Is silicone plastic safe enough to tell the difference between good and bad in one action?

Today, let's decrypt the silicone with everyone!

Q1:

Is silicone plastic?

Silicone, also known as siloxane, is a hybrid between synthetic rubber and synthetic plastic polymers, which may be made in different forms and used to make malleable rubber-like goods, hard plastic resins, and thick liquids that can be applied.

We treat silicone in the same way as other plastics because they have all the properties similar to plastics: bendable, malleable, transparent, high / low temperature resistant and waterproof. Like plastics, they can be shaped or shaped, softened or hardened to make almost anything.

Although they are waterproof, they also have high permeability, so they can be used in medical or industrial applications that require ventilation. And they are easy to clean, non-stick, and do not get dirty, which make them very popular in cooking utensils and kitchenware.

So what exactly is silica gel? many people seem to think that they are natural materials that come directly from sand. That's not true. Silica gel, like any plastic polymer, is a synthetic material, a mixture containing a variety of chemical additives from fossil fuels. The main difference between it and other plastics is that the main chain of silica gel is made of silicon, not carbon.

Pendulum summary: silica gel is flexible and malleable, heat-resistant and waterproof. Its properties are similar to those of plastic.

Q2:

How toxic is silica gel?

This is a difficult question to answer, and there is no clear answer yet. They are very stable polymers and can withstand a variety of temperatures and chemicals, so we think they are relatively safe. Many experts and authorities believe that silicone is non-toxic and can safely come into contact with food and drinking water. For example, Health Canada says there are currently no known health hazards to the use of silicone kitchenware. Silicone rubber (silicone rubber) does not react with food or drink, nor does it produce any harmful smoke.

Although studies have confirmed that silicone gels are very stable, they are not completely inert and do not release chemicals. Some silicone gels have shown biological effects, such as causing tissue inflammation, and other studies have shown that silicone gels may release chemicals.

For example, one study tested siloxanes released from silicone nipples and baking utensils into milk, infant formula, and simulated solutions of alcohol and water, and found that nothing was released into milk or formula after six hours; but several siloxanes were detected in alcohol solution after 72 hours.

It is generally believed that siloxane may interfere with endocrine secretion, some of which are associated with cancer. Because siloxanes are widely used in the manufacture of silicone polymers and household products, siloxanes are now detectable in land, air and water, and because they are durable, may persist in the environment for a long time.

The conclusion is that the scientific evidence on silica gel is still weak and there is no conclusive evidence, but the problems and uncertainties are there, so we should pay close attention to this material, especially now that people are increasingly concerned about chemicals that interfere with endocrine, because as long as there is a very small amount of exposure in one generation, it can cause health problems.

Pendulum summary: silica gel has high stability, but it does not mean that chemicals will not be released.

Q3:

How to distinguish between good and bad silica gel

Based on our precautionary principle, we tend to avoid using silicone when there is a better alternative. If you do decide to use silicone products in your life, here are some tips for using silicone:

Silicone should be of high quality, ideally medical grade, or at least edible grade. The higher the quality, the less likely it is to release chemicals. Do a test, squeeze and twist the plane of the silicone product, if you see the white part, the product may be useful because the pure silica gel will not change the color at all; if there is a filler, the product may not be uniformly resistant to heat. and it may pass the smell to the food, and most importantly, the filler may be low-quality silicone, or it may not be silicone at all.

Silicone oven gloves, kitchen utensils (shovels, spoons), spatter covers and pot racks should be fine, as they have little contact with food, but again, we tend to avoid direct contact with food. we will feel quite uneasy if we dip silicone spoons in simmering tomato hot sauce, or use silicone shovels to turn food over hot, greasy pans or barbecue meats.

Bottle nipples and soothing pacifiers should be safe, but it's best not to put them in the dishwasher and replace them if they become muddy or worn (ideally every six to eight weeks). If your child is not allergic to natural rubber, you can also choose natural rubber.