Plastic is everywhere in the form of water bottles, plastic wrap, food containers and toys.

塑料水瓶、塑料包裝膜、塑料食品容器、塑料玩具，塑料無處不有。

Initially proclaimed as a miraculous material—lightweight, flexible, and sturdy, plastics are presently recognized as toxic both to the environment and to the user.

塑料最初被認為是神奇材料，它質輕、柔韌、堅固，如今卻被公認為對環境和使用者都有毒性 。

The manufacturing process uses large amounts of energy and generates pollutants that contribute to global warming.

制造塑料過程中使用大量的能源并產生導致全球變暖的污染物，

They also spew toxic chemicals such as benzene and dioxin into the atmosphere.

還向大氣中排放諸如苯及二氧芑之類的有毒化學品。

Their use is no less hazardous, as some types of plastic containers leach chemicals into their contents.

使用塑料害處不少，因為有些類型的塑料容器將化學品釋放到內容物當中。

Disposal of plastics is a tough challenge for environmentalists; if dumped into a landfill, it takes hundreds of years to break down.

塑料的處理對環境學家是一個巨大的挑戰；如果將其倒入垃圾填埋場，其降解需數百年時間。

If dumped into water, they harm aquatic life, and if burnt, the fumes toxify the air.

如果倒進水里，則對水生生物有害，如果焚燒，則煙氣毒化空氣。

It can be fatal to animals that eat them.

塑料對于將其吃下肚的動物來說是致命的。

So it is natural to be concerned when one reads about plastics causing DNA structural changes or about infants' death as a result of milk powder being contaminated with melamine.

因此，當人閱讀關于塑料引起DNA結構改變或被三聚氰胺污染的奶粉導致嬰兒死亡的文章之時，塑料自然會使人擔心。

Studies indicate that food and drinks stored in plastic containers—including the Nalgene water bottles—can contain traces of Bisphenol A (BPA) used to make hard, clear plastics (or polycarbonate).

研究顯示，存放在塑料容器（包括耐爾根水瓶）內的食品會含有微量的用于制造硬塑料和透明塑料（或聚碳酸酯）的雙酚A（BPA）.

Even canned foods can contain BPA, as it is used in the inside lining.

即使罐裝食品也含有BPA，因為這種材料被用作 內襯。

BPA has been linked to miscarriage, breast and uterine cancer, and decreased testosterone levels.

BPA與流產、乳腺癌、子宮癌以及睪丸激素水平降低有關。

As most baby bottles and sippy cups are made with plastics containing BPA, our parental responsibilities increase.

由于大多數嬰兒奶瓶是用含有BPA的塑料制成的，我們父母的責任增加了。

Most of us heat plastic bottles for sterilizing it or put it on the microwave for heating it; this can hasten the transfer of BPA into the milk.

我們大多數人為了消毒而將塑料奶瓶加熱或將其放入微波爐中加熱，這會加速BPA向牛奶中轉移。

The immune systems of fetuses and newborn are immature, making them vulnerable to damage from toxins.

胎兒及新生兒的免疫系統還不成熟，易受毒物的損害。

When babies chew on plastic toys, harmful chemicals can gain entry into the babies' delicate bodies.

當嬰兒咀爵塑料之時，有害化學物質會進入其稚嫩的身體。

Safe Plastic:安全塑料：Plastic Recycling Codes塑料循環利用代碼

 

The plastic containers carry certain symbols and codes at the bottom.  Most disposable water, soda and juice bottles are made from plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET), and they are safe for one-time use only.

塑料容器底部帶有某些符號和代碼。大多數一次飲用水瓶、蘇打及果汁瓶是由1號塑料（聚乙烯對苯二酸酯，又叫作 PET）制成的，僅適合一次性使用。

Plastics carrying #7 codes contain BPA; those labeled #3 contain polyvinyl chloride(PVC), and those labeled #6  contain polystyrene (PS).

帶有7號代碼的塑料含有BPA，3號含有聚氯乙烯(PVC)；6號含有聚苯乙烯(PS)。

All of them are carcinogenic.

這些全都是致癌物。

Plastic containers labeled # 2, 4 and 5 are safe.

帶有2號、4號及5號標志的塑料容器是安全的。

In India, people generally use stainless steel vessels for cooking and heating, but of late, microwave ovens have started appearing in many homes.

在印度，人們通常使用不銹鋼容器做飯和加熱，但近來，微波爐出現在許多家庭。

If using microwave oven, use glass or ceramic containers (no paints, please).

如果使用微波爐，則使用陶瓷或玻璃容器（請不要使用帶顏料的）。

Avoid plastic bottled water, if possible.<}0{>盡可能避免使用塑料瓶裝水。

Nowadays, stainless steel bottles have started appearing in the market.

現在，不銹鋼瓶子已開始在市場出現。

If you use a polycarbonate water bottle, do not use for warm or hot liquids, and discard old or scratched water bottles.

如果你用的是聚碳酸酯水瓶，不要用來盛放溫熱液體，并放棄舊的或被擦傷的水瓶。

Avoid using harsh detergents that can break down the plastic and increase chemical leaching.

避免使用可使塑料降解并增加化學物質浸出的烈性清潔劑。