1. Plastic Bottles: Key Facts Annisa White, MPH student Walden University PUBH Instructor: Dr. Patrick A. Tschida Winter, 2011
This presentation focus on key facts about some of the most used plastics in our every day lives. Research is still being done to understand the effects it has on children, specifically. The presentation is directed to parents, specifically mothers.

2. Learning Objectives Know the health exposures & risks.
Recognize some hazardous plastics.
Know the health exposures & risks.
Familiar with other material verses plastic.
Using safe materials.
Actual recycle numbers of plastics.
Some key objectives to obtain from this presentation are recognizing the names of some of the most used plastics; the exposures and risks that our children are susceptible to when using plastics made with these materials; some options to using common plastics available in our stores; how to keep our children safe when we are using these products; and becoming familiar with some physical or emotional changes that may occur as our children get older.

3. Hazardous Plastics Phthalates * Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Bisphenol- (BPA)
Some popular plastics used in everyday material is polyvinyl chloride commonly known as PVC, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and BPA. You may recognize these names of plastics when reading the packaging of your store bought material.

4. Phthalates * Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Toxic to children
Contain lead and cadmium
Used for color accents to toys
Banned or limited use in the USA
(Huang, Liu, Yi, Liu, & Yang, 2011; Kumar & Pastore, 2007)
PVC, as it is commonly known is toxic to children and mostly found in toys. The phthalates are used with PVC to make it more flexible. PVC may also be found in medical instruments. PVC in toys are used in the color accents, which make them highly likeable to a child's eye. For the most part, the USA has put stringent regulations on the use of some phthalates and some are barred from use in the USA other countries.

5. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Used world wide
Plastic bottles
Food containers
(Welle, 2011)
Polyethylene terephthalate commonly known as PET is known mostly for the manufacturing of bottles that contain water, sodas, teas, juices, and wines.

6. Bisphenol- (BPA) Plastic toys Epoxy lining
Baby bottles (Polycarbonates) & Water bottles
Eyeglass lenses
Microwavable containers
Dental sealants
(Smith, 2008)
Bisphenol most commonly known as BPA is used for similar reasons as listed previously: toys, bottles for babies (MOSTLY) and water, plastic containers for microwavable products, dental sealants, and epoxy lining.

7. BPA Free? Baby bottles/Toddler cups Water bottles Food containers
Household goods
Many manufactures have come up with BPA free products that can be used for baby bottles, food containers, and household goods that are advertised as having zero BPA.

8. BPA Free? Estrogenic activity (EA) Irritate estrogen
Endocrine disruptor
Same as PET, PVC, BPA products
(Yang, Yaniger, Jordan, Klein, & Bittner, 2011)
In an effort to eliminate BPA, some manufacturers use chemicals that contain estrogenic activity (EA). EA irritates estrogens which is a form of a endocrine disruptor. This is the same as the products that contain BPA, polycarbonate materials.

9. EA Chemicals free of EA Material tension Heat Ultraviolet dishwashing
(Yang, Yaniger, Jordan, Klein, & Bittner, 2011)
These chemicals are free of EA before the process and most times after the product is made; however, heat strains the product and causes chemical change in the product. These changes are made by the sunshine, microwave, or a dishwasher.

10. Health Exposures Passage through food/drinks Breast feeding
Visits to the doctor/dentist
(Marsh & Bugusu, 2007)
Most times our children are exposed to plastics in everyday life, such as: regular doctor and dentist visits; ourselves having come in contact with harmful plastics and breast feeding our babies along with feeding our babies with bottles; and food eaten out of microwavable containers or store bought plastic containers.

11. Health Risks Long term exposure to these chemicals Children Adults
Phthalates and BPA, specifically
Children
Phthalates and BPA
Early puberty
Obesity
Adults
Reproductive system
Breast cancer
(Ahearn, 2011; Kluger, 2011)
Once exposed to plastics, the chemicals seep in our blood. Associations are being made with BPA and phthalates to becoming obese and early sexual maturation. The risks can be damaging to the endocrine system. There are now associations to diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease and obesity in adults caused by long term exposure to BPA and phthalates.

