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Although the colorful, durable and lightweight Nalgene water bottles
have been the hydration choice of outdoor enthusiasts, scientific
evidence has shown the plastic used to make the bottle may pose
serious health hazards.
Made from Lexan polycarbonate resin and marketed through Nalgene
Outdoor Products, Lexan was envisioned to be the ideal material
for water bottles due to its durability and the way the material
of the bottle didn’t hold any odors or flavors to distort the
taste of the liquid being stored in the bottle.
A study that involved researching birth defects and developmental
abnormalities that caused miscarriages in mice raised the suspicions
on all polycarbonate plastics.
The study revealed a sudden increase in aneuploidy, a defect consisting
of abnormal loss or gain of chromosomes, which in humans could possibly
lead to miscarriages or disorders such as Down Syndrome.
The spontaneous jump in mouse aneuploidy was traced back to a lab
worker, who used a strong detergent to clean the mice cages and
water bottles. The effects of the detergent resulted in the plastic
attaching itself to bisphenol, a chemical that mimics the female
hormone estrogen.
Research has shown that low BPA levels have had an adverse effect
on prostate development, tumors, breast tissue development, sperm
count and enlargement of fat cells in the body.
Scientists have warned against allowing any polycarbonate plastics
near your food or water and stated the devastating effects of these
chemicals posed the biggest risk to babies during early development.
Despite the warnings, polycarbonate plastics continue to be used
in a wide variety of products including food storage cans, dental
sealants and the Nalgene Lexan bottles.
Daily
Barometer March 23, 2004
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