Natural Health Newsletter
Randall Neustaedter OMD
Plastic dangers
Water bottles
Bottled water is here to stay, a booming industry that grosses more than $7
billion dollars a year in the US. Water is good, hydration is essential,
especially when exercising, which is also good. But the bottle you drink from may be
dangerous to your health.
Polycarbonate water bottles (labeled #7) contain bisphenol A (BPA), which
leaches from the plastic even at room temperature and has been linked to
chromosome damage and hormone disruption. These are the types of plastic Nalgene water
bottles found in sports stores. #1 PET or PETE bottles (polyethylene
terephthalate) may leach DEHA, a known carcinogen, if used more than once.
Additionally, your water bottle that has been refilled is likely to contain potentially
harmful bacteria that grow on saliva, food particles, and fecal material from
unwashed hands. Many people have reported getting diarrhea from their reused
water bottles. Washing bottles with hot water and detergent or a rinse with
bleach will sanitize them, but also leaches harmful chemicals out of the plastic.
What to do?
Use metal bottles. A Swiss company, SIGG, makes colorful and safe aluminum
drinking bottles lined with an impermeable alloy. They can be found on the
Internet. The best price and the greatest variety of choices I have found in the US
is at www.momovelo.com in the sundries/liquids section. They offer both
children's and adult's sizes and designs. Many other sites carry SIGG bottles as
well. Thermos makes stainless steel bottles for both hot and cold drinks or
soups at www.thermos.com. Wash these bottles and their tops with hot water by
hand after use. Dishwashers may not get into the narrow mouths of water bottles
to clean their interiors.
Safer plastic containers are polyethylene #2 and #4 (High density HDPE #2 and
Low density LDPE #4). HDPE is used for milk, water, juice, and yogurt
containers. LDPE is used for squeezable bottles (honey, mustard, etc.).
Buy food products packaged in glass whenever possible. Use glass containers
for storing leftovers.
Relatively safe
#1 polyethylene terephalate (PET) used only once
#2 and #4 polyethylene
Unsafe
# 5 polypropylene (catsup bottles, yogurt containers)
#6 polystyrene (Styrofoam)
#7 polycarbonate (Nalgene) water bottles
Never use
Food or drinks heated in plastic containers in a microwave.
Styrofoam cups (polystyrene #6), especially for hot liquids.
#7 polycarbonate (Nalgene) water bottles
Plastic baby bottles. If you must use bottles, use only glass baby bottles
with silicone, not latex, nipples.
Do not reuse plastic water bottles.
And don't forget to have children wash their hands after using the bathroom.
Spread the Word
Please refer your friends and patients to this free email newsletter, and
encourage them to subscribe with an email to [log in to unmask]
And don't forget that you can view all past newsletter articles at
www.cure-guide.com.
Randall Neustaedter OMD, LAc
Classical Medicine Center
1779 Woodside Rd., Suite 201C
Redwood City, CA 94061
650 299-9170
Author of The Vaccine Guide, North Atlantic Books, 2002
"The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are
evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
- Albert Einstein
"
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
"When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear
the government, you have tyranny."
- Thomas Jefferson
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"
- Edmund Burke
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
