Dangers in Reusing Water Bottles

Reusing Water Bottles: Is it Dangerous? Thirsty? If you reach for a handy bottle of water, youre like millions of Americans who have changed their water drinking habits over the past decade. And I admit Im one of them. I keep a small water bottle on my desk, and two or three times each day I trek down the hall to the water cooler and fill it up. It seems logical, right? Why spend money on a fresh bottle every day when I have access to an easy fill-up right here at work? But before you take your next sip of water from a plastic bottle, I have some information that might change the way you quench your thirst. It certainly has changed mine. Kid hydration Water is the most natural and necessary beverage you can put into your body. But as weve seen in other e-Alerts (such as last summers Where The Yellow Went 7/15/02, about the dangers of fluoridation), the contents of the water you drink can have a significant effect on your health. So its no wonder that people have turned away from straight tap water which often contains high levels of lead, chlorine and who-knows-what-else? Now, two recent studies from Idaho and Canada bring important warnings for the millions of people who enjoy their water in convenient plastic bottles. First the good news: Im not going to tell you bottled water is bad for you. But you may be surprised to find out that what you do with the bottle after youve drained it might lead to serious health problems. Researchers from the University of Calgary collected water samples from 76 plastic bottles used by students in a Calgary elementary school. About one third of the samples contained bacterial contamination severe enough that, had the water come from a tap, health officials would have issued a boil water advisory. Some samples even contained fecal coliforms. Cathy Ryan, the lead professor of the study, noted that if fecal coliforms were found in a town water supply, it would have to be shut down. These contamination problems are a direct result of reusing water bottles without proper washing between each use. The researchers speculated that the contamination of the elementary school water bottles was likely complicated by insufficient hygiene specifically, a lack of thorough hand washing. Nevertheless, any water bottle reused again and again without washing is subject to contamination with bacteria. Cleanliness doesnt guarantee safety A University of Idaho survey revealed that the reuse of water and soda bottles was widespread on the UI campus, with some individuals using a single bottle for several weeks. One participant

reported that they had reused the same bottle for six months. This survey was taken in conjunction with a graduate program study that examined the effects of repeated bottle use. The UI study tested water samples from typical soft-drink and water bottles made from a plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Analysis of the samples showed that with repeated use, toxic chemicals in the plastic can break down and migrate into the liquid inside. One of the toxins that appeared with regularity was di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, a carcinogen that has been shown to cause liver damage and reproductive problems. Furthermore, when bottles were used repeatedly, the concentration of toxins gradually became more pronounced. And ironically, washing the bottles didnt help in fact it only made matters worse. The UI data suggested that the break-down of toxins was accelerated by regular exposure to hot water and soap. Rotate! So the water bottle dilemma has some similarity to the problem with tap water. Lead in water pipes is drawn into the water just as the toxins in plastic are drawn into the bottled water. The difference, of course, is that you have far more control with bottled water. And in most cases, bottled water is less contaminated than tap water. As these studies demonstrate, its probably not a good idea to stick with one bottle for very long even if you clean it after each use. Im really not trying to boost sales for bottled water, but a fresh bottle every couple of days would seem to be the wise way to quench. Of course, you can always take your water the old-fashioned wayin a glass.

To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute Sources: People who frequently reuse water bottles may be risking their health Jen Horsey, Canadian Press, 1/26/03 Dear EarthTalk: Are the rumors true that refilling and reusing some types of plastic bottles can cause health problems? -- Regina Fujan, Lincoln, NE Most types of plastic bottles are safe to reuse at least a few times if properly washed with hot soapy water. But recent revelations about chemicals in Lexan (plastic #7) bottles are enough to scare even the most committed environmentalists from reusing them (or buying them in the first place).

Chemicals May Contaminate Food and Drinks in Reused Plastic Bottles Studies have indicated that food and drinks stored in such containersincluding those ubiquitous clear Nalgene water bottles hanging from just about every hikers backpackcan contain trace amount of Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical that interferes with the bodys natural hormonal messaging system. Reused Plastic Bottles Can Leach Toxic Chemicals The same studies found that repeated re-use of such bottleswhich get dinged up through normal wear and tear and while being washedincreases the chance that chemicals will leak out of the tiny cracks and crevices that develop over time. According to the Environment California Research & Policy Center, which reviewed 130 studies on the topic, BPA has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels. BPA can also wreak havoc on childrens developing systems. (Parents beware: Most baby bottles and sippy cups are made with plastics containing BPA.) Most experts agree that the amount of BPA that could leach into food and drinks through normal handling is probably very small, but there are concerns about the cumulative effect of small doses. Even Plastic Water and Soda Bottles Should Not Be Reused Health advocates also recommend not reusing bottles made from plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE), including most disposable water, soda and juice bottles. According to The Green Guide, such bottles may be safe for one-time use, but re-use should be avoided because studies indicate they may leach DEHPanother probable human carcinogenwhen they are in less-than-perfect condition. Millions of Plastic Bottles End Up in Landfills The good news is that such bottles are easy to recycle; just about every municipal recycling system will take them back. But using them is nonetheless far from environmentally responsible: The nonprofit Berkeley Ecology Center found that the manufacture of plastic #1 uses large amounts of energy and resources and generates toxic emissions and pollutants that contribute to global warming. And even though PET bottles can be recycled, millions find their way into landfills every day in the U.S. alone. Incinerating Plastic Bottles Releases Toxic Chemicals Another bad choice for water bottles, reusable or otherwise, is plastic #3 (polyvinyl chloride/PVC), which can leach hormone-disrupting chemicals into the liquids they are storing and will release synthetic carcinogens into the environment when incinerated. Plastic #6 (polystyrene/PS), has been shown to leach styrene, a probable human carcinogen, into food and drinks as well. Safe Reusable Bottles Do Exist Safer choices include bottles crafted from safer HDPE (plastic #2), low-density polyethylene (LDPE, AKA plastic #4) or polypropylene (PP, or plastic #5). Aluminum bottles, such as those made by SIGG and sold in many natural food and natural product markets, and stainless steel water bottles are also safe choices and can be reused repeatedly and eventually recycled.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E.

