Plastic or Not? a water bottle controversy....

It's been a while but in the spirit of being eco-friendly, waste attentive and chemically aware I must write about water bottles. It's been about six months now that I have given up buying disposable water bottles (and all those companies must be losing money over it) because I am becoming more and more environmentally conscious every minute. What I am becoming enlightened about as well is chemicals that insidiously seep into the liquid that we put into our re-usable water bottles. INEVER knew...I was so concerned about being green that I completely disregarded the health concerns that not only go along with re-filling those disposable water bottles (which i stopped doing as well)and leaving them in a hot car...BUT the hard plastic (like Nalgene) water bottles that we refill and refill and refill before we put them in the dishwasher for sanitizing...eewww....I have a clue now. I also have a clue about every kind of plastic and the chemicals that go along with them....who knew???

I think I will use a safe Aluminum bottle now to drink from...that seems to be safe at least for the moment.

Here's a couple of tidbits I recently found and wanted to share...

The following article is by Kate Barrett 4/18/08 ABC news.com

Reusable plastic water bottles may be good for the environment, but a new study shows they might be bad for your health.

There's a possibility that the chemical found in plastic water bottles, baby bottles and the lining of many food, drink and baby formula cans could be linked to health problems, including prostate cancer, breast cancer and early-onset puberty, according to a chemical evaluation released Monday night by the Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program.

The evaluation doesn't reverse any opinions about the chemical but simply raises new concerns.

The draft brief found some worry that exposure to the chemical bisphenol A, known as BPA, could have neural and behavioral effects on fetuses, infants and children at existing exposure levels.

"The possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed," the evaluation noted.

Indeed, the study failed to put to rest long-standing worries about whether the widely used chemical is safe, and ensures that scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve BPA will continue. While some have argued the chemical is associated with health risks, the FDA and industry experts have stood by their controversial conclusion that the chemical is not harmful.

The chemical helps make plastic tough and shatter-resistant; the plastic is used in food and drink containers, bike helmets, dental sealants and more.

At the American Chemistry Council, Steve Hentges, executive director of the polycarbonate/BPA global group, said today that there's still no evidence of serious health risks or need to remove BPA from the market. This evaluation echoes many of the already published findings about BPA, Hentges said.

"In every case, what they point out is that the existing data provide only limited evidence for those health effects," he said. "It suggests additional research is needed in some areas, and we don't disagree with that at all.

"But the data as it currently stands does not indicate that there is a significant risk associated with bisphenol A."

But others said Tuesday that the evaluation is a critical development.

"This corrects the scientific record," said Anila Jacob, senior scientist at Environmental Working Group, an organization that has routinely spoken out against the chemical. "It breaks new scientific ground. This is significant."

Below is some additional advice from another source.....

Plastics to Avoid

#3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) commonly contains di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine disruptor and probable human carcinogen, as a softener.

#6 Polystyrene (PS) may leach styrene, a possible endocrine disruptor and human carcinogen, into water and food.

#7 Polycarbonate contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol-A, which can leach out as bottles age, are heated or exposed to acidic solutions. Unfortunately, #7 is used in most baby bottles and five-gallon water jugs and in many reusable sports bottles.

Better Plastics

#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), the most common and easily recycled plastic for bottled water and soft drinks, has also been considered the most safe. However, one 2003 Italian study found that the amount of DEHP in bottled spring water increased after 9 months of storage in a PET bottle.

#2 High Density Polyethylene

#4 Low Density Polyethylene

#5 Polypropylene

Best Reusable Bottles: SIGG Aluminum water bottles (my personal fav), Platypus Platy Bottle, The Corntainer Corporation corn resin water bottle with filter, Betras USA Sports Bottles, Brita Fill & Go Water Filtration Bottle, Arrow Canteen

Better Baby Bottles: Choose tempered glass or opaque plastic made of polypropylene (#5) or polyethylene (#1), which do not contain bisphenol-A.

Tips for Use:

*Sniff and Taste: If there's a hint of plastic in your water, don't drink it.

*Keep bottled water away from heat, which promotes leaching of chemicals.

*Use bottled water quickly, as chemicals may migrate from plastic during storage. Ask retailers how long water has been on their shelves, and don't buy if it's been months.

*Do not reuse bottles intended for single use. Reused water bottles also make good breeding grounds for bacteria.

*Choose rigid, reusable containers or, for hot/acidic liquids, thermoses with stainless steel or ceramic interiors.

OK...so now you are armed with some valuable information...stay bacteria free and environmentally proactive and well HYDRATED!!!

Till we meet again....LG.