Well, i was wondering is it true that for example, you decide to take away food. Like maybe a HOT soup and it gets packed in a plastic container. (The transparent type.) When, you reach home and start to eat/drink the soup, it may contain chemicals that got "degradeD" into the soup due to the heat. This is what some say that cause cancer. How true is that?

 

Similar question regarding styroform(sp?)

they`ll not be present in sufficient quantities to be of any risk, the degradation process takes MONTHS (if it`s a bio-degradable material).

the "fluffing" agent in styrofoam used to be CFCs, that was outlawed a few years ago, it also is quite safe.

in fact there will probably be more carcinogenic materials in the food produce that makes the soup than you`ll ever get from its 20 mins in a container

This is probably an urban myth that comes from the reported threat of plasticisers leaching out of cling-film and into food over a period of several days.

I think you are refering to PPS containers they were banned in the 60's.

What was PPS made from?

 

(ps - info on plasticisers: http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=cling+film+leach )

What about Teflon?

PTFE (teflon) is also perfectly safe, it`s also used in some surgical aplications.

But, i thought heat melts plastics? So, wouldn't it be true that the plastic chemicals actually get into your soup?

heat will melt SOME plastics, and the sort they use in food containers is the sort that won`t melt from boiling water.

PTFE is used in space suits and non stick frying pans, heat`s not really too much of an issue for that either

yeah. I did a little reasearch in school on plastics. I had to research on teflon. It says that at about 650 degrees, is starts to go SLIGHTLY rubbery. Then at about 800 degrees, it depolymerises

Well, now, i think i can go ahead and safetly eat hot soup foods that are placed in plastics bowls and stuff. Thanks a lot.

Sort of ease my paranioa. Thanks a lot, guys

PPS cannot exactly remember the formula name, was an early stage vinyl that contained lead, cadmium, and toxic softeners so was banned within 6 months.

PPS (Polyphenylene sulfide), is that the plastic you mean?

No, I don`t get chan ABC here.

 

PTFE can be broken down at High temps and in certain heated acids, to give off Flourine gas (very poisonous!).

but the heats involved are beyond conventional cooking apparatus and the acids would never be in food stuffs, it MAY be possible with tiny metalic contaminants to goto extreme heat in a Microwave oven and provide suficient local heat to a teflon coating, though it would be a rather unlikely and unlucky scenario

My mum just recently bought an electric air pot. Those whereby you boil hot water and the water is maintain at like 90 degrees, c. The salesperson said that the interior of the air pot is made of Teflon. Can someone tell me more about Teflon?

PolyTetraFlouroEthylene (PTFE) or Teflon as it`s commercialy known.

Originaly made by NASA for their space program, then adopted by the millitary and soon after it became publicly available (in the 1970`s I beleive).

It`s used for its non stick properties, ability handle great heat and cold (and sudden changes between the two). it`s also reasonably inert chemicaly.

I`m sure a Google search will be able to tell you alot more than me however

Thanks. Yt, do you have MSN Messenger?

no I don`t use it, sorry.

Then what is the commerical name for PPS?

I think the commercial name is easier to remember

Have any idea?

Sayonara³ said in post #5 :

What was PPS made from?

 

(ps - info on plasticisers: http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=cling+film+leach )

 

Sayo answered that for you for already

OOps. Missed that. Thanks.. :X