should we throw out our water bottles?
April 2008
For the past two decades I have been wedded to my
trusty Nalgene water bottles. They are made from
polyethylene terephthalate (PET). From Everest to
Panama I have used them in a wide range of latitudes,
altitudes and temperatures. The bottles are so
durable that I've never had to replace a single one
because of fatigue.
However, a recent article by Lisa Cullen commented on Professor Scott Belcher’s report in Toxicology Letters that bottles made from PET leach traces of Bisphenol A (BPA) into water. BPA is a synthetic hormone that mimics estrogen. When filled with hot water, plastic containing BPA is released up to 55 times faster. Yet when swaddled in an old Outdoor Research insulated jacket, my Nalgene bottle keeps boiled water warm for hours. It’s a light and efficient way to stay hydrated in cold weather environments.
So what is the health risk for adults? And is it outweighed by the benefits? Remaining hydrated dramatically improves the chance of surviving in a hostile environment. The alternatives include stainless steel flasks (heavier) and lightweight lacquered aluminium bottles (not quite as durable).
Nalgene initially countered the professor's report with pages of information, including reports from the FDA and EFSA. But with Canada moving towards banning baby bottles that contain BPA, the writing was on the wall. At the end of last week, the company announced that it would be phasing out their classic design. The good news is that all of Nalgene's other bottles (including a new line due out next month) are BPA-free. Are they be as indestructible? Only time will tell.
However, a recent article by Lisa Cullen commented on Professor Scott Belcher’s report in Toxicology Letters that bottles made from PET leach traces of Bisphenol A (BPA) into water. BPA is a synthetic hormone that mimics estrogen. When filled with hot water, plastic containing BPA is released up to 55 times faster. Yet when swaddled in an old Outdoor Research insulated jacket, my Nalgene bottle keeps boiled water warm for hours. It’s a light and efficient way to stay hydrated in cold weather environments.
So what is the health risk for adults? And is it outweighed by the benefits? Remaining hydrated dramatically improves the chance of surviving in a hostile environment. The alternatives include stainless steel flasks (heavier) and lightweight lacquered aluminium bottles (not quite as durable).
Nalgene initially countered the professor's report with pages of information, including reports from the FDA and EFSA. But with Canada moving towards banning baby bottles that contain BPA, the writing was on the wall. At the end of last week, the company announced that it would be phasing out their classic design. The good news is that all of Nalgene's other bottles (including a new line due out next month) are BPA-free. Are they be as indestructible? Only time will tell.