You're Toxic

I've been reading about the dangers of polycarbonate/Lexan bottles recently. The problem lies with HDPE bottles that leach out the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) into your liquids. Some studies have indicated that brand new bottles leach out the substance, and as the bottle degrades over time, the chemical begins leaching out at a faster rate, especially when detergent is used to clean them or if they are heated as with a hot liquid. Bisphenol A has been linked to cell mutations in humans which are of the type that lead to birth defects, miscarriages, and several types of cancer. I had no idea there could be any health hazards associated with drinking out of these bottles, and I have used them without thinking for years. The scientists that conducted the research and who linked this type of plastic to BPA did not specifically test Nalgene bottles, and it should be noted that the maker of Nalgene bottles maintains that there is no inherent danger in using their polycarbonate bottles. However, considering these bottles are made from the same plastic that was tested, I would find it hard to believe that these bottles would be found to not leach the chemical. Regardless, I am limiting my use of Nalgene and other HDPE bottles to just the ones I have recently bought. When a few months have passed, I will throw these out, too. I was told that a good measure as to when to throw out one of these bottles is when you see the writing begin to wear off the outside. No word on where that indicator comes from, so I am assuming this comes from this being a general indicator that the bottle is getting old. If you are looking to avoid these bottles, too, look for #7 on the bottom or somewhere where it says polycarbonate.

So what are the options for drinking bottles? There are aluminum bottles, glass, stainless steel, and other types of plastics. The Sierra Club recommends using HDPE #4 plastic bottles instead, which are not linked to the leaching of bisphenol A. The old-style Nalgene bottles that are cloudy or milky looking are made from this type of plastic. They also say LDPE #2 and #5 PP are safe for reuse. On a side note, it is also not recommended to reuse regular plastic bottles, like those you purchase for everyday use such as Evian due to the problems with them harboring bacteria, despite attempts to clean them. As far as aluminum bottles go, I'm not sure. I'm still trying to find research on this subject, but with no luck. Aluminum has been linked to all sorts of problems in humans including Alzheimers. I realize that most aluminum bottles are lined with epoxies, but personally I will probably avoid these as well. That leaves glass and stainless steel. Glass is not practical for outside of the home for obvious reasons. I have found a couple of stainless steel bottles that you can purchase online here:

Colored Stainless Bottles
Klean Kanteen
Nissan Stainless