To meet fluid needs, people often depend on refillable or disposable water bottles, which provide convenient access to water at work, on the road and during workouts. But evidence suggests that water bottles made from polycarbonate plastics may pose a health hazard by leaching bisphenol A (BPA) into drinking water. Although the safety of plastic bottles is a controversial topic -- with proponents such as the American Chemistry Council maintaining that the bottles pose no health risks to humans -- other convenient alternatives may be your best bet until more conclusive research is presented.
Water Quality
As part of a four-year study of the bottled water industry, the Natural Resources Defense Council tested more than 1,000 bottles of water and found that in a majority of samples tested, water quality was generally high and contaminant-free. However, 22 percent of the brands evaluated included at least one sample that exceeded allowable limits for chemical contaminants, a potential health concern for individuals with reduced immunity if consumed for an extended period.
BPA Concerns
Although the potential risks posed by BPA in plastic water bottles is controversial, the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises that BPA exposure may lead to negative effects on "the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and children." When scaling risk, the program categorizes by the terms "negligible concern," "minimal concern," "some concern," "concern" and "serious concern." The National Toxicology Program indicates "some concern" for the listed potential effects of BPA.
Potential Developmental and Reproductive Effects
Part of the controversy surrounding plastic water bottles concerns the potential of BPA as a hormone disruptor which could negatively affect development and interfere with reproductive functions. The National Toxicology Program, however, expresses minimal concern that anticipated levels of BPA exposure could lead to the early onset of puberty for girls. Additionally, the risk for birth defects, reduced birth rate or fetal mortality is rated as a negligible concern.
Considerations
The Institute of Medicine recommends 9 and 13 cups of fluid daily for women and men, respectively, to ensure adequate hydration. If you're concerned about quenching your thirst with bottled water, MayoClinic.com suggests reusable steel bottles as an alternative. Even aluminum bottles may have liners that contain BPA. Polycarbonate plastics, which contain BPA, are labeled with a "No. 7" recycling symbol. Regardless of which type of water bottle you choose, it's a good idea to wash it thoroughly with soap and warm water before reusing.
References
- MayoClinic.com; What Is BPA? Should I Be Worried About It?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; December 2010
- American Chemistry Council: FAQs: The Safety of Plastic Beverage Bottles
- Natural Resources Defense Council: Bottled Water
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Since You Asked: Bisphenol A (BPA); John Bucher, Ph.D., et al.
- MayoClinic.com; Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day?; April 2010
- Environmental Protection Agency: Plastics
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