Nalgene bottles
13 post(s),
5 voice(s)
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Anyone know anything about a recall? A chemical in the hard plastic? Any replacements on the market?
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Joe - I haven't heard anything about a recall, but there was a study done on Nalgene bottles (baby bottles in particular) that show that there is a chemical in the plastic that leeches into the drink inside the bottle. To my knowledge, it's been a huge uproar on the news, but nothing has been done about it. I haven't seen or heard of replacements out there.
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Hey Jen and Joe-- Sigg makes water bottles that are non toxic and reusable. You can get them at Sigg or other sites so shop for the best price. |
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also check out this information about Sigg on their site:
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They can't be any worse than the 5.4 metric tons of protein powder I pump through my kidneys each year. HA!
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The leaching effects hormones! That is what I'm researching-Below is a GREEN GUIDE article from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. It references Sigg bottles and gives a clue about a hormone disruption.Here's the article:
What's in your water bottle besides water?A reader writes The Green Guide: I just read your article on plastic bottles. The article says to avoid #7 plastic because the polycarbonate contains bisphenol-A. I had been under the impression that the Nalgene bottles made of #7 plastic were the safest plastic bottle. I had been told that the bottles were made of "medical-grade" plastic and did not leach any chemicals. Are all #7 plastics polycarbonate? I have been using these water bottles during my entire pregnancy, because they were supposed to be "safe". I'm alarmed by your report and would appreciate any info you can provide. Thanks. The Green Guide responds: Not all #7 plastic is polycarbonate, nor are all Nalgene bottles made from polycarbonate. Unlike #1-#6,#7 is the official "other" plastics category. Nalgene makes several varieties of water bottle, made from different kinds of plastic, including polyethylene and polypropylene. Nalgene's Lexan bottles are made of polycarbonate plastic (PC), a plastic known to leach the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). This puts it in the company of two other plastics which studies have determined are prone to leaching and pose environmental and/or health concerns: 1) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) which can leaches phthalates, a hormone disruptor, and dioxin, a carcinogen; and 2) polystyrene, which can leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen. Does that mean Nalgene Lexan water bottles are unsafe? We cannot say categorically that Nalgene Lexan bottles are unsafe or even that they leach BPA, until the product has been properly tested. According to Our Stolen Future: "No tests on bisphenol-A leaching have been carried out specifically on Nalgene water bottles, to the knowledge of www.OurstolenFuture.org, nor were Nalgene bottles the brand used in the experiments demonstrating a link between polycarbonate and chromosomal aberrations. There may be some reason why Nalgene bottles do not leach bisphenol-A. This would be highly unexpected, however, given their chemical composition." What We Know PC is a durable and heat resistant plastic, making it a popular material for food storage and laboratory equipment, including baby bottles, water bottles, petri dishes and animal cages. In the late 1990s, studies testing PC baby bottles found they leached low levels of BPA. After several tests of the same bottles the presence of BPA decreased dramatically. The studies suggested that while residual amounts of BPA may be present on some baby bottles, it would disappear after a short period of use. The studies concluded that the PC baby bottles currently on the market are not a health risk to children. In 2003, a study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), reproduced the same results as the earlier studies when new bottles were tested. However, after repeated washings and scrubbings, the levels of BPA leaching from the bottles increased significantly. The study concludes, "The increased migration levels may be due to polymer degradation." During the same year, two more studies were published in EHP, which came about after researchers traced BPA in lab mice to the PC cages in which the mice were housed. These studies share several of the same conclusions: 1) Polycarbonate exposed to harsh detergent is prone to leaching; 2) The older the polycarbonate, the more it leaches; 3) High temperatures cause higher rates of leaching. One study found that polycarbonate will leach into water at room temperature. Of even greater concern, the laboratory plastics studies were initiated by sudden abnormalities in mice egg cells after polycarbonate animal cages were mistakenly washed with the wrong detergent. Erring on the Side of Caution Until all of the facts are in, we recommend stainless steel water bottles, such as Klean Kanteen and polypropylene bottles such as Rubbermaid's Chuggables listed in The Green Guide Plastics for Kitchen Use report. Stainless steel bottles should have a metal cap as well. Aluminum bottles with an enamel inner coating are also a healthy alternative, though aluminum requires more energy to produce and has greater environmental impact than stainless steel. The Swiss Sigg bottle is made from extruded aluminum and coated on the inside with a taste-inert, food-compatible stove enamel. If you're still attached to your Nalgene water bottle, you can lower any potential health risk by following a few common sense guidelines. Based on what we know from the current research, PC is most likely to leach BPA during it initial use and after prolonged use. Heat increases the likelihood of leaching as well. It makes sense, then, to replace your bottle every six months or whenever it appears worn. When you buy a new bottle wash it out with warm water and a mild detergent and let it dry at room temperature. Do not wash your bottle in the dish machine or leave it for prolonged periods in direct sunlight. Only use the bottle to carry cold water; don't fill it with hot water or other liquids. While it is important to keep the bottle clean and bacteria-free, avoid strong detergents and bleach as they can facilitate leaching. This is an unfolding story, and The Green Guide will be following all related studies as they become available to us. We will continue to keep our readers updated on this important issue. Resources Stainless steel thermos: Nissan Thermos Enamel coated aluminum bottles: Polypropylene bottles: Nalgene Silo For more, see The Green Guide's Plastics for Kitchen Use product report |
