Recently, a topic about "plastic bags causing cancer" has sparked a heated discussion on the Internet. Many people worry that the plastic bags used to hold the vegetables and fruits they bought home will become a potential "poison source" once they are placed in the refrigerator.
Is this true? Today, let's uncover the truth behind this and see how scientific experiments have lifted this fog.
1. The safety of food stored in plastic bags
Those plastic bags, some of which are made of PE, that is, polyethylene, sound quite tall, but in fact, they are the kind of transparent and colorless plastic bags we use every day, which are good for decorating vegetables and fruits.
There is also PVC, which sounds a bit hairy because it may contain some additives, such as plasticizers, which are potentially risky. These plastic bags are not breathable, fruits and vegetables are put in, they are hypoxic, they spoil quickly, and it is not good for the body to eat them.
Now some people say that plastic bags can also cause cancer, and we have to take a serious look at this matter. Are plasticizers and benzopyrene in plastic bags really harmful?
The main effect of plasticizers is to make the plastic bag softer and less brittle, but if it encounters high temperatures or grease, it may slowly seep into the food.
As for benzopyrene, this thing is generally found in colored plastic, and there should be no in the white plastic bag we use.
2. Plastic bags in the refrigerator: the truth or falsity of the carcinogenic claim
The Nanchang Food Supervision Bureau came out to refute the rumors, they said, as long as it is a plastic bag that meets the national standards, you just put it in the refrigerator, and you don't have to worry.
This sounds very reassuring, but we can't just listen to the wind and rain, we have to have real data and experiments to support it.
Take the plasticizer as an example, under normal circumstances, it will not move in the plastic bag. Even if it is migrated to food, the amount is pitifully small, and it is not enough to affect our health.
As for benzopyrene, it doesn't volatilize at low temperatures, so you just put a plastic bag in the refrigerator and you won't have a big problem for a day or two.
3. Experiments Reveal the True Impact of Plastic Bags on Refrigerated Food
On the question of whether plastic bags will release harmful substances under refrigerated conditions, a reporter from Huashang Daily conducted an experiment with the chemistry department of a local university.
The purpose of the experiment was to test whether the vegetables inside the food-grade plastic bag would be contaminated with harmful substances such as plasticizers in a simulated home refrigerator environment.
In the experiment, food-grade PE plastic bags, which are commonly found on the market, were selected and fresh vegetables were packed into plastic bags and placed in the refrigerator.
In the control group, vegetables were placed directly in the refrigerator. The duration of the experiment was set to one week and simulated daily household use. One week later, the plasticizer content of the vegetables in the experimental group and the control group were tested separately.
The results showed that the content of plasticizers in both the experimental group and the control group was lower than the limit of the national food safety standard, and there was little difference between the two groups.
This experiment shows that the use of food-grade plastic bags for food storage under common household refrigeration conditions is safe and will not cause food to be contaminated with harmful substances such as plasticizers.
Fourth, the misunderstanding and correct use of plastic products in daily life
Although experimental data shows that food-grade plastic bags are safe for refrigerated food, misconceptions about plastic products still abound in daily life.
For example, some people will use ordinary plastic bags to directly fill hot food for convenience, which is very wrong. Because under the action of high temperatures, harmful substances in non-food grade plastic bags, such as plasticizers, are more likely to migrate into food, and long-term intake is not good for health.
Another common myth is that some families reuse plastic bottled water or other beverages. However, most single-use plastic bottles are not suitable for long-term reuse.
Because plastic bottles may release trace amounts of chemicals during repeated use, especially if the bottle is physically damaged or exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.
The principle of using plastic products correctly is to first choose the right plastic products. For example, food-grade plastic bags should be used for food storage, and preferably not for hot food.
Pay attention to the conditions in which plastic products are used and avoid placing them in hot environments, such as not placing plastic bottles in direct sunlight. Finally, it is necessary to reasonably arrange the life cycle of plastic products and avoid long-term reuse of disposable plastic products.
Through these small details of daily life, we can enjoy the convenience of plastic while minimizing its potential health risks.
As for the various claims about plastic products circulating on the Internet, we should use a scientific attitude to distinguish them and not be misled by false information.
As long as plastic products are selected and used correctly, they are safe in daily life and there is no need to panic excessively.
Of course, for the use and disposal of plastic products, we also need more scientific research and environmental awareness to achieve the dual goals of health and environmental protection.
5. Precautions for the safe use of plastic bags
Although plastic bags are convenient, they can cause health effects if used improperly. For example, plastic bags are not resistant to high temperatures, and some non-food grade plastic bags may release substances that are harmful to the human body at high temperatures.
Therefore, when using plastic bags to store food, you need to pay special attention to the following:
1. Identify the material of the plastic bag: When buying a plastic bag, you should recognize whether it is a food-grade material, usually the food-grade plastic bag will be clearly marked on the packaging.
2. Avoid exposure to high temperatures: Do not use plastic bags for microwave heating or loading hot food, as high temperatures may cause harmful substances in the plastic to migrate into the food.
3. Avoid loading oily foods: Oils and fats can promote the release of harmful substances in some plastics, so try not to use plastic bags to load oily foods directly.
4. Limit the number of uses: Even food-grade plastic bags are not recommended to be reused for a long time, especially if they are damaged or deformed, they should be stopped immediately.
6. Treat the use of plastic bags rationally and prevent risks scientifically
Plastic bags are relatively safe to use in refrigerated conditions, but that doesn't mean we can let our guard down on the use of plastic products.
We should look at the use of plastic bags rationally, and neither panic excessively about them, nor ignore their potential risks. While enjoying the convenience brought by plastics, we should pay more attention to how to use them scientifically and safely.
Scientific experiments and data are important bases for judging the safety of a thing. In the use of plastic bags, we also need such a scientific attitude.
Only based on experiments and data can we properly assess the safety of plastic bags and avoid blindly following unverified information to make more informed decisions.
In daily life, we should actively learn how to use plastic products correctly, identify plastic bags of different materials, and avoid using them in unsuitable environments and uses.
At the same time, we should also pay attention to the environmental protection of plastic products, reasonably dispose of waste plastic products, and reduce the impact on the environment.
summary
Plastic bags are just a small detail in our lives, but the correct use of it reflects our attitude towards health and the environment.
Let us enjoy the convenience brought by modern technology while not forgetting to be responsible for health and the environment, and create a healthier and more sustainable living environment for ourselves and future generations.