What Plastics Are Safe for Water Bottles?
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Potential Chemical Contaminants
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Copolyester, polycarbonate, bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) ... the chemicals found in bottled water are a poorly regulated alphabet soup of carcinogens.
Most Common Concerns
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Plastics No. 1 (PET or PETE) and Nos. 3 & 6 (styrenes) should, if purchased, never be reused. This includes most water sold in disposable bottles.
Nalgene and BPA
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Polycarbonate bottles, such as those sold under the Nalgene brand, have been shown to contain a level of BPA that the U.S. government has dubbed "generally safe." However, Canada became the first country to declare BPA a toxic substance in September 2010.
Heating & Freezing
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Plastic containers of any type should never be heated, although (contrary to some reports) freezing them will not cause chemicals to leach more rapidly into the water.
The Best Choice?
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The safest route is a reusable aluminum or stainless steel water bottle. This is also the cheapest route: the Natural Resources Defense Council has determined that bottled water is up to 10,000 times more expensive than tap water and with far less stringent safety controls.
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