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There's been a lot of news lately about BPA (see our press release below about how we are addressing it with our baby bottles), but the Nalgene website boasts that their bottles are BPA free! Mead Johnson NutritionalsEnfamil -Website BPA letter Bisphenol A Mead Johnson Nutritionals, the maker of Enfamil® LIPIL® infant formulas, is dedicated to helping provide infants and children with the best start in life. Therefore, any topic of importance to parents and health care providers regarding the health of infants is also important to us. There have been recent reports in the media about bisphenol A, also known as BPA. Mead Johnson wants to be sure that you understand this topic as it relates to infant feeding and know that we are confident in the safety of our packaging. Bisphenol-A, also referred to as BPA, is a chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Products using polycarbonate plastic include reusable plastic containers for food and beverages, baby bottles, eye glasses and cell phones. Epoxy resins are used to line the insides of metal cans used for food and beverage products. BPA has been used safely in food packing for over 40 years and the vast amount of data supports the safety of BPA levels in food and formula packaging materials. Mead Johnson ProductsOur plastic NursetteÒ bottle is made from food-grade polypropylene which does not contain BPA. The cap, which is removed before use, includes an epoxy coating that contains BPA, but any potential exposure to BPA is extremely low and does not present a health risk. Our cans for liquid products, including all 13 oz concentrate cans as well as all 8 fl oz and 32 fl oz ready-to-feed cans have an epoxy lining. The lining prevents elements in the metal from transferring to the formula, protects the potency of the nutrients and allows for safe product sterilization. Although any migration levels of BPA from the lining of these containers into product has been determined to be safe by the FDA (see below), some groups are calling for alternative can linings. There is currently no known alternative material that can withstand the sterilization process required for liquid infant formulas and provide the same assurance of product safety. As we develop our formulas, we strive for the best possible packaging and we are very confident of the safety of our current packaging. Safety Current research shows that small amounts of BPA that may be consumed are rapidly eliminated from the body. A TDI (tolerable daily intake) is an estimate of the amount of a substance in food or drinking water that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk. A TDI for BPA has been established by the Scientific Committee on Food of the European Union. In animal studies, feeding 100 times this level has not resulted in observed adverse effects.Based on the average levels of BPA found in all infant formulas as determined by the FDA, we calculated how much could be consumed before reaching the TDI (tolerable daily intake). For example, at a weight of 7.5 pounds, a baby could consume the amount of BPA in 18 gallons of formula every day. At a weight of 15 pounds, a baby could consume the amount of BPA in 36 gallons of formula every day. Therefore, our confidence in the quality and safety of our products is not changed. BPA has been extensively tested and recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies worldwide, including the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food, the Japanese Ministry of Environment, and the U.K. Food Standards Agency. BPA has been used in consumer food products and in infant formula packaging for over 40 years. FDA has been researching and monitoring the levels of BPA into infant formula since the early 1990s. On February 25, 2008 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a letter to Congress confirming that the levels of BPA in infant formula are safe. The U.S. FDA continues to closely follow the research in this area. Based on all the evidence available at this time, FDA has seen no reason to change its long-held position that epoxy linings in food packaging components are safe. The FDA also said, "Considering all the evidence, including measurements by FDA chemists of levels found in canned food or migrating from baby bottles, FDA sees no reason at this time to ban or otherwise restrict the uses now in practice." You can be assured our products are safe and are manufactured in full compliance with all applicable safety and regulatory requirements. Our Commitment to youMead Johnson cares about the health of every baby. We are always looking for ways to bring innovation to our packaging so that we can better meet the needs of our consumers. We are confident in the safety of our current packaging materials but we understand that you may have questions about them given the recent media reports about BPA. To help eliminate concerns that you may have, we are working with our suppliers of packaging components to develop alternative new materials and processes that currently do not exist. It’s important to remember that BPA has been used safely in food packaging for over 40 years. You have our commitment that the risks and benefits of any new packaging material will be carefully weighed and that they will ensure the safety and nutritional quality that you expect from the Enfamil Family of Formulas ™. |
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Gee, thanks, guys - think I'll just save time and go jump off a cliff.
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I didnt read the exegesis from above, so I might have missed this, but WHAT hormones are these chemicals actually disrupting? What levels are required to have any measureable impact? If you tell me that the stuff is disrupting estrogen, I am buying stock in Nalgene. Today.
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Sean - please check out your e-mail. |
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Bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer of polycarbonate plastics, has been shown to possess estrogenic properties and act as an agonist for the estrogen receptors.
Oh crap. |
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Sean I see you got the e-mail I sent you...LOL I've known it was estrogen but didn't want to sound like an alarmist because levels are very low, there are many variables and it's been around for 40 years. The links I sent you summed it up. It has a lot to do with levels, the developing brain, prostate and breast cancers. I'll provide the links and people can come to their own conclusions. PS. You can't buy stock in Sigg, it's a private company LOL. |
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nothing in these links about effecting muscle growth or how shredded we can get.   |