12. Limiting exposure Limit using microwavable containers
Use glass or #1 recycle code container
Steer clear of the #7 recycle codes
Steer clear of canned foods
Shun away from microwaving baby foods in plastic containers
Throw out scratched or old plastic containers including bottles
(Chalupka, 2010)
Some ways to limit exposure of polycarbonates or BPA is to limit…; steer clear…, these contain BPA and are also in some of the new bio based plastics; shun away…; and throw out…

13. Basics & statistics $1 million/day Annual production 7 billion
Retailers have discontinued selling BPA products
Toys R Us
Wal-mart
$1 million/day
Annual production billion
2 billion in the U.S.
(Erler & Novak, 2010)
As of 2010, Wal-mart and Toys R Us have discontinued the selling of products made with BPA; BPA is likely to make $1 million a day in revenue; and approximately 7 billion pounds of BPA is made annually, with 2 billion being made in the U.S.

14. Basics & statistics continued
Plastic waste
31 million in the U. S.
8% recycled
PET can be recycled for fiber for carpet and textiles
(Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2011)
In 2010, there were a total of 31 million tons of plastic as municipal solid waste; 8% of this was recovered and recycled, the majority being plastic bags and wraps. Some of the PET plastic can be recycled into fiber to use in carpet and textiles.

15. BPA -Legislation Proposed bill CA, CT, HI, MD, MN, MA, ME, & NY
Phthalates and BPA
Children under 7
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(Denehy, 2008; Erler & Novak, 2010)
Some states have initiated legislation bills to stop the manufacturing products that include BPA or phthalates. Some are at a stand still awaiting final decision and others have been committed to organizations such as the Environmental Conservation Committee, Consumer Protection, and Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing. Most agree that the age should be for toddlers and infants up to the age of 7. The Federal food, drug, and Cosmetic act supervise the handling and safety of bottle water.

16. Important Tips
Recycle Codes
1-7
Alternatives to plastics
Glass
#1 plastic (microwaving)
Medical advice
Breast feeding
Obesity
Early puberty
Observance of children behavior
Remain up to date on “NEW” research conducted on plastics
Most plastics are recyclable and the recycle codes 1-7 are specific to the chemical used for different products. When every possible, use glass verses plastics; however, if you must stick to the #1 plastic. Seek medical advice from your primary physician regarding your children’s health as they grow. Be observant as new research is released on the effects of plastics and children.

17. References
Ahearn, A. (2011). A better understanding of BPA metabolism, with Frederick vom Saal. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119 (2), 1-6. Chalupka, S. (2010). Bisphenol A- A precautionary approach. American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, 58 (4), 168. Denehy, J. (2008). Water for sale: What are the costs? Journal of School Nursing, 24 (2), Environmental Protection Agency, Wastes-Resource Conservation-Common Wastes & Materials. (2011). Plastics. Retrieved from Environmental Protection Agency: Erler, C., & Novak, J. (2010). Bisphenol A exposure: Human risk and health policy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 25 (5), Huang, L., Liu, Z., Yi, L., Liu, C., & Yang, D. (2011). Determination of the banned phthalates in PVC plastic of toys by the soxhlet extraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method. International Journal of Chemistry, 3 (2), Kluger, J. (2011). Little women. Time, 178 (17), pp Kumar, A., & Pastore, P. (2007). Lead and cadmium in soft plastic toys. Current Science, 93 (6), doi: /ijc.v3n2pl69 Marsh, K., & Bugusu, B. (2007). Food packaging- Roles, materials, and environmental issues. Journal of Food Science, 72 (3), Smith, E. (2008). Healthy Lifestyles. Is breast still best? How are environmental toxins affecting breast milk? International Journal of Childbirth Education, 23 (2), Welle, F. (2011). Twenty years of PET bottle to bottle recycling- An overview. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 55 (11), Yang, C. Z., Yaniger, S. I., Jordan, V. C., Klein, D. J., & Bittner, G. D. (2011). Most plastic products release estrogenic chemicals: A potential health problem that can be solved. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119 (7), doi: /ehp

18. Additional Sources
Carwile, J. L., Luu, H. T., Bassett, L. S., Driscoll, D. A., Yuan, C., Chang, J. Y., et al. (2009). Polycarbonate bottle use and urinary bisphenol A concentrations. Environmental Health Perspectives, 117 (9), Galvez, M. P., Graber, N. M., Sheffield, P. E., Forman, J. A., & Balk, S. J. (2009). Hot topics in pediatric environmental health. Contemporary Pediatrics, 26 (7), 34-36, 39-43, Pandve, H. T. (2010). Selecting the right toys for your child is not a child's play. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 35 (2), Schapiro, M. (2007). Toxic toys: Why Europe's children are safer than ours. Nation, 285 (14), Trossman, S. (2011). Three nurses take the lead on change. American Nurse, 43 (1), 1-14.