Assessing Water Bottle Safety
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But all of the data so far comes from animal studies. The draft report noted that there is no direct evidence that human exposure to BPA harms reproduction or infant development, as it did to some mice. The only time that BPA has been shown to have significant effects in humans is in the case of workers who were exposed to the substance while on the job. As a result of long-term exposure to high levels of BPA in the air at their workplaces, some of these individuals experienced irritation of the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin. These symptoms resulted from inhaling BPA, not from ingesting it through foods and beverages. The experiences of these workers are not applicable to the experiences of the general public. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently believes that BPA is safe and has set a maximum acceptable dose of 0.05 milligrams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight.

But more fuel to the fire came in late April when the Canadian government declared, under that country’s environmental protection act, BPA a toxic substance. Canada has only banned the substance outright in the manufacture of infant bottles, however. The country has also begun a study to monitor BPA exposure among 5,000 people to assess any danger to adults. As of now, Canada official position is that polycarbonate containers of all types are safe for anyone over 18 months of age.

Yet still more national attention to polycarbonate water bottles came in April when Nalgene Outdoor announced that it would discontinue production of consumer bottles containing BPA. The Rochester-based company explained that this was due to consumer demand for BPA-free alternatives to their popular polycarbonate bottles, and did not stem from their belief that the containers were hazardous.

If the government cannot entirely rule out the possibility that trace amounts of BPA are harmful to humans, we may be wise to ask how much BPA we are exposed to. It is estimated that the typical adult is exposed to 1 microgram of BPA for every kilogram of body weight. One microgram is .001 milligrams, and so these levels are well below The EPA’s limit. Babies who use polycarbonate bottles and canned formula are said to receive 10 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, which is still well below the EPA’s limit.

If you’re concerned about the trace amounts of BPA your family may be ingesting, look on the bottom of water bottles and food storage containers for the number “7” in the recycle triangle. However, most human exposure to BPA occurs through the lining of canned foods and drinks. Canned soups, fruits, and vegetables are often processed at high temperatures and contain the highest trace amounts. Even canned products labeled “organic” have a can liner containing BPA.

So what’s the best way to lower your exposure to BPA? Switch to fresh fruits and vegetables, something you ought to already have done a long time ago anyway.

American Council on Science and Health, Dec. 19, 2007, “Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares of 2007 #10: Water Bottles Cause Cancer,” http://www.acsh.org/publications/pubID.1659/pub_detail.asp

Health After 50, 2007, Vol. 19, No. 8, p. 8

The New York Times, Apr. 18, 2008, “Bottle Maker to Stop Using Plastic Linked to Health Concerns,” by Ian Austen, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/business/18plastic.html?scp=4&sq=BPA&st=nyt

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