http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/02/glass-or-plastic.aspxEnvironmentalists have begun campaigning against a type of plastic by arguing that medical IV bags can leach a possibly carcinogenic chemical into ill patients. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a plastic used in countless products from shower curtains toenCommunityServer 2008.5 SP1 (Build: 31106.3070)http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/02/glass-or-plastic.aspx#43290Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:31:18 GMT24451277-a5aa-4add-96dc-64081bfd86fa:43290JLJACKSON2<p>As a healthcare worker in a hospital of 165 beds for 30 years, glass containers went away years ago to plastic liter bags for IV and Irrigation solutions. &nbsp;Meds like Taxol, amiodarone and others that have a glycol base and may leach DEHP plasticizer from PVC bags are mixed in non DEHP plastic bags. &nbsp;These bags are a harder plastic bag. &nbsp;Years ago we used to mix these meds in glass containers.</p> <p>What boggles my thinking is multiplying the amount of IV bags we mix and use for IV piggyback antibiotics and the large IV solution bags used for patients for hydration on a daily basis and multiply our number by all the hospitals in the nation. &nbsp;Lot of plastic going into the landfills on a daily basis. &nbsp;</p> <p>Add to this all the surgery disposable supplies, items that used to be re-sterilized and re-used that have now been replaced by use once and throw away plastic trays, tongs, etc. &nbsp;Tremendous waste. &nbsp;We will pay a price for this, if we are not already. &nbsp;Profit drives the systems. &nbsp;</p> <img src="http://articles.mercola.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=43290" width="1" height="1">