GMT

A great thing for water is, I don't know if you've ever seen it, but VOSS bottles. It's some company in Norway. They have spring water (and naturally sparkling water) sold in glass bottles. Here it costs about $6CAD, which is expensive for water, but it's a bottle that was used only for water and is quite good. My friend carries a big mason jar around with her, I just think the Voss bottles look a little classier. Definitely beats out the Nalgene, since it's still plastic (polycarbonate), but Nalgene is still a better option than bottles that come with water in them already, or pop, etc. or the bottles that come are used with bicycles.

Another good option I've ordered is Klean Kanteen, which is a stainless steel bottle. I read that they shouldn't be used with acidic drinks though because then it leeches into the drink. Sigg bottles are made of aluminum, which is probably a better option than plastic but it still leeches into your water.

Glass is the best, but it's hard to carry around because it's heavy and fragile. Second best I'd say are the high grade stainless steel bottles.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

mama_of2 — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:28:20 GMT

Over 10 years I was educating my co-workers on plastic and microwaves and now I am regarded still "health nut" and many people are aware of the problem and they STILL are not doing any changes-so they are still using plastic and nuke it!
The most of us the choices we are doing ARE affecting not only our health but also health of our children and family. Working in mother baby care for MANY years I see as high percentage of moms ARE breastfeeding the babies. Is not that great? Than you see they are consuming tons of artificial sweetener in soda pop and request sugar free diet! All fruit juices have HFCS in them.
Than they pass a lot of that garbage through milk to their newborn child.(Many babies are now high in weight -like 9-10,5 lbs.) So that baby is starting to be obese right from the birth! Ignorance and more ignorance-what I can say more? Keep us informed Dr. Mercola.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

Maurine1 — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:54:16 GMT

I use a glass Planter's peanut jar to store my filtered tap water in the fridge. Carrying it about is trickier, but Rubbermaid makes a very good plastic drinking bottle -- number SEVEN, no plastic smell or taste. Since 2001 I have used a Nikken PiMag faucet filter, and I was advised to use glass or a bottle rated six or better because the water produced has added minerals as well as magnetism and oxygen. My health improved dramatically when I began drinking the water. It also is great for healing skin (I dip my fingertips in it after a blood sugar test). (Wet vitamin C applied topically is also good for healing skin problems.)

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

Tweetybird — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:12:41 GMT

Thanks, Dr. Mercola, for the tip on the Ball jars. I have been trying to figure out for some time now what to use instead of plastic. Everything is plastic!! I bought a dozen of the wide mouthed jars to use to make cultured veggies (which I confess I haven't done yet) and they are sitting down in the basement. Does anyone know of any other type of glass containers that could be used?? Hey, someone should invent/manufacture something glass for storage that's not too heavy & maybe with a wider mouth for easier access. What about drinking bottles? Didn't I read somewhere that there are some "safe" plastic bottles to use for drinking water? Does anyone know about that??

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

12PStreet — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:31:40 GMT

Thank you for this article Dr. Mercola. I do store most of my food in glass containers, bell canning jars for my homemade broths especially. But as I was reading this it occurred to me that my other glass containers are Pyrex and have plastic lids - is Pyrex some hybrid of glass and plastic? I also freeze single serving sizes of meat and vegetables and it occurred to me that I am using plastic wrap and freezer bags because I thought if the food isn't hot it would be ok. If this is not a safe practice I'd like to know and what might be some good alternatives? Is there any kind of "wrap" I can use for the meats?...wrap each hamburger patti in wax paper then store them in a glass container in the freezer? I prefer fresh food obviously but I am single and it's difficult to buy a head of cauliflower for instance and eat it all before it turns. All ideas welcome. Thanks so much.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

maurygolfer — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 07:41:47 GMT

I heard we are using up our petroleum stores on this earth. Why would we squander that diminishing resource by making plastic containers that are so bad for us and that we tend to use once and throw away?? It's bad enough that so many of us drive one person per gas guzzling car but using plastic containers that make water taste bad is crazy.

re: The Plastic Poisons That Surround You

Cheryl Rounds — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 06:52:08 GMT

People give such little thought to what they put on their skin and bodies. American body care products are loaded with chemicals that hve been banned in Europe. It is estimated that 60% pf what we put on our skin is absorbed directly into our bodies. You know the old saying garbage in- garbage out - just take a liik at our ever increasing cancer rates.

If you are interested in learning more about chemicals in body care and want info about reading a label - download the mp3 file of my talk "Chemicals in Body Care" at www.blissfullyorganic.com You can also download a free ebook on the subject there. And if you are looking for alternatives to chemical body care products, check out the certified organic line of body care products from Australia available from the site.