Are plastic water cups toxic?

Are plastic water cups toxic? Everyone has this question. Many people like to use plastic water cups, not only because they are beautiful in appearance and can be made into various shapes, but also because there are many color options. Friends will have a lot of room for selection, and they are also relatively convenient to use. However, after using them, you will often think about what if they are toxic. You can't bear to throw them away, but you are worried about keeping them. So we have to learn more about it.

Not only are plastic cups purchased a lot, but many disposable quilts are now made of plastic. So everyone should be extra careful. In fact, some plastic cups are toxic after being used for a long time, especially those of poor quality. When mixed with hot water, they will emit some toxic substances. So it is recommended that you purchase with caution and be more careful about your health.

It is recommended to use a porcelain cup or glass cup

Provides methods to identify whether plastic is toxic:

Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET)

The name sounds impressive, but it is actually what people usually call "PET bottle" (PET bottle is actually the translation of the English word PET bottle). The material of PET bottles itself is not dangerous, but because the structure of PET is not tight, sugar and bacteria left over from previous use may be hidden in the gaps, so it is not recommended to use it more than once (which means don't use it as a water bottle).

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

Polyethylene is one of the safest materials for food preservation. Not only does it not contain any known toxic additives, it is also relatively easy to recycle, and most recycling plants have the ability to recycle polyethylene. Polyethylene is widely used in bottles, cans, ziplock bags, and the transparent plastic bags used to hold oyster noodles.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Dangerous, very dangerous! Vinyl chloride, the main material of polyethylene, is itself a very dangerous toxic substance and may cause cancer. In addition, polyvinyl chloride often contains various additives and plasticizers, which cause varying degrees of harm to health. What's worse is that burning PVC produces hydrogen chloride, chlorine gas and the notorious toxic substance dioxin, so environmental organizations around the world are recommending the abolition of the use of PVC.

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene is similar to polyethylene in chemical structure, so it is also a safe plastic. Most Tupperware food containers are made of PP or LDPE, but a few are dangerous PC (polycarbonate). Be sure to check carefully before buying!

Polystyrene (PS)

The original English name of polystyrene is Polystyrene, which is translated into "Bao Lilong" in Chinese based on its pronunciation. The danger of styrofoam mainly comes from its raw material styrene, which is toxic. In addition, polystyrene has poor chemical stability and may penetrate toxic substances into food when heated. After buying food in styrofoam lunch boxes and bringing it home, it is best to immediately transfer it to other containers.

Polycarbonate (PC), polylactic acid (PLA), etc.

All plastics outside the first six categories are classified into the seventh category (what, you don’t think the numbers in front are written randomly by Xiao Jiang, right? XD). Among the many plastics in the seventh category, polycarbonate and polylactic acid are more common materials used to pack food. As mentioned before, polycarbonate is a dangerous material that releases hormone-like compounds, while polylactic acid, which is commonly used to make "environmentally friendly plastic bags", is a safe and quickly decomposing friend.

Plastic water cups are toxic, but we can't completely do without plastic water cups. In fact, good plastic water cups can be used, but it is recommended that you use plastic water cups to hold cold water or icy drinks. This is not only convenient but also ensures our health.