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Facts About BPA-Free Plastic Water Bottles

Bisphenol-A (BPA is a chemical that is added to plastics to make them stronger and more flexible. Until 2008, BPA was considered completely safe for human consumption. Even now, the FDA still maintains that BPA levels found in food service products are safe. However, the demand for BPA-free products drove many manufacturers to create a line of BPA-free plastics to remove the potential danger.

  1. Origins

    • BPA-free bottles became popular in the early-2000s because of several studies that found that the effects of BPA on the body could be harmful. The main study that triggered public interest in BPA-free bottles was released by the National Toxicology Program in 2008. After this and other studies, a plethora of BPA-free bottles began production.

    Types

    • There are several different kinds of plastics used to make BPA-free bottles. One of the most well-known versions of plastic uses a copolyester compound known as Tritan. Other plastics that replace BPA plastics include plastic items made from acrylic, polypropylene, styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) and melamine. None of these plastics contain BPA.

    Benefits

    • There are many benefits to using BPA-free plastics. BPA is under close scrutiny, and there are many studies that show the adverse effects of ingesting that plastic in large quantities. BPA-free plastics are healthier and are unlikely to leech chemicals into food stored inside them. BPA-free plastic is also better for the environment, because the chemical will not leech into the ground or other nearby products under heated conditions.

    Considerations

    • Some companies have not released what compositions make up their BPA-free bottles, which has caused some people to question the safety of these plastics as well. Just because a product is BPA-free does not mean that it is safe. For example, plastics containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics have also come under scrutiny for their potentially harmful effects.

    Effects

    • BPA added to plastics to makes them more flexible, smooth and strong. Consequently, most BPA-free plastics are weaker, more brittle and porous. BPA-free bottles are likely to break much sooner than their BPA-containing counterparts. The bottles may also absorb the smell or color of any liquid used in the bottle that is not pure water. For this reason, use BPA-free bottles for water only.

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