Plastic Water Bottle Safety

Is plastic water bottle safe? While it is true that the FDA would need to approve a plastic package before it gets sold in the market, you need to know more about the harm plastic bottles carry with it just so you know its possible effects should you get one that does not have an FDA stamp on it. It is important to understand more about plastic water bottle safety as there is a compound found in plastic water bottles which can be harmful to the health of people drinking from it - particularly pregnant people and children. It is believed that the said compound can hinder the development of a child's brain. Did you know that out of the seven types of plastics that are used for packaging, three of these are still considered to be unsafe. Here are some of the plastics that consumers need to avoid in order to protect their health and the health of their family.

• #7 Plastic

#7 is usually polycarbonate and contains BPA - a hormone disrupter that imitates the a female hormone called estradiol and when is ingested, can cause breast and ovarian cancer. It is when the plastic is heated that it releases BPA. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a test on people who consumed products and beverages that have been packaged using #7 Plastic and they found BPA in the urine of 95% of the people they tested. Although you can ask the manufacturer about the safety of the #7 Plastic bottle should you be interested in taking products that were packaged using it, you may still not get an assurance from the company so the best way is to avoid it altogether.

• #3 PVC or Vinyl

This type of plastic is usually used to as plastic wraps, food containers, soft water bottles and wraps for cheese. It is believed that #3 PVC is made of chlorine and releases dioxine. Various studies have suggested that dioxine can cause breast prostate cancer as well as hormonal imbalances, hear diseases, high blood pressure, weight problems and chronic fatigue.

• #6 Polysterene

Is just like the #3 type. It is often used as takeout containers. It is believed that it contains compounds which can turn into fatty food and in the long run, can interfere with the hormones.

Should it be unavoidable for you to drink from water bottles, the best step to take is to make sure that it has been FDA approved. It is also not advisable to reuse a plastic water bottle but if it is unavoidable, make sure to clean the bottle properly. Just like any other containers, it can harbor bacteria when it is left uncleaned.