Comments on: How To Choose A Safe Reusable Water Bottle. http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/ Sustainability, Environment, Progressive Politics, Peak Oil, Going Green. Wed, 22 May 2013 18:14:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anne http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2130 Anne Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:39:43 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2130 Ahh, didn't realize so many typos, sorry :) Ahh, didn’t realize so many typos, sorry :)

]]> By: Anne http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2129 Anne Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:38:50 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2129 David, I am an environmental chemist and am researching phthalates them for my PhD work. When I first began, I thought that phthalates in one time use plastic bottles as well, but have learned otherwise. If you look at the paper cited in the article concerning DEHP (I have access to it because I'm at a university, others may not), it says that among the main sources of DEHP to adults is medical plastic (IV tubes, etc), and among children, plastic toys, but there is no mention of plastic water bottles. Like I said, I myself thought phthalates were in water bottles but have not found a single scientific paper that confirms this. If you have any science papers that do please let me know! Like I said, plastic water bottles are made of PET, polyethylene terephthalate, not DEHP. These are two different compounds even though they sound the same. Biochemically speaking, small changes in structure (in this case, functional groups on opposite sides of the ring instead of side by side, for any organic chemists) can make large differences in how compounds behave in the body. Phthalates, including DEHP, are mostly found in PVC, recycling code 3, used in baby toys, iv tubes/bags, catheters, fragrances, the list goes on and on. That being said, I do agree 100% with not using plastic water bottles!! Bad for the environment, and like I said earlier, there are concerns about other chemicals moving from the plastic into the water, but DEHP is not one of them. Great job advocating reusable water bottles! I have been trying to convince my friends, family and students I teach to get reusable waters and its definitely an uphill battle. Hope that answers your question, sorry it was so long! David,
I am an environmental chemist and am researching phthalates them for my PhD work. When I first began, I thought that phthalates in one time use plastic bottles as well, but have learned otherwise. If you look at the paper cited in the article concerning DEHP (I have access to it because I’m at a university, others may not), it says that among the main sources of DEHP to adults is medical plastic (IV tubes, etc), and among children, plastic toys, but there is no mention of plastic water bottles. Like I said, I myself thought phthalates were in water bottles but have not found a single scientific paper that confirms this. If you have any science papers that do please let me know!

Like I said, plastic water bottles are made of PET, polyethylene terephthalate, not DEHP. These are two different compounds even though they sound the same. Biochemically speaking, small changes in structure (in this case, functional groups on opposite sides of the ring instead of side by side, for any organic chemists) can make large differences in how compounds behave in the body. Phthalates, including DEHP, are mostly found in PVC, recycling code 3, used in baby toys, iv tubes/bags, catheters, fragrances, the list goes on and on.

That being said, I do agree 100% with not using plastic water bottles!! Bad for the environment, and like I said earlier, there are concerns about other chemicals moving from the plastic into the water, but DEHP is not one of them. Great job advocating reusable water bottles! I have been trying to convince my friends, family and students I teach to get reusable waters and its definitely an uphill battle.

Hope that answers your question, sorry it was so long!

]]> By: Elizabeth http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2128 Elizabeth Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:01:44 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2128 Although many Americans use the plastic bottles it seems that everything besides global warming is going fine. Well that might be exactly what it looks like but your wrong. As you said the materials used to make these bottles can cause cancer. These bottles are popular and may be one of the bigger causes of cancer. I would prefer the kanteen bottles because not only are the safer they save you money. Instead of buying over hundreds of plastic bottles a year you could have one kanteen bottle for over four to five years. Although many Americans use the plastic bottles it seems that everything besides global warming is going fine. Well that might be exactly what it looks like but your wrong. As you said the materials used to make these bottles can cause cancer. These bottles are popular and may be one of the bigger causes of cancer. I would prefer the kanteen bottles because not only are the safer they save you money. Instead of buying over hundreds of plastic bottles a year you could have one kanteen bottle for over four to five years.

