Reusable water bottles are a green option. You probably feel good about using them. However, all plastic bottles are not equal. Some plastics contain BPA (bisphenol-A) and could pose a health risk. Thanks to consumers who demanded healthier baby bottles and water bottles, many plastic bottles are now BPA free.
You might think metal water bottles would be a good option. But before you shop, do your homework first. Did you know some metal water bottles have a plastic liner with BPA?
According to Lori Bongiorno's blog featured on Yahoo! Green:
"However, all metal bottles are not created equally. Aluminum bottles typically have epoxy liners, which may contain BPA and other unwanted chemicals. In the past, Sigg would not reveal the ingredients in its liners, claiming that it was "proprietary."
Now, the company admits that the epoxy liners in its bottles used to contain trace amounts of BPA. Sigg says it switched to a new "EcoCare" liner in August 2008"
Many aluminum bottles have epoxy linings, but some companies sell stainless steel water bottles that do not have liners and they are BPA free:
- Kleen Kanteen
- ThinkSport
- Nalgene
The FDA has not banned BPA. However, citizens can take matters in their own hands in an effort to ban BPA. According to Sarah Newman at HuffingtonPost:
"The Chicago city-council earlier this year outsmarted the FDA, which continues to argue that BPA is safe, by voting to ban it. There is now pending legislation in California to do the same statewide."BPA is currently banned in Canada, Minnesota, Conneticut and under scrutiny in several European nations. Why should you be concerned about BPA? When exposed to heat or wear and tear, the BPA in plastic can leach into foods and liquids. BPA is a synthetic estrogen found in some types of plastic and can create havoc in the human body's own hormones.
