BPA in Plastic Water Bottles

Bottled water may not be as healthy as you might think. Pepsi, Auafina, Dasani and other water companies admit that their water is tap water - the same stuff you get out of your kitchen sink. The biggest concern, however, is not the source of the water, it is the containers used to store the water. Many plastic bottles, including the 5-gallon polycarbonate water jugs that water delivery companies use contain bisphenol-A also known as BPA. BPA is a potent hormone disruptor and can impair the reproductive organs and have adverse neural and behavioral effects. BPA is also linked to adversely effecting tumors, breast tissue development and prostate development. BPA leaches into water stored in these plastic bottles.

Even the sports bottles you see in the gym or that you might carry in your back pack contain BPA. Ingesting BPA is such a health risk that Nalgene is pulling their water bottles out of stores due to health concerns. BPA is a chemical that mimics estrogen and ingesting it can cause serious health problems. Nalgene is not the only company that makes bottles that contain BPA. Any bottle with the number 7 in the recycling triangle on the bottom of the bottle contains BPA and should be avoided. Toys R Us and Walmart will also be pulling all of their BPA baby bottles off of their shelves.

Canada became the first country to officially ban BPA for use in baby bottles. BPA mimics naturally occurring estrogen, a hormone that is part of the endocrine system, the body's finely tuned messaging service. "These hormones control the development of the brain, the reproductive system and many other systems in the developing fetus," says Frederick vom Saal, Ph.D., a developmental biologist at the University of Missouri. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can duplicate, block or exaggerate hormonal responses. "The most harm is to the unborn or newborn child," vom Saal says.

The U.S. government's National Toxicology Program said this week that there is "some concern" about BPA but there is not yet a federal ban on the use of the chemical in water bottles or baby bottles although New York Senator Charles Schumer is seeking to ban BPA from water bottles in the United States.

The dangers of ingesting BPA from water bottles has led Amazon to create a BPA Free section of their online store. There you will find safe alternatives for carrying your water such as the stainless steel Klean Kanteen. The Klean Kanteen comes in a wide variety of styles including sports caps and also sippy spouts for small children. As a source for clean, healthy water, you should look for a good reverse osmosis water filtration system such as the Tap Master. A reverse osmosis water filter is one of the best ways to remove harmful contaminants from your water and is an excellent source of pure, healthy water for you and your family.