Feature Articles: Food, Fitness and
Eating Well
Is it safe to drink from plastic water bottles?
Barb Buffaloe, LEED A.P., M.S., Extension Associate & Resident Instructor, Architectural Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia
Plastic and the "bottle" shape it takes is a very hot topic in the green world these days. One concern is that the plastic our bottles are made from is not safe because they can leach harmful elements into the water we are drinking. Another concern is that cracks and scratches in the water bottle can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It is important to know that there are different types of plastics that drinking vessels are made from.
- Polyethylene terephthalate
Water bottles like those from Aquafina, Dasani, etc.
- HDPE or high-density polyethylene
Milk and water jugs. Gray Nalgene bottles
- PVC or Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride
do not use any food container made from #3
- LDPE or Low-density polyethylene
bags for bread, frozen food, and grocery.
- Polypropylene
Yogurt, margarine, and other food containers.
- PS or Polystyrene
Compact disc jackets, eating utensils, and take-out food containers.
- Polycarbonate or Lexan
Colored Nalgene bottles
The most widely encouraged plastic for drinking or eating from is #2. Nalgene bottles that are grey are typically made of the #2 plastic. However some Nalgene bottles are made from #7 plastic - which leaks bisphenol-A (BPA) into our water and causes serious health problems. These are typically the colored bottles. Reusing the #1 water bottles are not encouraged for a long period of time because they do have instances of bacteria growing in scratches that you might not be able to see.
All of that said, plastic water bottles are still that – plastic. Plastic is a non-renewable resource and the manufacturing of it uses a lot of resources. A lot of plastic bottles require more energy to be recycled than they do produced. Reusing glass or ceramic containers makes more sense because they can be reused indefinitely and the product typically tastes better anyway.
Last update: Wednesday, December 19, 2007
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