Plastic

Plastic is a huge family of synthetic polymers — long chains of carbon-based molecules. PET (water bottles), HDPE (milk jugs), PVC (vinyl), LDPE (cling wrap), PP (yogurt tubs), PS (Styrofoam), and polycarbonate (some hard plastics) are all different plastics with different risk profiles. Calling something "plastic" doesn't tell you much — the specific type matters.

It's cheap, lightweight, durable, mouldable, waterproof, and convenient. Plastic transformed packaging, healthcare, electronics, and transport over the last 70 years. The same properties that make it useful — it doesn't break down easily — are also why it accumulates in the environment.

Plastic, PET/PETE, HDPE, PVC, vinyl, LDPE, PP, PS, PC, polycarbonate, acrylic, nylon, polyamide, and the resin codes 1–7 inside the recycling triangle. Resin codes are about recycling, not safety — code 7 is a catch-all that can include polycarbonate or other plastics.

Food containers, bottles, packaging, toys, toothbrushes, cleaning bottles, cosmetic packaging, synthetic textiles, carpets, phone cases, storage tubs. Honestly: everywhere. The practical question isn't "where is it," it's "where does it matter most?"

The whole plastic item rarely enters the body. Exposure is mainly via chemicals migrating from plastic into food and drink, tiny particles (microplastics) released from wear, and household dust and fibres from synthetic textiles and worn items.

Too broad to give one answer — the concern depends on which specific additives the plastic contains (bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS coatings, flame retardants) and whether microplastics are involved. Pregnancy is a good time to cut hot-food plastic contact and switch leftover storage to glass — both are easy and meaningful.

Same answer — the concern is specific additives like phthalates or bisphenols, not generic plastic. The evidence depends entirely on which chemicals are in the particular plastic and how much migrates. Reducing food-contact and heated-plastic exposure is the practical lever.

Higher concern. Kids breathe more dust per kilo, mouth toys, eat from plastic plates, and have developing bodies that handle chemicals differently from adults. Baby and child food-contact items deserve stricter choices — glass or stainless steel where practical, food-grade silicone as a fallback.

Not the main research focus. Sensible defaults — reducing hot food in plastic, keeping a clean dust-free environment — apply equally and matter more for those with chronic respiratory or metabolic conditions.

Not "all plastic is harmful." The strongest evidence is for specific chemical groups linked to some plastics: phthalates, bisphenols, PFAS, flame retardants, styrene, and microplastics. Each has its own evidence base — covered in the Chemicals section of the app.

Low for cool, dry, short-contact uses (storing dry pasta, holding a hairbrush). Higher for repeated hot, fatty, or acidic contact (microwaving tomato sauce in plastic, reusing scratched containers, drinking from heated bottled water). The pattern of use matters more than the existence of plastic.

Glass, stainless steel, ceramic, cast iron, wood, cotton, wool, and paper where appropriate. Food-grade silicone from reputable brands as a flexible alternative for baby items and baking. Not all categories need the same treatment — the goal is reducing high-impact exposure, not removing all plastic from your life.

Hard to avoid completely — plastic is in everything. Easy to reduce meaningfully in food contact, baby items, and heating situations. Aim for reduction in the categories that matter most, not elimination everywhere.

Move hot food and drinks out of plastic into glass or stainless steel. That single behaviour change — done consistently — covers the highest-impact exposure route for most households.

Don't fear every plastic item. Focus on heat, food contact, baby use, worn plastic, and synthetic dust. Those are the levers that matter. The rest is noise.

FDA on food-contact substances, EU food-contact regulations, WHO microplastics reports, NIH microplastics research, and polymer-specific studies. See References below.