Nalgene bottles are toxic!

“I was reading Organic Style magazine and was horrified to read that Nalgene bottles are some of the most toxic of the plastics out there.

Snipit from website:
Other; most often refers to PC (polycarbonate): This plastic is most commonly used for baby bottles, five-gallon water jugs, and reusable sports water bottles. It can leach out the hormone-disrupter bisphenol A, especially when heated. Because this group can include various other plastics, it has limited recycling potential.

Typed summary from magazine letters to the editor:
Nalgene bottles are number 7 plastic, or polycarbonate plastic which "can leach bisphenol A when heated, washed or exposed to acidic foods." Ok, that would be evertime we ran it through the diswasher, put Crystal Lite lemonade or Gatorade in it or used it as a hot water bottle. "California's legislature is considering a ban on bisphenol A in childeren's products. If enacted, it will be the first ban on the chemical in the world. If you plan to continue using a Nalagene bottle, don't heat it, wash it in the dishwasher or with harsh detergents, or fill it with acidic foods or beverages."

Charming huh?”

“WTF? You mean I should quit using my Nalgene as a bong?”

“I also heard that they do testing on animals and are big supporters of animal testing.

go figure, an out door company that hates animals.”

“The older, white Nalgene bottles had a class of chemical in them called phthalate esters that was used to make the plastic material both durable and flexible. The ester is also used in most other soft plastic products you can buy on store shelves, and is what makes the design on most screen printed t-shirts flexible and durable.”

“.org? Looks like propaganda supporting it to me. If that's the case, why do other sources cite it as toxic?

More from Organic Style:
"The journal [i]Environmental Health Perspectives[i] released a survey of 115 studies on BPA stating that in 94 of them it had been shown [that BPA] to have harmful effects. Researchers Frederick von Saal and Claude Huges reported that while all 11 industry-funded studies concluded BPA is nothing to worry about, 90 percent of the 104 government- or university-funded studies found otherwise."”

“The EU recently outlawed use of a soft plastic in childrens toys because of health issues. Not sure it it was the biposph-somethingorother type or not.”

“Well it seems that plastic products in general are pretty harmless if not heated, or scratched or exposed to acids or harsh detergents. Wish I had known that before I did all those things to my Nalgenes! So any new Nalgenes I buy will have only water in them, washed by hand in cool water and mild soap. No more hot water bottles for my tootsies in winter. I'll bring extra thermacare wraps or pop handwarmers in my socks instead. Honestly, I use my platys more often than not.”

“As in "smear campaign"? I don't think so. The article was about all plastics being toxic. I've been hearing about it for years. I just didn't realize that kind of plastic Nalgene is the most toxic of all. Sadly I've done all the no-no's to mine. : (”

“This all goes back to the theory of low dose studies v. the high dose studies. None of the low dose studies have shown a repeatable effect. The high dose studies show it's toxic. We humans consume a very low dose in our every day lives, even with repeated use of Nalgene bottles. Sure a substance can be toxic but there is always a threshold of activity. I'm sure if you consume enough of just about any substance it will lead to long standing health problems. Heck... look up flouride if you want another health scare.”

“What about plastic thermos bottles? They are meant for hot beverages and they must have some of the same materials in them.”

“uh ohhh no more hot water bottles in the winter ??? :(

that is one of my favorite winter backpacking/camping luxuries.”

“I wonder if thats the same plastic they use in the plastic beer bottles at football games? Hmmmmmm.......”

“The problem with plastic is mainly heat. Low dose, high dose. You decide. But if anyone wants to watch their health, avoid using plastic to heat any food/beverage in or resuse plastic that has been used to in such a manner or with acidic foods (reheating spaghetti, etc.) I think for the most part, cold items are ok. jackstraw, I think your beer is fine. ; )
Every once in awhile is probably ok too. Like if I get a tv dinner once a month, it's probably ok to heat it in it's plastic dish. But if I was storing and reheating in plastic on daily basis, probably more risky. It would be better, I suppose, to dump the tv dinner onto a ceramic plate and heat it with a piece of waxed paper to cover it. etc.
Anyhoo, for anyone that's wondering, google and read a variety of studies.”

“I'd think that washing it in the dishwasher would be fine, especially if you rinsed it before using it. I wouldn't be that worried abut what leached into the dishwasher - unless there was evidence it was a serious pollutant.

I think it might be prudent to avoid drinking anything that went into the nalgene while it was warm, and avoid drinking anything acidic out of a nalgene.”

“I'm thinking that I'm gonna have to start wearing condoms on my fingers. I'm sure I've got some sort of ozmosis going between the keys and my finger tips.
errrr... what are condoms made of.
ummm, oh oh...”

“My mother has been warning me of the hazards of the chemicals in plastics, like tupperware, soaking into the foods that they hold when heated. She would know too, she edits health books and works for one of the nations top health suppliment and water purification companies. I do use nalgene, and other plastics, I'm just careful not to reheat my leftovers in them. Stainless steel is the way to go for cooking. IMO.”

“As if the Sun's radiation isn't enough, or the elecrtomagnetic radiation you get from sitting in front of your monitor or talking on the cell phone, etc, or smoking your stuff, or breathing vehicle emissions, or eating partially hydrogenated soybean oil, or...

Oh, nevermind!”

