Water bottles and BPA

I spent the day at the beach today and our family took our ice chest out there so that we could have snacks and drinks on such a hot day. As I was filling up our water bottles, I started thinking about the whole issue regarding BPA (Bisphenol A) again. You see, I have some water bottles that I've had for many years. Naturally, they are made up of Type 7 plastic (the "catch all") and hence, they contain BPA.

Plastic types 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 do not contain BPA. Many of the newer water bottles are not made of Type 7 plastic (although if you buy a generic water bottle made in China, then it's probably still Type 7). You'll even see new water bottles advertised as "BPA free." What I often wonder is, "OK, so let's say it's free of BPA. How do we know that it simply doesn't contain a different chemical that may also be toxic (or potentially more toxic) to the human body?"

The FDA is currently exploring the public health implications associated with BPA exposure. I doubt we'll hear anything conclusive anytime soon. Perhaps someday in the future, we'll realize that all types of plastic were hazardous to our health. Perhaps we'll go back to traditional glass and metal containers.

Chicago is Banning BPA Baby Bottles

According to this story on MSNBC, Chicago is the first U.S. city to ban baby bottles and sippy cups that are made with plastic that contain BPA. What exactly is BPA? Well, BPA, or bisphenol A, is used to harden plastic. Is it toxic? The FDA has indicated that they are still researching the answer to that question. Here's the latest snippet from the FDA:

"Based on our ongoing review, we believe there is a large body of evidence that indicates that FDA-regulated products containing BPA currently on the market are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from food contact materials, including for infants and children, are below those that may cause health effects. However, we will continue to consider new research and information as they become available."

Image source: Babble.com