]]> By: David http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2127 David Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:50:20 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2127 Melissa- they are safer, but they are still plastic. If possible, you are probably better off getting anything other than plastic if only to reduce the amount of plastic we use! Melissa- they are safer, but they are still plastic. If possible, you are probably better off getting anything other than plastic if only to reduce the amount of plastic we use!

]]> By: Melissa http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2126 Melissa Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:30:09 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2126 All your comments are so helpful! I love reading them all...so, what about Nalgene's BPA free non-leaching plastic bottles on reusablebags.com? Don't think anyone mentioned those? Thanks for the help and happy water drinking! All your comments are so helpful! I love reading them all…so, what about Nalgene’s BPA free non-leaching plastic bottles on reusablebags.com? Don’t think anyone mentioned those?
Thanks for the help and happy water drinking!

]]> By: Anne http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2124 Anne Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:58:56 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2124 I wanted to point out that the PET single use water bottles are not sources of DEHP. They ARE very bad for the environment due to the plastic required to make them (from non-renewable petroleum), and bad for humans due to other chemicals that can leach out of the PET, but DEHP is not one of them. PET is polyethylene teraphthalate, while DEHP is di-ethylhexyl phthalate. A subtle yet definitive difference. I'm not sure about the toxicity involved with PET, but I do know that DEHP does not come from most single use plasic water bottles. It does however come from medical plastics and more importantly baby toys, products that are made with PVC, where they are a big concern. I don't mean to imply that plastic water bottles are safe, just clarify that DEHP is not the reason to avoid them! I wanted to point out that the PET single use water bottles are not sources of DEHP. They ARE very bad for the environment due to the plastic required to make them (from non-renewable petroleum), and bad for humans due to other chemicals that can leach out of the PET, but DEHP is not one of them. PET is polyethylene teraphthalate, while DEHP is di-ethylhexyl phthalate. A subtle yet definitive difference. I’m not sure about the toxicity involved with PET, but I do know that DEHP does not come from most single use plasic water bottles. It does however come from medical plastics and more importantly baby toys, products that are made with PVC, where they are a big concern. I don’t mean to imply that plastic water bottles are safe, just clarify that DEHP is not the reason to avoid them!

]]> By: David http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2125 David Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:31:20 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2125 Anne - I am not questioning you, but several sources say that these plastics are a source. Do you have any more info you can share, would love to see it! Anne – I am not questioning you, but several sources say that these plastics are a source. Do you have any more info you can share, would love to see it!

]]> By: Adam http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2122 Adam Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:50:15 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2122 What about "freezing" the classic "one time use" water bottles? I've heard of people doing this to inhibit bacteria growth. When you're done using it, shake most of the water out of the bottle, screw the cap on tight, and throw it in the freezer empty. While I'm working, I like to keep a water bottle in my pocket since I'm constantly on the go, running around, talking to customers, associates, etc. - and my mouth does get dry, so I like carrying a water bottle around. The Zephyr Hills "eco friendly Bottles" are perfect, since they fit right in my pants pocket ;) Now, a canteen on the other hand, wouldn't quite fit I don't think ;) What about “freezing” the classic “one time use” water bottles?

I’ve heard of people doing this to inhibit bacteria growth. When you’re done using it, shake most of the water out of the bottle, screw the cap on tight, and throw it in the freezer empty.

While I’m working, I like to keep a water bottle in my pocket since I’m constantly on the go, running around, talking to customers, associates, etc. – and my mouth does get dry, so I like carrying a water bottle around.

The Zephyr Hills “eco friendly Bottles” are perfect, since they fit right in my pants pocket ;)

Now, a canteen on the other hand, wouldn’t quite fit I don’t think ;)

]]> By: David http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2123 David Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:56:20 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2123 Never heard of that one Adam, but it still entails buying the plastic bottles in the first place. ;-) Never heard of that one Adam, but it still entails buying the plastic bottles in the first place. ;-)

]]> By: clc http://thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2121 clc Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:31:41 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-2121 amen to that wow. amen to that wow.

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