I WAS SENT THE FOLLOWING BY A WELL MEANING ACQUAINTANCE.
I CAN VOUCH FOR NOTHING STATED.
Subject: Important information in the reuse of disposable drinking bottles
Just for your information:
Please read, you may be as guilty as I am.
Some of you may be in the habit of using and re-using your disposable water
bottles (Wilkins, Mt. Franklins, etc.), keeping them in your car or at work.
Not a good idea.
See below the two (2) following articles and they'll tell you why.
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 use only; if you must keep them longer, it should be for 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 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. Take care.
Below are some of the articles... read on.
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February 19, 2003
Water bottle bacteria risk cited
By Lucas Cutler
Algonquin Times staff
Students trying to save a buck by reusing water bottles should be aware
that they're risking their health.
Dangerous bacteria and potentially toxic plastic compounds have been found
in the types of water bottles typically reused in schools and workplaces,
countrywide, reported the Canadian Press.
A study of water bottles, authored by Cathy Ryan of the University of Calgary,
found bacteria in elementary school children's bottles that would
prompt health officials to issue boil-water advisories, had the
samplescome from a tap. The bacteria likely came from the kids' hands and
mouths over time as they repeatedly used the same bottles without washing
them or allowing them to dry, said Ryan.
Researchers discovered bacterial contamination in about a third of the
samples collected from kids' water bottles. Some samples even showed
evidence of fecal coliforms.
Dr. Gerry Predy, Edmonton's medical officer of health sent out a public
warning to keep the bottles clean.
Single-use soft-drink and water bottles are commonly made of a plastic
called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which, while considered safe for
its intended use, was found to break down over time.
The Canadian Bottled Water Association recommends that bottles be used
only once. The International Bottle Water Association also recommends
using the bottles only once.
"These convenience-sized PET containers are designed and intended for
single use only and easy recycling and compatibility with the recycling
system. After consumption of the product, PET containers should be placed
in a recycling bin for collection or returned for deposit, where and if
applicable," said vice-president of communications Stephen R. Kay.
Dr. Richard Rowland, a doctor at Algonquin's health centre, agrees that
bottles should only be used once, especially during the summer because
heat causes bacteria to grow faster.
Preliminary research conducted by a graduate student at theUniversity of
Idaho suggests that the kind of thorough washing that could kill bacteria
might make the bottles unsafe in another way.
Frequent washing might accelerate the break-down of the plastic,
potentially causing chemicals to leak into the water, their study found.
"The fact is, a lot of these compounds have not really been studied in
terms of their human health effects," Margrit von Braun, a University of
Idaho professor told the Canadian Press.
Plastics experts contend the bottles are safe. The study ultimately
concluded little is known about what happens when the bottles are reused.
"The longer you used it, the more stuff ended up in the water," said von
Braun. Karen Chiarelli, a secretary in the health center, was unaware of
these findings, "I wash my bottle in the dishwasher," she said.
One of the toxins that frequently appeared in water samples from the
reused water bottles was DEHA (diethylhydroxylamine), a carcinogen
regulated in drinking water because it has been found to cause weight loss,
liver problems, or possible reproductive difficulties.
Von Braun said she was surprised to discover how widespread the reuse was
and how long some people would hold on to a single bottle.
"A lot of people use them for weeks, and sometimes months, literally
until it's leaking," said von Braun. But with individual water bottles
costing up to $1.50 at the college, students may try and squeeze as much
use out of their bottles as possible.
Another article published:
Recycling Water Bottles May Be Recycling Germs:
How Trying To Do Good Can Be Bad For Your Health
by eHealth@24hre.com
January 30, 2003 -- By Sara J. Cartwright, Staff Writer, Health Priority
Take a peek into the interior of the refrigerator of someone, anyone that
you know, or maybe even into yours. Chances are, along with the numerous
foods that have been purchased for their health properties containing
vitamins or antioxidants are numerous water bottles of varying sizes
that have been filled and refilled time and again.
A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health,
followed bymore research begun by the University of Idaho has shown that
such an attempt to save money by reusing a previously purchased water
bottle may only be gaining you harmful bacteria, some of which are even
suspected to cause cancer.
"While people may think they're doing a good deed for the environment
when they reuse water bottles for anything from orange juice in a bagged
lunch to a week's worth of water refills from the office water cooler,"
researchers state that this could actually pose a risk to their health.
Dangerous bacteria and potentially toxic plastic compounds had been found
in the types of water bottles typically reused in classrooms and
workplaces all over Canada. Bacteria found in the water bottles would
even prompt health officials to issue boil-water advisories, had the
samples come from a regular tap. Some of the samples even showed evidence
of fecal coliforms, which would cause a local water supply to be shut down
if detected in the public's water supply.
One of the toxins that frequently appeared in water samples from the reused
bottles was DEHA, a carcinogen regulated in drinking water because it has
been found to cause weight loss, liver problems, or possible reproductive
difficulties. It also suspected that DEHA could cause cancer in humans.
While the initial response may be to simply assure that both bottles and
the hands that come into contact with it are frequently and properly
washed, studies conducted in the United States suggest that the thorough
washing needed to kill bacteria may render the bottles unsafe in another
manner. The study found that frequent washing might contribute to the
breakdown of the plastic commonly found in water bottles. This could
potentially cause chemicals to leach into the liquid within the bottle.
"The fact is, a lot of these compounds have not really been studied in
terms of their human health effects," said Margrit von Braun, a professor
at the University of Idaho.
Single-use bottles used for both soft drinks and water bottles are
commonly made of a plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which,
while considered safe for its intended, initial use, was found to break
down over time. "The longer you used it, the more stuff ended up in the
water," said von Braun. Von Braun also voiced her shock at discovering
how widespread water bottle reuse is, as well as the extended periods
of time the reuse continues. In some cases, the same water bottles had
been reused for six months at a time.
In response to the study, the Canadian Bottled Water Association advises
against reusing this type of container altogether. Designed only for a
single use, the bottles should be used and then recycled, due to the fact
that people are unable to properly sterilize the bottles on their own.
Elizabeth Griswold, executive director of the Canadian Bottled Water
Association, when questioned about the practice of reusing water bottles
simply states,
"All I would be able to say is that it's not something we recommend."
6 responses total.
My opinion: If this isn't an outright hoax, it has the odor of being propadanda by water bottlers to increase sales. Maybe you have already seen this before and it's been debunked - I hadn't seen it.
I can understand the development of bacteria in unwashed bottles, but this should not be a problem if they are washed and dried before reuse (so they don't sit around for long periods with residual water in them). However the claims about a carcinogen leaching from the bottles would seem to require better evidence. For one thing, if it is just leaching, then the bottle sitting in the store is being leached too - and probably longer. However if it is breakdown of the plastic, maybe there is an issue - but not just a *potential* issue. This should be verified. What should really be done, and as soon as possible, is require a deposit on bottles for water.
This response has been erased.
I'd seen a third article on this, so no idea.
Betcha the health benefits from drinking plenty of water are far greater than the potential risk.
Probably. I should probably throw out the bottles that I refilled and then left in the car for two weeks, though. I vaguely recall one study that found bacterial contamination on water bottles in a day care center, but the source turned out to be the kids using their fingers to open the pop-up tops.
You have several choices: