Plastic — we freeze our ice cubes in it, heat our leftovers in it, squirt our dish soap from it and wear it when it rains. It’s all around us. We use it every day. We cannot escape from it.

But is it safe?

The stories of the danger of dioxin leeching plastic have been around for years. The warning screams: “No plastic containers in the microwave! No water bottles in the freezer! No plastic wrap in the microwave!” Every time you freeze in it, or reheat in it, you’re warned — it’s leeching, dripping and oozing toxic dioxins into the contents of your container.

Exposure to dioxins have been linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, can damage the immune system, interfere with hormonal systems, and are said to be a contributing cause of birth defects, endometriosis, diabetes, learning disabilities, immune system suppression, lung problems, skin disorders and more.

Is it true? And do we even care?

“With all the other toxins out there, including the one where people think it’s OK to disregard the Constitution, we don’t worry much about plastic bottles leaking harmful chemicals,” Walter Brasch, of Bloomsburg, said.

Can’t live without it

Nancy Smith, of Sunbury, uses numerous numbers of plastic things because convenience sells.

“I couldn’t live without Saran Wrap, though I don’t put it in the microwave anymore,” Smith said. “I do, however, double-wrap those breads I bake and put in the freezer. Nothing else keeps them as fresh or protects against freezer frostbite like that plastic wrap.” Is she fearful of those products?

“I would prefer to think there’s not as much danger in our plastic things than there is in the air we breathe or the water we drink,” Smith said. “But I don’t put my head in the sand, either. I don’t know that there’s a truly safe product this side of heaven’s gate.

“I pay attention and heed the warning on every product we use,” Smith added, “and I’m always on the lookout for safer products than those which we now use. Safer, that is, until a research lab discovers cancer-inducing agents in that safer product, too.”

Watch and learn

Paying attention and heeding the warnings on labels is exactly what the FDA recommends you do to assure consumers that products are safe.