95% of people do not know the meaning of the numbers on the bottom of plastic bottles and boxes.

At the bottom of a bottle or box there is usually a triangle with an arrow and a number in the middle. Perhaps few people pay attention to this extremely important symbol.

Some families and food stores are seen reusing plastic bottles and containers to store water, cooking oil, vinegar, etc. Many people think that these plastic bottles and containers are safe after being washed, not knowing that toxicity can still occur during use.

Nearly 95% of Vietnamese people do not pay attention to the meaning of the symbols on the bottom of the box.

Recently, the story of a 12-year-old girl living in the United Arab Emirates who repeatedly used a mineral water bottle to drink water and contracted cancer has become a hot topic on many forums.

The main reason is that water bottles contain toxic materials that can cause cancer when used too many times. Regular mineral water bottles or soda bottles when heated to 70 degrees Celsius will easily deform and release toxins.

On the bottom of water bottles, medicine containers or food containers there is usually a triangle symbol with arrows. In the middle of the triangle is a specific number.

For example, students' water bottles often have the number 7; bottles of purified water, milk or fruit juice often have the number 1; bottles of cooking oil and cosmetic jars often have the number 2; and plastic instant noodle boxes have the number 5 at the bottom...

However, few people care about or learn about the meaning of triangles and these numbers.

Number 1 means PET (polyethylene terephthalate plastic). Plastic beverage bottles when reused, if filled with hot water over 70 degrees Celsius, will not only deform but also decompose into substances harmful to health.

Scientists also discovered that this plastic product, if used for more than 10 months, can produce carcinogenic substances.

Number 2 means HDPE - high density polyethylene. These plastic bottles can withstand temperatures up to 110 degrees Celsius, and are often used to store food, shower gel or other high-purity items.

When reusing, you need to be very careful, because this type of plastic is difficult to clean, and the remaining substances can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Number 3 is PVC - PVC plastic. PVC is often found in regular raincoats, construction materials, plastic products, plastic boxes. Although it has good flexibility and is cheap, it can usually only be used up to a temperature of 81 degrees Celsius.

This substance can release a lot at high temperatures so it is rarely used as product packaging, and is also very difficult to clean and cannot be reused.

Number 4 is LDPE - low density polyethylene. LDPE is quite common in noodle boxes and snack wrappers. Products containing this substance cannot be heated in the microwave, avoid high temperatures because it will release chemicals.

People should not expose packaged snacks to high temperatures and should not use microwaves to cook instant noodles.

Number 5 is PP (polypropylene plastic). PP is often found on the lids or bottoms of coffee cups, regular milk, yogurt or juice bottles. It is usually heat-resistant at 167 degrees Celsius, so it can be reused and microwaved.

However, it should be noted that some food containers have a triangle with the number 5 on the bottom but the number 1 on the lid. Number 1 is PET, a material that cannot withstand high temperatures, so when placing in the microwave, the lid of the container must be removed.

Number 6 is PS (polystyrene). PS is often found in instant noodle boxes and fast food containers. Although it can withstand high heat and cold, it should not be used in microwaves because it releases chemicals when heated.

A symbol on the bottom of the box

In addition, it should not be used to store items containing strong acids or strong alkalis, because it will decompose into polystyrene which is harmful to the body. Number 7 is PC - PC plastic. PC is very commonly used, especially to make milk bottles and disposable cups. If PC plastic bottles use BPA (Bisphenol A), it will be very harmful to the body.

For regular plastic cups, be careful not to use hot water. If you notice any stains on the plastic surface, throw them away immediately because they could be bacteria that are invisible to the naked eye.

The above information is extremely important because it is related to our health. Therefore, everyone should pay special attention to the numbers on the bottom or on the lid of each product they buy.

According to SH