“And stop inhaling mouse turds!!”

“I'm thinking that this whole thing isn't as bad as they make it out to be. For using a Nalgene on an occasional camping trip it's probably lower risk than bad habits people have. How many people smoke, drink booze, do drugs, over eat, don't exercise, have unprotected sex, eat unhealthy foods on and on and on. Most of the population would be more likely to get sick from bad behavior than from drinking out of a Nalgene on a camping trip.”

“Mad Zac”

“As a Doctor friend once told me, Name any form of human endeavor and I'll find 10 doctors who say it's bad for you.”

“I read somewhere that they make another type.

The bottles are labels with a number, and depending on the label it will tell you if it's the "bad" plastic, or not.

Don't remember the details or where I read that, but something to look for.”

“Ok, here's the deal ...

Nalgene makes a version with this symbol on it:



(it must have the number "2" on it)

This is the safe kind.”

“You guys have seen them. They're the milky white bottles.”

“No one likes the High density polyethlene ones though. They aren't the hard rigid impack resistant plastic that everyone expect when they see a Nalgene bottle. It's all about appearances right? The polycarbonate ones have the "image".”

“Nalgene is NOT an outdoors gear company.
They are a lab equipment company that discovered one of their lab containers could be cross-sold to the outdoors market.

Ever been to http://www.nalgene.com/ ?
last edited: 8/30/05 8:50:06 AM”

“DeoreDX - It's all about the beer.”

“Flourinated HDPE is what is used for the fuel bottles, I believe.”

“haha, i knew when i saw this thread title that you read Organic Style too, Pixie! i was just saying the same thing yesterday on another Nalgene thread. did you know that magazine is made by Rodale, who also does Backpacker Magazine? eewwww!! LOL!
;-D

but anyhoo, even if some of you think being exposed to low levels of toxicity isn't as bad as some of the things humans do, like the smoking, drinking, yada yada yada...wouldn't you rather at least know what kind of chemicals you're ingesting, and what they do? so then you can make an informed decision?

i found this website that has a giant list of scientific articles that all claim even "low levels" can do a lot of damage:

http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/oncompounds/bisphenola/bpauses.htm”

“I'm thinking that I'm gonna have to start wearing condoms on my fingers the goat

LOL@the goat...you're gonna need some of these


last edited: 8/30/05 9:43:13 AM”

“Soylent Green is made out of people!”

“lyra, I didn't buy it. It just started coming to my house. Along with TV Guide. LOL!

No washing it in the dishwasher isn't fine. Once it's been exposed to the heat (dishwasher) it starts to release the chemicals into whatever you store in it (water) thereafter. That's why using plastic to heat foods/beverages is more toxic because it omits more toxins directly into the food you ingest. Everytime you use a commuter or to go cup for your coffee folks. That's why I use a stainless steel commuter mug.

Like I said, decide for yourself what you want to do though. I just thought people should know the risks.

I did read that HDPE #2 plastic (aka milk container)is safest.”

“The people at REI tell you NOT to wash your Nalgenes in the dishwasher. I never have (my stickers might come off!) I've seen the lids ruined by the heating element in your DW if they aren't loaded right too.

I used to work with this girl that *refused* to use ANY sort of plastic water bottle (in the backcountry, working every day) and she used a glass juice bottle. Imagine the mess THAT made when it broke in her pack!

Nalgene IS a lab equipment company. Good stuff if you ask me! I don't like the white ones; they aren't nearly as durable.”

“I lost the lid to a Coleman Nalgene knock-off to the DW heating element just last week.

Turns out a replacement Nalgene lid works. I'll tell my wife to stop washing them in the dishwasher though.”

“It seems funny that they use plastic in hospitals for just about everything.”

“RichB, cause it's cheap/disposable. Easier than sterilizing everything all the time.”

“Sigg!!!!!”

“and I'm not dead yet...the chemical must be taking it's time...LMAO....OH, WAIT!...I'm fat and Bald...quick, what are the OTHER side effects of drinking from plastic?

I'm gonna die from SOMETHING that's sure...but it won't be from worry over 'chit like this!

(PS Pixie...I'm also not the parent of a small child....or so young I have 40 years to take in the toxins...if it worries you, I understand...)”

“I have been using a nalgene and have the original one I ever bought for about 7 years now. The only thing I have noticed is a arm or foot or something that is growing out of my left thigh.”

“soilent green....mmmmmm...I could eat people :)”

“WK, cut it off and make soup stock out of it!”

“Im coming over for dinner!!”

“I was thinking about chopping it off and letting it seep in some moonshine I have brewing in the back yard. Give it a nice mellow taste.”

“Ol' Bodypart? Yum!”

“wow. Does this mean I'll have to bring separate Nalgenes in Winter if I want a hot-water bottle wubby at night? Man, that sucks...
:\

Does anyone actually use their Nalgene for cold water only? If gatorade causes problems, I wonder what alcohol does?
<<>>”

“Ya i heard about this but i still use my nalgenes cuz when i use my other bottles i can taste the plastic in the water.

The best bet is to stop using them and go for metal titaneum(cant spell)bottles. there harmless, but make sure you get the kinds that arent coated with plastic on the inside. love and peace.”

“I have a small nalgene that I specifically use for alcohol. I don't care, I hope I grow a third eye!”