BPA and Your Safest Reusable Water Bottle Choice

When it comes to water bottles, the choices seem endless. By now you probably know all the problems with disposable plastic water bottles, even the so called green bottled water have on the environment, but what about you?

Lately there has been a big deal made of Bisphenol A or BPA. BPA is a estrogen hormone mimicking chemical and has been linked with all kinds of bad stuff, including breast cancer, early puberty, and problems in infants and is found in some surprising places including reusable water bottles and canned fruits and vegetables.

Source: Chemical analyses of 97 canned foods by Southern Testing and Research Division of Microbac Laboratories, Inc., North Carolina.

This was a problem with some reusable plastic and aluminum bottles (aluminum water bottles require a liner to prevent corrosion). Fortunately this has been addressed for most of the big name manufacturers including new production models of Nalgene, SIGG and Camelbak.

Recent studies of BPA effects

The best way to choose a water bottle to avoid BPA and other toxins, is to select the right one for your needs and use it correctly. Here are the prevalent reusable container options:

Glass or Ceramic water bottles
Aquasana
Good for hot (when insulated) and acidic items, scratch resistant, durability, longevity
Bad for weight, traveling, impact


Stainless Steel water bottles
Klean Kanteen
Good for hot (when insulated) and acidic items, durability, longevity
Bad for weight

Aluminum water bottles
SIGG
Good for durability and weight
Bad for acidic and hot items (due to liner)


Polycarbonate water bottles
Nalgene
Good for durability and weight
Bad for acidic and hot items


Water packs
BPA free CamelBak
Good for flexibility, transport, durability and weight
Bad for acidic, hot items and solid goods.


When choosing water bottles, stick to a reputable brand. There are many Chinese manufactures out there which continue to line their aluminum water bottles with materials which leach BPA, and buying plastic Number 7 water bottles does not guarantee that it does not contain Bisphenol A. Number 7 as a plastic type means any plastic that is not in the first six, not necessarily a BPA free plastic.