So long, Nalgene Bottle

I was reminded of this yesterday during a tour of the State Hygienic Laboratory with my fellow interns. A few months ago, the National Toxicology Program released a report detailing the health effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) in certain plastics. Here is a video news report that, despite being slightly over-dramatized (it's the Today show, people), provides a good overall summary of the issue.

In a nutshell, the report includes data from numerous scientific studies on BPA exposure, detection levels, and toxicity in both humans and animals. BPA is a chemical that mimics our own hormones and has been linked to certain cancers, reproductive dysfunction, and neurological and behavior problems. It is so ubiquitous in modern society (it's found in dental sealants, baby bottles, the liners of food cans, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses and hundreds of household goods) that 95% of people excrete BPA in their urine. Yikes! Polycarbonate plastic containers (look for number 7 in the little triangle) are coated with BPA, which has been shown to leach into liquid or food very effectively, especially after heating in the microwave or washing in the dishwasher. Naturally there is significant concern over BPA in plastic baby bottles, and as a result, we have switched to glass at our house. However, if sturdy, unbreakable plastic is your preference, Medela, Nuby, and Born Free all manufacture BPA-free plastic baby bottles and sippy cups.

Sadly, it turns out that my beloved Nalgene bottle is also made of BPA-coated polycarbonate. In fact, after the report was released, Nalgene decided to start pulling bottles from store shelves due to the health concerns. Luckily there are plenty of BPA-free alternatives for us water-toting junkies, such as Sigg and Klean Kanteen bottles. And before you send your Nalgene to the landfill, see if your local recycling program accepts No. 7's (Iowa City's does).