Reusing Plastic Bottles Causes Cancer Hoax

Status: False Example:(Submitted via email, August 2004) Many are unaware of poisoning caused by re-using plastic bottles. Some of you may be in the habit of using and re-using your disposable mineral water bottles (eg. Evian, Aqua, Ice Mountain, Vita, etc), keeping them in your car or at work. Not a good idea. In a nutshell, the plastic (called polyethylene terephthalate or PET) used in these bottles contains a potentially carcinogenic element (something called diethylhydroxylamine or DEHA). The bottles are safe for one-time use only; if you must keep them longer, it should be or no more than a few days, a week max, and keep them away from heat as well. Repeated washing and rinsing can cause the plastic to break down and the carcinogens (cancer- causing chemical agents)can leach into the water that YOU are drinking. Better to invest in water bottles that are really meant for multiple uses. This is not something we should be scrimping on. Those of you with family - please advise them, especially for their children's sake."

Commentary: In spite of the claims made in this email forward, there is no credible scientific evidence that reusing plastic bottles can lead to cancer. iStockphoto.com/filonmar

The PET plastics used in such bottles have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and similar organizations in other nations. Furthermore, DEHA is not classified as a human carcinogen and is not considered to pose any significant health risk to humans. The hoax email originated from a University of Idaho student's masters thesis. However, although the student's findings were taken up by the mainstream media, the FDA did not review the thesis nor was it published in any scientific or technical journal. Furthermore, the thesis incorrectly identifies DEHA as a carcinogenic element when this is not the case. According to the American Plastics Council website the thesis "did not reflect a level of scientific rigor that would provide accurate and reliable information". Moreover, DEHA is not present in PET either as a raw material or as a decomposition product. Although the Idaho student detected DEHA, this was most likely due to laboratory contamination. An article about the warning message on South Africa's Food Advisory Consumer Service website states that: "The fact is that DEHA is not inherent in PET as a raw material or as a decomposition product of PET. DEHA is approved for food contact applications and would not pose a health risk even if it were present. It is commonly used as a plasticiser in many other plastic items, used on a daily basis. It is presumed that the DEHA detected in PET bottles by the student at Idaho University probably originated from other plastic components in the laboratory environment. Reusing plastic bottles can be a health risk in that improper cleaning could lead to the ingestion of harmful bacteria. Unless careful cleaning of the container is carried out, potentially dangerous bacteria could be left behind. However, the potential for bacterial contamination applies to other types of container such as glass, not just plastic. While the bacterial health risk of reusing plastic bottles does need to be considered, the cancer related claims in this email forward are unfounded.

FAQs: The Safety of Plastic Beverage Bottles

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To help assure the safety of our food, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration carefully reviews food and beverage packaging materials, including plastics for beverage bottles, before allowing them on the market. Most convenience-size beverage bottles sold in the United States are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET has become the material of choice for bottled beverages because it is lightweight and shatter resistant, and PET has been extensively tested for safety. Bottles made with PET are widely used for everything from water and fruit juice to soft drinks and even beer.

When consumers choose to refill and reuse convenience-size plastic bottles, should they be concerned about potentially harmful bacteria? What about the University of Calgary study? How do I know that the plastic in my bottle is safe? Will a plastic bottle leach harmful substances into water if I reuse it? What about the student project that claimed to have found unhealthy compounds in water samples from reused bottles? But I read that the students project found carcinogens? Is it true that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only allows plastic beverage bottles, such as those made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for one-time use? Can freezing a PET beverage bottle cause dioxins to leach into its contents? Resources and Links

When consumers choose to refill and reuse convenience-size plastic bottles, should they be concerned about potentially harmful bacteria? Not if they clean their plastic bottles between uses just as they would other drinking containers. Plastics are by nature extremely sanitary materials, and plastic bottles are no more likely to harbor bacteria than other kinds of packaging or drinking containers. Bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments. Once bacteria have been introduced, virtually any drinking container (coffee mugs, drinking glasses, serving pitchers, etc.) becomes a suitable environment for bacterial growth.

