Probably the main thing that I harp on in this blog is, “Use a reusable water bottle rather than water bottled in plastic.” It’s the biggest single action you can take to be greener (plus use reusable shopping bags). Does it have to be complicated?
When I first started using a metal reusable water bottle, I bought a Sigg aluminum bottle. Later I learned that they refused to disclose what lining of the bottle was made of but they insisted it was safe. The Sigg corporation had a really good reputation in the green community and I trusted them. Recently, the Sigg CEO published a letter saying that their bottle lining is now BPA-free and the former bottles had a small amount of BPA. BPA is bisphenol-A which I will explain. Consumers had wanted to know if BPA was in the bottle but Sigg was afraid that disclosing this would harm business. I know I would not have been happy about it and I plan to exchange my old Sigg bottle for a new BPA-free one with their Exchange Program. How do I know that the new ones are safer? I thought the old ones were safe.
The story of Nalgene bottles is similar. Nalgene water bottles are made of polycarbonate (plastic #7 ) and Nalgene insisted that the BPA in them was insignificant and that it does not leach into the water. In 2007, Mountain Equipment Coop of Canada stopped selling Nalgene products because of concern over BPA. Recently Nalgen Nunc International decided to pull its hard-plastic water bottles from stores over the next few months because of growing consumer concern over the health risks of BPA. They finally decided to make a product that is not questionable.
BPA is in plastic #7 or polycarbonate which is a hard, shiny, transparent plastic. Not all #7 plastics are polycarbonate. The number 7 just indicates that the plastic cannot be recycled into another type of plastic. More than 6 million pounds of BPA are made in the US per year. It is found in baby bottles, liners of food cans, dental sealants, eyeglasses, CDs and DVDs, plus many other products. BPA is suspect in neurological and behavioral problems, cancers, diabetes, obesity, and reproductive issues. It is a hormone mimic and may cause fertility problems, miscarriages, early sexual development and a decreased sperm count.
If you insist on using a #7 plastic drinking bottle, avoid washing it in the dishwasher, using harsh detergents, or putting hot or very acidic liquids in it, which can all increase leaching.
-Don’t microwave food in polycarbonate.
-Don’t heat tin cans with food in them.
-Don’t pour hot water into a polycarbonate baby bottle.
-Don’t buy canned foods because they are lined with a substance that contains BPA. Fatty foods like salmon, creamy soups, and tuna packed in oil plus acidic foods, such as tomato products and some juices that are canned are especially suspect.
That’s a lot of “do nots”. What can you do?
- Buy fresh or frozen foods when you can.
- Buy stainless steel reusable water bottles, like Ecousable or H2Go.
One thing I have learned is that you are in charge of your own health and consumer behavior. Corporations cannot be trusted to put the health of the consumer over profit. I’m not an idiot. I know that companies are here to make money, but I do expect them to have some morals. Learn how these businesses have used questionable ethics with respect to BPA :
