The Cold Hard Facts
CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF.
It takes plastic nearly 700 years to begin decomposing in a landfill.
In 2008 a total of 38 billion water bottles were purchased in the US. If you put those bottles end to end they would circle around the world 90 times.
Only 14% of plastic water bottles are recycled in the US.
150 million barrels of oil are used to make water bottles in the US alone. Enough said.
Americans spent $11 billion on the purchase of bottled water in 2006.
Plastic bottles are made of polyethylene terephthatlate (PET) and diethylhexl adipate (DEHR), and are not meant to be used repeatedly beause these chemicals can leach from the bottle into the water.
Those colorful hard plastic lexan bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol may leach BPA. Bisphenol A is a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies.
WHAT IS BPA?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Epoxy resins are sometimes used as interior liners in food packaging or in aluminum water bottles. Polycarbonate plastics are frequently used because they are clear and almost shatterproof. These plastics are used in sports bottles, baby bottles, medical devices, CDs, electronics, and many other common household items. BPA has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor. This means that BPA, after it has leached into food or drink, has been found in animal studies to mimic hormones in the endocrine system. There is a seven class system for plastics in the United States. Polycarbonate plastics fall into the Other category and have a recycling label 7 on the bottom. However, because #7 labeling is the other category, not all plastics marked #7 contain BPA. The only true way to know if an item contains BPA is to get the information from the manufacturer.
The Food and Drug Administration Opinion:
"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.
At this time, FDA is not recommending that anyone discontinue using products that contain BPA while we continue our risk assessment process. However, concerned consumers should know that several alternatives to polycarbonate baby bottles exist, including glass baby bottles."
Source: Food and Drug Administration. 14 April. 2008. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. 29 April. 2008. http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html
National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health Opinion:
"Although there is no direct evidence that exposure of people to bisphenol A adversely affects reproduction or development, studies with laboratory rodents show that exposure to high dose levels of bisphenol A during pregnancy and/or lactation can reduce survival, birth weight, and growth of offspring early in life, and delay the onset of puberty in males and females. Recognizing the lack of data on the effects of bisphenol A in humans and despite the limitations in the evidence for "low" dose effects in laboratory animals, the possibility that bisphenol A may impact human development cannot be dismissed. More research is needed."
Source: National Institutes of Health, National Toxicology Program. 14 April. 2008. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. 29 April. 2008. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/media/questions/sya-bpa.cfm
© CynerGreen, LLC 2007-2010
All Rights Reserved.
2061 West Main St, Cabot, AR 72023
