Comments on: How To Choose A Safe Reusable Water Bottle. http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/ Sustainability, Environment, Progressive Politics, Peak Oil, Going Green. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anne http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16713 Anne Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:39:43 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16713 Ahh, didn't realize so many typos, sorry :) Ahh, didn’t realize so many typos, sorry :)

]]> By: Anne http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16712 Anne Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:38:50 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16712 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://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16711 Elizabeth Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:01:44 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16711 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://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16690 David Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:50:20 +0000 http://www.thegoodhuman.com/2008/03/17/choosing-a-safe-reusable-water-bottle/#comment-16690 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!

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