Students have been toting the ubiquitous Nalgene water bottle around for years. Often plastered with more stickers than a VW Bus, these distinctive, convenient, and purportedly “unbreakable” containers have recently come under suspicion from public health watchdog groups and consumers as a possible source of Bisphenol-A (BPA) contamination.
The rumor alone was enough to drive many consumers to alternative bottle sources, most notably, the aluminum Sigg bottle, which is eagerly gobbling up the market-share held by Nalgene since the early 90’s.
The public consciousness is being flooded with rumors, corporately funded studies, and half-truths about the dangers of BPA, an organic compound used to harden polycarbonate plastic.
Used for over 50 years in the production of plastics, there have long been health concerns surrounding the compound, a worry amplified by government issued reports released earlier this year. BPA has been shown to act as an endocrine disruptor in lab tests, disrupting the hormone activity in lab animals and raising questions about possible effects on humans, including thyroid issues, and cancer.
In a report released in April, the National Toxicology Program expressed “some concern for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A”.
While these reports suggest little harm for grown adults ingesting BPA, some are choosing to err on the side of caution. “If something causes cancer in a rat, I’m not going to use it for me or my family,” said Elisa Boxer, public health advocate and USM English lecturer.
So how do you know if you are toting around a potential BPA-leecher? All bottles containing BPA are labeled on the bottom as #7 plastic (shown as the number 7 inside a recycling symbol). But don’t toss it away just yet; not all #7 plastics contain BPA.
According to the current EPA standards regarding BPA, the average adult would have to ingest 1,300 pounds of food or drink packaged in BPA every day for their lifetime to exceed the “safe” level of BPA.
Boxer says that these standards do not take into account different exposure levels from different sources. Someone drinking water from a plastic made with BPA, and ingesting a food packaged in a BPA container would be receiving a double-dose of the compound. “Plastics are all around us,” notes Boxer.
Health Canada, the nation’s health department, also extensively studied the compound and in April suggested listing BPA as “toxic to human health and the environment”.
While research continues on the adverse affects of BPA, many businesses have already been forced to address the issue. Nalgene still stands firmly behind the safety of BPA, but is beginning to phase out BPA altogether, switching from the current polycarbonate plastics to Eastman TritanT copolyester is a response to consumer demands.
Eastern Mountain Sports, one of the area’s leading outfitters, began to notice a shift in demand 6-8 months ago. “Everybody is coming in looking to replace their old Nalgene,” said Liz Ortega, manager of the EMS on Marginal Way.
While EMS now offers BPA free Nalgenes and Camelbacks Ortega says the store has been “trying to push stainless steel – it’s the only thing guaranteed not to leech [chemicals].”
Boxer isn’t taking any chances, opting to drink out of glass or stainless steel containers while the research on BPA continues to slowly roll in. “I try to stay level headed about it,” said Boxer. “Just do your homework and look at all the info,” she urges.