Biodegradable: A substance is considered biodegradable if it can be broken down into its basic components by microorganisms using either physical or chemical activities.
Hypoallergenic: Consumers with hypersensitive skin might be surprised to learn this term doesn’t necessarily mean what they think it does. The term “hypoallergenic” was first used in the cosmetics products industry to label products that produced fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetics – not necessarily no allergic reactions. There are no federal standards or definitions for the term in the U.S, or substantiation requirements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so “hypoallergenic” means whatever a particular company wants it to mean.
Isopropyl alcohol: is a colorless, flammable chemical compound often used as a cleaner and solvent by the car-care industry. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), isopropyl alcohol is a carcinogen, which means it’s a potential cancer-causing agent. Exposure to isopropyl alcohol can also lead to eye, nose and throat irritation; drowsiness; headaches; and corneal burns or eye damage.
MSDS: MSDS stands for “material safety data sheet,” which is a form with detailed information about a chemical, compound or chemical mixture. Intended as a safety guide for people who work with or handle those substances, material safety data sheets provide such data as melting point, boiling point, potential toxicity, fire hazards, environmental risks, spill handling guidelines, storage requirements and more.
Plastics: Decoding the recycling symbols There are hundreds of types of plastics, but only a few kinds are typically considered recyclable. Following is a guide to the PIC (for “plastic identification code”) numbers used to designate common plastics, and what those numbers mean in terms of recyclability and potential health and environmental concerns:
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
PET is used in soda bottles, juice bottles, disposable water bottles and many other food containers and trays. Products made of PET can be melted down and reformed into fibers, which can then be used to make carpeting, fiberfill for jackets, and fabric for t-shirts, shopping bags and other items. While there is no consensus on the health concerns of PET, most studies have found it’s not good for repeated use because it degrades over time. PET containers with narrow openings are also hard to clean, raising the risk of bacterial growth.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Plastic milk and water jugs are made from HDPE. HDPE plastics are widely accepted by recycling centers and can easily be made into numerous other products. Clear HDPE containers can be transformed into new containers, piping and even rope. Colored HDPE plastics – shampoo bottles, liquid laundry detergent containers, etc. – can be recycled into plastic lumber.
Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
PVC is used to make numerous products: toys, plastic food wrap, piping, medical tubing, wire insulation, construction materials and more. It can also be recycled into paneling, deck material, garden hoses and mats. However, PVC presents significant health and environmental hazards. Over time, it can leach out harmful substances like di-2-ethythexyl phthalate (DEPH) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BB2P). When burned, PVC can also release dioxins, which are known to cause cancer and damage to immune and reproductive systems.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Used for flexible plastic products like squeeze bottles, food container lids and frozen food bags, LDPE can be recycled into such items as shopping bags, tote bags and plastic lumber.
Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is used to make butter and margarine tubs, yogurt containers, ketchup bottles, microwaveable takeout containers, medicine bottles and more. Products made of polypropylene can be recycled into car battery cases, oil funnels, rakes, brooms, brushes, trays and bins.
Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene is a versatile plastic used to make things like egg cartons, CD cases, packing peanuts, meat trays, cups, plates and cutlery. It can be recycled to make a wide variety of products, everything from light-switch plates and thermal insulation to foam packaging and license-plate frames. However, polystyrene also poses significant health risks. Styrene, which can migrate from polystyrene containers into the foods they contain, is an endocrine disruptor, which means it interferes with normal hormonal activities. As a result, it can be a potential cause of reproductive and development problems.
Other (polycarbonate, ABS, etc.)
This catch-all category of plastics includes polycarbonates that contain bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor that mimics human female estrogen. Studies have found that even low-level exposure to BPA can cause decreased sperm production in males, accelerated growth rates, sex reversals in frogs, early onset of puberty, chromosomal damage in female ovaries and a variety of behavioral changes. In fact, in Canada, BPA is now designated as a toxic chemical. Other plastics labeled with a 7 include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and acrylonitrile styrene (AS) (also known as styrene acrylonitrile or SAN).
Readily biodegradable: A material can be defined as “readily biodegradable” if tests prove it can be broken down by living organisms and thus completely removed from the environment in its original form. As defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), readily biodegradable substances must degrade at least 60 to 70 percent within 10 days. Because of the stringent nature of these tests, some substances that don’t meet the standards for being “readily biodegradable” can actually be biodegradable in practice.
Solvent: Solvents are substances, usually liquid, that can dissolve other chemical or compounds. Water, for example, is a solvent that can dissolve many substances (salt, sugar, etc.) Because water doesn’t dissolve everything, though, manufacturers of household cleaners and other products need to include other solvents in their formulas. Conventional solvents used in such products include petroleum distillates, kerosene and alcohols – many of which raise concerns about human health effects and water pollution. Before using a product with these potentially toxic solvents, check the MSDS (?) sheet to find out more about the ingredients contained in it.
Surfactant: A surfactant is a substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid and lowers the tension between two liquids in contact with each other. Surfactants make products like soaps, detergents and waxes more effective.
VOCs: Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are organic compounds that evaporate readily into the air. They’re typically found in products like carpet cleaners, tire shining products, dashboard cleaners, detailing materials, paints and varnishes. VOCs not only contribute significantly to ground-level ozone pollution but to human health concerns as well. Short-term exposure can cause headaches, eye irritation, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, while longer-term risks include liver and kidney damage.
