Bottled Controversy

Bottled water is getting some really bad press. It’s been targeted as a major contributor to the global warming problem, not only for the waste it generates (millions of empty plastic bottles!) but for the energy required to produce plastic water bottles in the first place (plastic is derived from petroleum). But wait, the Nalgene bottles that we’re supposed to use instead have also gotten ink for their potential to interfere with reproductive functioning. So what’s a Green girl—a thirsty Green girl!—to do?

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The first step is to get educated. Not everything that you read in the press is true, and the media tend to be alarmist to get attention. In fact, not all Nalgene bottles are created equal. The ones that should probably be avoided are made from Bisphenol-A (BPA), a hard polycarbonate plastic that is suspected (not proven, mind you!) to cause birth defects in fetuses and reproductive problems in adults. Nalgene is discontinuing production of these bottles and will instead increase production of bottles made from soft, cloudy plastic, which are considered to be safest. Check the number within the triangle on the bottom of your Nalgene to determine which plastic it contains: #7 indicates BPA, whereas #2 denotes a safer material. BPA is found in other products, like baby bottles, food cans, and tooth fillings, and Canada has proposed a ban on the hard polycarbonate. Again, though, the data from the U.S. National Toxicology Program is inconclusive, and suggests that concerns over the plastic’s health effects are at best "negligible" and at worst "minimal."

It’s always best to be careful, but there is no need to go to extremes. Trade up your Nalgene for a new #2 if you have one, and don't be afraid to purchase one if you don't. The damaging effects on the environment that disposable water bottles have are far greater than the potential health hazards of a reusable bottle. And consider that the environment’s health directly effects our own, so trust to karma and drink up!