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PCBs & Polycarbonate Bottles

Due to a shared abbreviation--PCB--there is some confusion regarding polycarbonates, a hard plastic, and polychlorinated biphenyls, chemicals banned in the United States for decades.

  1. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

    • PCBs, since classified as persistent organic pollutants, were used for a wide range of industrial applications, before their manufacture was banned in 1979.

    Health Risks Associated with PCBs

    • From the Environmental Protection Agency: "PCBs have been demonstrated to cause cancer, as well as a variety of other adverse health effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system and endocrine system."

    Polycarbonate

    • The durability, heat resistance and transparency of polycarbonate plastics has led to their use in products such as CD/DVD media, shatterproof windows, lenses for eyeglasses, water bottles and appliances.

    Bisphenol A (BPA)

    • One of the primary components of polycarbonate plastic is Bisphenol A (BPA). Known to be an endocrine disruptor, BPA can affect human health by mimicking the effects of naturally occurring hormones. The extent of their health effects is still being investigated.

    Recent Developments

    • As of January 2009, 90 percent of the manufacturers of baby bottles for the U.S. market are no longer using BPA in these products. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced in January 2010 that new government studies of BPA would be undertaken due to new concerns about safety.

    Identification

    • Polycarbonate products are designated as type 7 in the resin identification code on the recycling triangle located on the bottom of most plastic bottles. "Type 3" plastics made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) may also contain Bisphenol A.

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