Ever since I headed off to college, and started hiking out west, I have been drinking from my Nalgene bottle. All through college, schlepping a bottle to class and on countless backpacking and camping trips, my trusted Nalgene was there. I even remember one very cold, long backpacking trip where I filled a Nalgene with hot water, and slept holding it in an attempt to stay warm.
Then they came out with the lovely skinny necked bottles. I used those all through grad school and in my first years of teaching. I used them until a few years ago when I first heard about Bisphenol-A in polycarbonate (#7) plastics. When I searched for a new water bottle, I was surprised to learn that our local sports store still only carried the colorful new (although toxic) bottles. And I was seeing toddlers using the smaller, equally snazzy ones everywhere.
I thought at least the BPA would only leech out into water at high temperatures. Then I read this post by Enviroblog, citing a study that showed BPA (an endocrine system disrupting chemical, linked to cancer and brain development problems) leeching into water at room temperature.
I felt betrayed. All those years. I guess I am mostly a lost cause, growing up in the 80s with all our Velveeta and Steak-ums (sorry, mom), I am probably full of preservatives and chemicals. But at least we can limit our kids' exposure to BPA, and hopefully it will be banned for use in plastics that come into contact with humans soon. See the posts below this one for resources that list and review products without BPA and ways to take action to stop companies from putting BPA in products in the first place.
Despite mounting research to the contrary, Nalgene insists their products are safe. They even cite the American Plastics Council as a reliable source (no conflict of interest, there--) for research information.
For more information see the other BPA articles listed under Labels.
Here is an article about BPA in canned goods and water bottles from the Green Guide.
And an article from CNN about BPA and Nalgene.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Betrayed by BPA (Bisphenol-A) containing Nalgene Bottles--
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8 comments:
I used to use a hard plastic bottle too, but I have switched over to SIGG, and I even have a little one for my son. I even bought some for four of my cousins and their parents. Just say NO to BPA. :)
This is disappointing. I too have been using Nalgene water bottles for some time. But what really bothers me is this: Does BPA-free mean toxin free? There are all kinds of chemical substances in plastics. Today we hear about BPA. Tomorrow it will be something else, just wait and see. If we can't trust plastic, what should we take with us outdoors? We can't just drink straight from the streams and rivers like our ancestors did. They're full of mercury and other pollutants. There are no easy answers to the toxic mess created by greedy corporations.
I have a Sigg bottle I use and a Kleen Kanteen one as well. I too have Sigg bottles for my toddler and Born Free sippy cups for my baby. I also wonder what the next problem with plastic will be. That is why I want both of them to use glass and their Sigg water bottles as soon as possible. I'm also looking at getting rid of (FINALLY) all my tupperware type food storage and buying glassware instead. Thanks for your comments! This stuff can be endlessly frustrating, I know. Outdoors I take a sigg or a kleen kanteen, even though they don't hold as much water as a Nalgene does.
I feel the same way. I thought that by switching my kids and myself to nalgene, I'd be helping the environment by reducing my use of plastic water bottles.
Living and hiking in Boulder, we use them all the freaking time.
Their reaction to all this new awareness is what makes me the maddest of all, though.
I know, for a company that has had quite a following of outdoor enthusiasts, and potentially their kids, it is downright offensive.
And to think we all started using them to cut down on waste, not drink bottled water, and be healthy. Go figure.
We purchased some Sigg bottles and my son won a bottle which looks like a knock-off of Sigg. How do we know these bottles are safe? Is there research out there, other than Sigg's own info, which tells us these are safe? I worry about the aluminum and the lining as well. Thanks.
Hi momsathome,
Yes, I too was concerned about the aluminum in the Sigg bottles as well as the lining. This is the information from the Sigg website, but be sure to note the independent lab tests that state there is no leeching BPA in the Sigg bottles (versus the generic aluminum bottle brand--).
"SIGG bottles have been thoroughly tested both in Europe and in the USA to ensure 0.0% leaching – so absolutely no migration of either the liner or the container into the beverage. Having been in this business for nearly 100 years, you can trust SIGG Switzerland to produce products of the highest quality and safety standards in the world.
"According to the results of our evaluation, use of a SIGG bottle does not add to the beverage any particles and/or components which are harmful to human health."
– Dr. Ulrich Nehring, European Institute Nehring"
There is also more information about their lining use on the website. I am trying to find another source I read that rated the Sigg bottles as not leeching any BPA. I will get back to you if I find it again!
I am a bit worried about the metal bottles, who knows if they will discover those are leaching chemicals as well. Here are some glass water bottles for drinking from. I saw on the Today Show this morning that they recommend using glass whenever possible to make sure you are not getting chemicals in your water.
http://www.aquasana.com/product_detail.php?product_id=45
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