Michael Schade: Hi! My name is Michael Schade, I am the PVC Campaign Coordinator with the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice. we are a National Environment Health Organization working to protect communities and consumers from toxic chemicals in the environment, and to prevent harm from toxic chemical disease.

Today I am here to talk about toxic chemicals in our homes and consumer products, in our schools, and in children's toys and what we can do to protect ourselves from these dangerous chemicals in our environment. I have been working to protect consumers and communities from toxic chemicals for the past seven years. I have a degree in Environmental Studies and I am one of the main National experts on toxic chemicals in our homes and communities.

Host: What plastics should I avoid buying?

Michael Schade: The worst plastic that we recommend consumers avoiding are the plastic numbers 3, 6 and 7. The number 3 plastic is PVC plastic, the worst plastic for our health and environment. The number 6 plastic is Polystyrene also known Styrofoam. The number 7 plastic is Polycarbonate which contains Bisphenol A.

So when parents are shopping they want to avoid the plastics number 3, number 6, and number 7, and most of the others are much safer for our health and environment. Now the other plastics do have some health and environmental concerns, because they are so natural chemical based plastics. But for the most part they are safer for consumers, because they don't contain harmful additives such as Bisphenol A and lead, cadmium and phthalates that we can leach out of the plastic when they are used or when they are heated, when they are put in the microwave or when they are used in consumer products in the home.