Are you drinking plastic

Many have been on the receiving end of dire email messages, warning them of this and that danger. They usually finish with a final guilt-inducing admonition: “…If you are a real friend, you will send this to everyone you ever cared about!” Whilst some of these messages hold a modicum of truth and may have been birthed by good intentions, most are riddled with faux facts.

The purported dangers of drinking bottled water have made their way around the Internet and even in the tabloids. “PLASTICS ARE KILLING YOU!” they shout. “A rumour?” you wonder. “Or, should I get a water filter and carry a glass bottle?”

The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. Researchers, industry spokesmen and governing bodies have varied heated opinions on this issue, but it is valid to say that some scientists and are concerned about plastic containers and the byproducts they leak.

BPA Leaching

Of particular worry is the potential release of toxic chemicals – especially phthalate and bisphenol A (BPA) – into bottle contents. Phthalate is a plasticizer used to increase flexibility in products. It has been associated with cancer, miscarriage, premature birth and asthma, some research indicates. BPA is an organic compound used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics found in things like infant feeding bottles and water bottles, and it appears in epoxy resins, which are used to coat food cans, bottle tops, dental sealants and water pipes, according to the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

Why is this a concern? BPA is a manmade estrogen-like substance that is considered an endocrine disruptor. According to PhysOrg.Com, an online science news website, BPA can “alter the function of the endocrine system by mimicking the role of the body’s natural hormones. Hormones are secreted through endocrine glands and serve different functions throughout the body. The chemical…has been shown to affect reproduction and brain development in animal studies.”

Naturally, the bottled water industry, baby bottle manufacturers and plastics companies are concerned from a business standpoint. These allegations loom large, rattling the cages of many public relations officers, who see what a short mental leap it is from animal studies to the public’s fear of health problems due to BPA exposure in humans.

“A Strong Suspicion”

Researcher Scott Belcher was quoted in a PhysOrg.Com article, saying “There is a large body of scientific evidence demonstrating the harmful effects of very small amounts of BPA in laboratory and animal studies, but little clinical evidence related to humans. There is a very strong suspicion in the scientific community, however, that this chemical has harmful effects on humans.”

Belcher, an associate professor of pharmacology and cell biophysics at the University of Cincinnati in the United States, studied the properties of plastic under different conditions. His research team found a correlation between increasing the temperature of liquid inside a plastic bottle and the increased release of BPA. His research report is featured in the January 2008 issue of Toxicology Letters.

“BPA is just one of many estrogen-like chemicals people are exposed to, and scientists are still trying to figure out how these endocrine disruptors – including natural phyto-estrogens from soy which are often considered healthy – collectively impact human health,” Dr. Belcher says. “But a growing body of scientific evidence suggests it might be at the cost of your health.”

What should an average person do with this information? Is it relevant? Is there a real risk to people who carry bottled water to the gym, drink bottled water at work at their desk, or use it to mix up baby formula for their newborn?

Wide-spread Exposure

The researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say exposure is widespread. BPA was detected in 95 percent of the urine of adult Americans tested in a large reference sample, noted a 2005 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal of the NIEHS. This rate was considered “representative of exposures in the United States.” Samples were taken from 2517 test subjects aged 6 and older. When subjects of all ages were included in the statistical analysis, 93 percent showed detectable levels of BPA in their urine.

Exposure to this chemical is not isolated to North America. More than 3 million tonnes of polycarbonate plastics are produced worldwide. That number is expected to hit 5.15 million tonnes by 2015, says Invest in Fujian China, an industry investment website. Brits consume 2.275 billion litres of bottled water annually, according to a Which.Com consumer article. How much of that water contains BPA is hard to tell.

The National Toxicology Program issued a report in September 2008 expressing “some concern (that BPA) affects the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposure” levels. The organization supports further research in this area.

BPA and Birth Defects

Genetic abnormalities expert Patricia A. Hunt of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is not waiting for more evidence; she is already convinced that there is a major problem. Her research has found that BPA exposure correlates with genetic damage in the egg cells of female mice.

In Dr. Hunt’s research, chromosomes in mouse cells from her BPA-exposed test subjects did not line up correctly when they should have been dividing nicely. Hunt fears exposure to BPA could potentially contribute to miscarriage, retardation and other birth defects in humans, she told Daniel DeNoon, a reporter for WebMD Health News.

Some manufacturers have responded by pulling products made of polycarbonate. Others are offering alternatives, so consumers have choices. Asda, Medela and Born Free, all sell bisphenol-free baby bottles. CamelBak now offers BPA-free sports water bottles.

Not everyone supports a BPA ban. The European Food Safety Authority and the UK Food Standards Agency, for example, have concluded that BPA can be used in baby bottles safely, reported Baby World UK on its website. “Data from a recent FSA-sponsored project on dietary consumption by infants shows dietary consumption of BPA by infants in the UK might be up to 0.007 mg/day/kg bodyweight, which is less than the full Tolerable Daily Intake,” said a FSA spokesperson. “Should evidence emerge to suggest that current limits offer inadequate protection, the Food Standards Agency will act as necessary to protect the public,” Baby World UK reported.

Better Safe than Sorry

For those who would rather be safe than sorry, the NIEHS makes the following recommendations:

• Use BPA-free baby bottles.

• Use glass, stainless steel or porcelain containers to heat foods instead of in plastic polycarbonate containers, which are usually marked with a No. 7 on the bottom.

• Opt for fresh, natural foods instead of those packed in resin-lined cans.

• Avoid microwaving polycarbonate bottles or containers or putting them in a dishwasher or exposing them to harsh soaps or chemicals.

Another option is to invest in stainless steel water bottles that are reusable and a water filtration system to secure the purity of your water. Glacier Water Systems, for example, offers cost-effective filtration options for families and for smaller corporate settings.

Removing the Gunk

A compact Glacier GW3 Undersink water filter costs £149 initially, but provides 12,000 litres of pure drinking water over the course of two years. A GW4 filter produces 45,000-litres of fresh water in a three-year period at a cost of only £72 per year. Large-capacity chillers and wholehouse filtration systems are also available. Your water will look good and taste good – no plastic, no chlorine, and no heavy metals.

In the grand scheme of things, investment in a reputable water filter is a small price to pay for health insurance and peace of mind.

To read more about BPA, go to: http://dx.doi.org/ to view the 13 April 2005 issue or go to: http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/bpa.pdf. To learn more about home water filtration options, go to: www.glacierwatersystems.com