| So what's all this talk about unsafe water bottles? | | | | top manufacturers of baby bottles in the U.S. |
| You may have caught wind of some of the | | | | have all pledged to stop using BPA. Safe water |
| controversy surrounding polycarbonate plastic | | | | bottles and safe formula bottles are now widely |
| water bottles and the chemicals used in their | | | | available. |
| manufacture. You may have heard the term | | | | The chemical has low toxicity, meaning that it's |
| "BPA" or "Bisphenol-A," but educating yourself | | | | not going to hurt you overnight, yet keep in mind |
| about this harmful chemical and choosing safe | | | | that repeated ingestion of Bisphenol-A can |
| water bottles probably seemed like a chore, not | | | | develop into chronic toxicity over the long-term, |
| the way you want to spend a Monday night or | | | | mimicking human hormones like estrogen and |
| Saturday afternoon. This article contains all the | | | | potentially causing prostate, testicular, and breast |
| information you need to know to make informed | | | | cancer. |
| decisions about safe water bottles that are both | | | | As you can imagine, the companies that |
| recyclable and suitable for multiple uses. What is | | | | manufacture BPA downplay its side effects, and |
| BPA anyway? | | | | unfortunately, the reports used to guide FDA |
| BPA was first discovered in 1891, and | | | | discussions about the chemical were funded by |
| manufacturers have used this monomer for at | | | | the industry. Regardless of what official stance |
| least fifty years. It is a key ingredient used in the | | | | the FDA chooses, following the simple practices |
| epoxy resins that go into making the nearly | | | | listed below will help ensure that you and your |
| shatter-proof polycarbonate plastic water bottles, | | | | family drink from safe water bottles and avoid |
| which have become so popular with fitness and | | | | absorbing BPA at toxic levels. |
| outdoors enthusiasts. Even though BPA has long | | | | Here's what you should do: |
| been suspected of having adverse effects on the | | | | · Purchase safe water bottles made from |
| human body-since the 1930s!-concerns over its | | | | BPA-free polycarbonate, stainless steel, aluminum, |
| use in many common household products didn't | | | | or glass water bottles. |
| make a splash in mainstream media until 2008. | | | | · Never clean your polycarbonate bottles |
| If you've had that Nalgene bottle for more than a | | | | with harsh detergents. |
| couple of years, it probably contains BPA, and | | | | · Avoid washing all plastic containers in the |
| more disturbing is the thought that most baby | | | | dishwasher. |
| bottles more than a couple years old do too. | | | | · Avoid microwaving foods in plastic |
| Factors like regular exposure to heat can cause | | | | containers. |
| the plastic to degrade at a faster rate and speed | | | | · Avoid using plastic products which have |
| up the release of BPA into water and other | | | | a 3 or 7 inside the recycling triangle. These may |
| stored liquids. | | | | contain BPA. |
| Simply put, feeding infants with plastic formula | | | | * For an overview of past and current legislation |
| bottles exposes them to BPA's harmful effects. | | | | concerning BPA, follow the link to the Wikipedia |
| But, before you panic, keep in mind that the six | | | | article about BPA. |