Plastics and Mold

Question 1

what is plastic made up of?

Answer 1

synthetic polymers

very large molecules composed of repeating small molecules

Question 2

what are the 7 types of plastics?

Answer 2

#1= PETE (polyethylene terepthalate)
#2= HDPE (high density polyethylene)
#3= PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
#4= LDPE (low density polyethylene)
#5= PP (polypropylene)
#6= PS (polystyrene)
#7= O (others)

Question 3

what are the safest plastics? what are the safer plastics? what are the un-safe plastics?

Answer 3

safest: #2, #4
safer: #1, #5
un-safe: #3, #6, #7

Question 4

polyethylene is found in what plastic numbers? characteristics?

Answer 4

1, 2, and 4
most common plastic
no proven adverse health effects
possible carcinogen but no definitive data
relatively safe

Question 5

polyvinyl chloride is found in what plastic number? characteristics?

Answer 5

3

cheap, durable, light-weight
can be softened with phtalates
statistically significant increase risk of CV and nervous dz

Question 6

polypropylene is found in what plastic number? characteristics?

Answer 6

5

used in packaging, containers, clothing, heat resistant, durable
no known health effects
will leach into food

Question 7

characteristics of phthalates? exposure effects what age group the most? health effects?

Answer 7

group of chemicals esterified bilaterally around benzene rings
commonly used as a plasticizer
not a persistent organic pollutant
does not bioaccumulate
kids are at worse risk of deleterious effects when exposed to phthalates
health effects: endocrine disruption, breast CA, other endocrine disruption (thyroid), developmental infants, obesogen

Question 8

what # plastic is polystyrene? characteristics? health effects?

Answer 8

#6
many uses
inexpensive plastic
styrene monomers when burned
mucous membrane and respiratory irritation, dizziness, fatigue, N/V, cognitive and perceptual loss, neural toxicity, possibly renal/hepatic, possible human carcinogen
oral exposure can affect iron exposure

Question 9

characteristics of BPA? adverse health effects?

Answer 9

structural component in some polycarbonate beverage bottles, metal can coatings
considered an endocrine disruptor (xenoestrogen)

Question 10

what is stachybotrys chartarum? where does it grow? what can it contribute to?

Answer 10

also known as black or toxic mold
grows on cellulose
common in damp living areas
possible contributor to sick building syndrome
sensitivity is individualized (allergic type 1 and mycotoxins)

Question 11

what does macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxin exposure?

Answer 11

dose-dependent neutrophilic rhinitis
mucous hypersecretion
atrophy and exfoliation of nasal epithelium
loss of olfactory sensory neurons

Question 12

ssxs of stachybotrys chartarum exposure?

Answer 12

allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, EENT inflammation, chronic fatigue, light-headed, brain fog, memory loss, H/A, muscle ache, mild fever, sneezing, coughing, SOB, severe can cause respiratory tract bleeding

Question 13

how do you remove stachybotrys chartarum (black mold)?

Answer 13

remove cause/prevention, identify and eliminate moisture, keep humidity below 50%
clean up depends on sensitivity and size of area
known renters rights- if mold visible they have to clean it up