Consumers should clean any drinking container with hot soapy water and dry thoroughly between uses. Bottles specifically designed for extended reuse are often made with wide openings that allow consumers to use cleaning instruments and easily dry them. back to top What about the University of Calgary study? A University of Calgary study found bacteria in water samples taken from bottles that were refilled by elementary school students without being cleaned. The author of the study concluded that the source of the bacteria was inadequate personal hygiene practices on the part of students reusing the bottles. The fact that the bottles in this particular study were plastic is irrelevant. back to top How do I know that the plastic in my bottle is safe?

Consumers can be confident that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration carefully reviews new substances intended for food contact before allowing them on the market. This includes materials, like plastics, intended for food and beverage packaging. Both plastics and plastic additives are subject to FDA review and regulations. New packaging materials are permitted for food use only after FDA reviews the submitted test data and is satisfied that they are safe for their intended use. As part of its review, FDA assesses the migration potential of plastics and the substances with which they are made. Scientific tests are conducted to establish that there is a minimal amount of transfer between a plastic package and the food it contains and that any transfer does not pose a risk to human health. back to top Will a plastic bottle leach harmful substances into water if I reuse it? Most convenience-size beverage bottles sold in the U.S. are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The FDA has determined that PET meets standards for food-contact materials established by federal regulations and therefore permits the use of PET in food and beverage packaging for both single use and repeated use. FDA has evaluated test data that simulate long-term storage and that support repeated use. The toxicological properties of PET and any compounds that might migrate under test conditions

have also been well studied. The results of these tests demonstrate that PET is safe for its intended uses. (For details, see The Safety of Polyethylene Terephthalate.) back to top What about the student project that claimed to have found unhealthy compounds in water samples from reused bottles? The subject of a widely circulated e-mail hoax, these claims stem from a University of Idaho students masters thesis that was promoted in the media but was not subject to peer review, FDA review or published in a scientific or technical journal. While the student project may have been suitable work for a masters thesis, it did not reflect a level of scientific rigor that would provide accurate and reliable information about the safety of these products. Fortunately for consumers, FDA requires a much higher standard to make decisions about the safety of food-contact packaging. back to top But I read that the students project found carcinogens? The students thesis incorrectly identifies di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), a plastics additive, as a human carcinogen. DEHA is neither regulated nor classified as a human carcinogen by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the National Toxicology Program or the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the leading authorities on carcinogenic substances. In 1991, on the basis of very limited data, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified DEHA as a "possible human carcinogen." However, in 1995, EPA again evaluated the science and concluded that "...overall, the evidence is too limited to establish that DEHA is likely to cause cancer." Further, DEHA is not inherent in PET as a raw material, byproduct or decomposition product. DEHA is a common plasticizer that is used in innumerable plastic items, many of which are found in the laboratory. For this reason, the students detection of DEHA is likely to have been the result of inadvertent lab contamination. This is supported by the fact that DEHA was detected infrequently (approximately 6% of the samples) and randomly, meaning that the frequency of detection bore no relationship to the test conditions. Moreover, DEHA has been cleared by FDA for food-contact applications and would not pose a health risk even if it were present. Finally, in June 2003, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research conducted a scientific study of migration in new and reused plastic water bottles from three countries. The Swiss study did not find DEHA at concentrations significantly above the background levels detected in distilled water, indicating DEHA was unlikely to have migrated from the bottles. The study concluded that the levels of DEHA were distinctly below the World Health Organization guidelines for safe drinking water.

 back to top Is it true that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only allows plastic beverage bottles, such as those made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for one-time use? No, FDA allows PET to be used in food-contact applications, including food and beverage packaging, regardless of whether the packaging is intended for single or repeated use. PET beverage bottles sold in the United States are designed for single use for economic and cultural reasons, not because of any safety concerns with PET. In fact, refillable bottles made with the same PET resin as single-use bottles are safely reused in a number of other countries. The only difference is that refillable bottles have thicker sidewalls to enable them to withstand the mechanical forces involved with industrial collection and commercial cleaning and refilling operations. back to top Can freezing a PET beverage bottle cause dioxins to leach into its contents? This is the subject of another e-mail hoax. There simply is no scientific basis to support the claim that PET bottles will release dioxin when frozen. Dioxins are a family of chemical compounds that are produced by combustion at extremely high temperatures. They can only be formed at temperatures well above 700 degrees Fahrenheit; they cannot be formed at room temperature or in freezing temperatures. Moreover, there is no reasonable scientific basis for expecting dioxins to be present in plastic food or beverage containers in the first place. back to top

Resources and Links

Packaging Materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) for Food Packaging Applications International Life Sciences Institute, July 2000. White Paper on Refillable Plastic Packaging Made from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) International Life Sciences Institute, 1994. Migration of Organic Components from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Bottles to Water Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, June 2003. Food Contact Substance Notification Program U.S. FDAs Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Information List of Indirect Additives Used in Food-Contact Substances U.S. FDAs Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Information Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations For information on PET, see 21 CFR Section 177.1630 and 21 CFR Section 177.1315. National Center for Food Safety and Technologys Food Packaging Research