On using safe plastics

[Molch]

I recently had an episode where the large plastic garbage can I use to store water was making the water smell weird and also produced an oily film. I'm now lining it with plastic bags.

This alerted me to the possibilities that some plastics may leach chemicals and may not be safe for amphibians, esp. sensitive larvae etc.

Some plastics are rated for food safety while others are not. I assume that food-safe plastics would also be fine for amphibians. I'm still mostly in the dark on all this, but here's a website which allowed me to identify some of the plastics I use and whether they might be safe or not:

http://ecovillagegreen.com/903/what-do-the-plastic-recycling-numbers-mean/

 

[RobM]

I think most plastics have the possibility to leach chemicals, a big determining factor for whether they do or not will be temperature, as I reckon 99% of plastics will release chemicals as they are melted (or near melted).
I think a lot of the rumors about leaching plastics are a bit of a myth though, I have never heard of anyone having a problem using plastic boxes commonly found in various types of shops. However I think it would be very stupid to think that it is not possible, because it certainly must be and to be honest garbage bins would be the top of my suspicions list!
I think if you want to be 100% safe, you can't go wrong with food safe containers or containers/parts used in household drinking water systems/plumbing. I assume acrylics are also safe as you get acrylic aquariums.
A lot of plastic boxes (including food safe containers) are made from polypropylene, so I assume this is a safe plastic too, and have never heard of any problems with it.

EDIT: I perhaps should have looked at your link before posting, my apologies... thank you for the link *slinks back to corner*