Water Bottle Warnings: Science or Sensation?
Posted December 13, 2007 at 05:00 PM by Katie Drummond
Section: Her Health, Her News
Many health conscious people make staying hydrated a top priority, often toting plastic water bottles in purses or backpacks to make drinking up a convenient priority. Unfortunately, this effort to do right by their bodies may actually have been harming them, at least according to the research that prompted new recalls of Nalgene polycarbonate water bottles last week. But how sure are researchers that the bottles do pose a health risk? And what can you do to stay hydrated safely?
The Canadian outdoor apparel store, Mountain Equipment Co-op, pulled Nalgene bottles and other polycarbonate plastic containers from their shelves, and is telling consumers to return old bottles for a refund. The reason? Recent studies have shown a link between a compound in the plastic, called bisphenol A, and a variety of cancers (including breast and prostate cancer), premature puberty, and lowered testosterone levels in animals.
In the U.S., The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences panel of 38 scientists found that most people are exposed to a level of the chemical at levels higher than those that cause problems in animal studies, and a National Toxicology Program panel concluded that bisphenol A exposure to fetuses and children could create behavioural and nervous system problems.
However, neither Health Canada nor the FDA have issued national recalls of products made with polycarbonate plastics, which include water bottles, storage containers, and some food packages. The plastics tend to be harder than the soft, recyclable bottles or containers used for bottled beverages and most foods on grocery store shelves. A full report on the health risks and safety of polycarbonates will be released in 2009.
Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defense, a national group that has been lobbying Health Canada to ban bisphenol A, said MEC’s removal of polycarbonate products will likely catalyze more retailers to do the same.
“The writing is on the wall for this chemical,” he said. “There’s no way that a product can lose this degree of consumer confidence and remain a viable business prospect.”
Some bottle manufacturers have acknowledged that over time, bisphenol A from the containers can leech into the contents, albeit in extremely small quantities, Mr. Smith said.
“The only thing the industry argues about is whether the levels that end up in our bodies are harmful or not,” he said.
While there aren’t any sure answers yet, you can play it safe by skipping the Nalgene and toting your water in aluminum bottles, now being sold at most retailers who also carry Nalgenes. These bottles tend to be pricier, but they are extremely durable and offer the same convenience as a Nalgene - without any health risks. Also take a look at other firm plastic containers you have around the house, including food storage systems and baby bottles, as some many contain polycarbonates as well.
Tags: bisphenol a, cancer prevention, carcinogens, nalgene, nalgene recall, plycarbonate water bottle, product recalls, water bottles, water safety, women's health
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