Bottled water has popularized the very ordinary concept of drinking water. The presence of bottled water in every bodega, supermarket and vending machine makes it highly accessible. The easy transportability of water in lightweight plastic bottles makes water available everywhere and at any time. In addition, plastic bottles elicit an impression of sterility in a package-friendly culture, thereby making water seem more appealing. The bottled water trend, therefore, comes with some definite benefits. But are there also ramifications?
BPA
Bisphenol-a, widely-known as BPA, is a chemical component used in the production of lightweight, durable plastic products, such as water bottles, baby bottles, food and drink containers and as a coatings on the inside of cans. The Bisphenol-a company website states that exposure to BPA “is minimal and poses no known health risk.” The company points out that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized the levels of BPA used in food-contact application as safe.
However, significant research links BPA to health risks that include cancer, diabetes, birth defects and infertility. According to the Discovery Company website, How Stuff Works, “94 of 115 peer-reviewed studies confirmed BPA’s toxicity.” BPA acts as an endocrine disrupter altering the body’s hormone functions, so effects of the chemical in the human body may not be immediately apparent as would be with other toxins.
Although conflicting information on the safety of BPA exists, there is little dispute over whether humans are exposed to BPA. In a study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “CDC scientists found BPA in the urine of nearly all of the people tested, indicating widespread exposure to BPA in the U.S. population.” To determine whether a water bottle or other food-contact container contains BPA, look for the letters “PC” or the number “7” inside the arrow recycling stamp on the container. The usually unrecyclable “7” containers include the large 3-gallon water bottles and some reusable plastic water bottles.
PET Plastics
Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is a type of plastic commonly used for soft drinks, water, juices and some food products. According to National Corporation for PET Container Resources, “PET is an inert plastic and does not leach harmful materials into its contents.”
A Goethe University Study, however, found that endocrine disrupters leached out of PET plastic bottles. The study reported that “the substances possess potent estrogenic activity,” and that contamination of mineral water packaged in the PET material was widespread.
PET plastics are typically labeled with a “1” inside the arrow recycling stamp on the container. The recyclable “1” containers include the disposable bottles intended for one-time use, such as the liter or 16 oz bottles of water.
Other Options
The safety of plastic water bottles remains an ongoing controversy. With at least some evidence, however, that all plastic water bottles may be unsafe, some people may be interested in pursuing other options. Stainless steel containers make a lightweight choice, but some are lined with plastics that contain BPA. Glass containers hold water without chemical leaching, but glass is usually heavier and carries the risk of breakage, so may not be the most practical receptacle if the object is transportability.
References
- Bisphenol-a company website: Bisphenol A Frequently Asked Questions
- Discovery Company: How Stuff Works: What's BPA, and do I really need a new water bottle?
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals: Fact Sheet Bisphenol A
- National Corporation for PET Container Resources:
- Pubmed: U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Institutes of Health: Endocrine disruptors in bottled mineral water: total estrogenic burden and migration from plastic bottles.
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