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--- A crash course on the different types of plastics:


Clearly, the concern over dangerous plastics centers mainly around the additive Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It can be found in hard plastics like toys, disposable silverware, styrofoam products, (egg cartons), food storage containers, clear plastic and reusable drink bottles, and the white enamel lining of cans used for foods such as tomatoes, pumpkin, beets, and more. It's true that it is used extensively, and that it should absolutely be avoided.

BPA (Bisphenol A) has been linked to breast, prostate, and uterine cancer, decreased testosterone, Type II Diabetes, Attention Deficit Disorder, and more. Federal health agencies have found that 95% of people tested had levels of BPA in their system. (This is exactly why having a strong immune system is so important)

BPA is a class of chemicals known as endocrine-disruptors. It mimics the naturally occurring hormone estrogen, and alters the normal function of genes. It is also linked to the early onset of puberty in girls, obesity and behavioral problems. It is thought to be the cause of serious reproductive disorders. There is a massive amount of information available on the internet about BPA. It is clearly proven to be very dangerous to human health and should never come in contact with anything a human might consume. But, it’s not a perfect world... unfortunately, products containing BPA are still widely sold.
How to identify harmful plastics

The easiest way to identify the type of plastic is to look for the recycling symbol and/or the alphabetic designation stamped on the bottom of the container.

The recycling symbol is located on the bottom of containers. It is a small triangle that has a number stamped inside the triangle. The number tells you what type of plastic it is. Some bottles, such as the one Vital Earth Minerals uses, also have an alphabetic designation. For example, Vital Earth’s bottles say “HDPE”.

Once you learn which plastics are which, with a glance at the recycling symbol, or the alphabetic designation on the bottom of the container, you can easily limit your exposure to BPA by simply not using them.

If there is nothing stamped on the bottom of the bottle, then we suggest you don't buy it - it's anybody's guess what it's made of. And, NEVER use plastics in an unsafe way, such as refilling a #1 recyclable bottle, which are designed to be used only once.
Learn these Recycling Numbers:

Worst Plastics: (Contains BPA (Bisphenol A) which can be leached into the consumable product)
#3 Recycling symbol: Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC) - (generally not recyclable)
#6 Recycling symbol: Polystyrene
#7 Recycling symbol: (Polycarbonate)

Mediocre Plastic: (contains BPA which is released over time)
#1 Recycling symbol– Designed for one-time use only.
Also labeled as PETE (Polyethyl Tetra Ethelene)
This is the type of bottle that water is usually sold in. Do not refill this bottle - the chemical bond breaks down over time, and then can transfer BPA into the liquid. Many people who are concerned about the environmental impact of using a bottle only once and then throwing it away will refill #1 bottles. We don’t recommend this because over time, as they are tumbled around in your car, become dented, etc. BPA is released. We suggest you avoid buying #1 bottles whenever possible, and switch to refillable stainless steel or glass bottles, a much better alternative for both you and the environment.

Safe Plastic: (made from safe, polyethylene, or polypropylene)
#2 Recycling symbol: (HDPE- High Density Polyethylene)
#4 Recycling symbol: (LDPE-Low Density Polyethylene)
#5 Recycling symbol: (Polypropylene)
How to get the most harmful plastics out of your life:

•Switch to a stainless steel or glass refillable water bottle for personal use
•Use glass or ceramic storage and heating contains in your kitchen, instead of plastics.
•Avoid all clear, hard shell plastic reusable containers, including the big 5 gal. bottles that sit on water dispensers, unless you check with the supplier to make sure they’re BPA free.
•Never feed your baby from a plastic baby bottle, unless it's made from plastics that don't leach BPA, like polypropylene or polyethylene (HDPE). Or, switch to glass or stainless steel.
Don't take our word for it ... Learn the facts yourself and make the best choices
And by "facts" we mean scientific data from reputable current studies, respected researchers, government agencies and industry experts. If a web site is warning you about some terrible danger but doesn't give you specifics, and directs you to articles and studies that are several years old, or articles that only relate to their scare topic in a vague way - and they are suggesting that you buy their product instead...let this be a RED FLAG warning to you. If a manufacturer has a valid product benefit they shouldn't have to scare you to make their point.

We fully acknowledge that priceless information can be gleaned from the opinions and experiences of " real people" who reveal their life experiences to help others. But at the same time, for every compelling and useful real life experience, there are dozens of self promoting hucksters, or charlatans out there with a personal agenda. With that in mind, we suggest that you simply look at the facts and decide for yourself.
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