With the recent scare about plastics I have been concerned. I use plastic food storage containers, I use plastic baggies, plastic bottles for my liquid products, and my beloved Nalgene.. I don't know if I could live without it! It is the latter that had to bare the brunt of the attack (or onslaught of enlightenment) regarding the effects of polycarbonate plastics - that nearly indestructible, crystal clear, hard plastic most hikers know and love. You are probably already familiar with the controversy and you have already heard all about BPA (bisphenol-a) the toxic chemical that has been linked to neural and behavioral changes in humans along with disrupting hormonal systems in other critters. This problem is not restricted to one brand of plastic even though Nalgene was the major target for the investigations. It is scary because we all use plastics, whether we'd prefer to or not. They are hugely wasteful to produce, cause severe waste problems when trying to dispose of them or even recycle them and now they are even poisonous??
Well.. making plastics from petroleum is still hugely wasteful, requiring tons of oil and water... disposal of plastics is a big problem since we all use so much of it and even much of it that is intended to be recycled never quite makes it there, so much so that the most significant geologic deposit that is probably being created this century will be a layer of plastic bits - ick! The last part, though, we can handle. Even Nalgene, the biggest offender in (hopefully unknowingly) distributing BPA has redone much of their line of products in BPA free plastic and stainless steel. All of the bottles they carry, with the exception of their original, are free of the nasty chemicals we were all so concerned about. There are many options available at retailers like REI, Popular, and even Target just look for stainless steel or plastic labeled "BPA-free."
More good news? It was my misconception that this toxic chemical was found in all plastics, not so. It appears that it is only the polycarbonate plastic that contains the BPA. Your plastic bags, plastic wrap, and soft plastic bottles are a-okay (as far as not containing BPA.. who knows what we'll find next!) PET plastic, the type used for most conventional water bottles, and the plastic I happen to use for my liquid products is much to my relief free of BPA. *whew*
What is the best way to try to figure out, very unscientifically, if your plastics have BPA? It seems like the polycarbonate plastics are super hard, if you can crunch it with your hand you are probably safe. Soft = good, Rigid = bad. Be on the look out though as it is included in some canned food liners and even dental seal. What is a bigger problem than all of the disappointed hikers who now have to recycle their old Nalgenes before purchasing the newfangled ones? 
All of those baby bottles and sippy cups out there made of equally indestructible plastic. You know what that means now, right? If it is that sturdy you don't want to use it. Here are some better options for BPA-free baby bottles, in particular (though you could just do a google search and find so many more if you're interested):
Want more info? Here are a couple of interesting articles:
Feeling a little bit better about plastic? Don't get so comfortable yet...
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contains numerous toxic chemicals called adipates and phthalates ("plasticizers"), which are used to soften brittle PVC into a more flexible form. PVC is commonly used to package foods and liquids, ubiquitous in children's toys and teethers, plumbing and building materials, and in everything from cosmetics to shower curtains. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when it comes into contact with food. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recognized the chemical used to make PVC, vinyl chloride, as a known human carcinogen[7]. The European Union has banned the use of DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate), the most widely used plasticizer in PVC, and in children's toys. - Wikipedia
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6 comments:
Nice article. Been looking to switch over to a reusable stainless steel bottle, but haven't yet. Is stainless steel more recyclable than plastic? I imagine it can be melted down and used for something else?
Good article, thanks. Just got myself a bpa-free water bottle for my bike at EMS, only $8 ($9 at the online link).
James, you made me curious so I did a little poking around. I think steel is a better bet. They both take resources/fossil fuels to process, but steel won't leech and is very recyclable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel#Recycling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel
Epp! Josh and I need to check our camelbacks to make sure they are bpa free!
Great post! I have hauled out the pyrex dishes we got as wedding gifts to replace some of our tupperware. They still have plastic lids (though not the worst kind). Now I just need to replace my water bottles and our fridge water keeper!
Good question James! I learned at the USGS that stainless steel is recycled for it's chromium and nickel content.
In 2007 approximately 38% of Chromium consumed in the United States came from recycled stainless steel. And I think about 80% of secondary nickel (which is recovered from scrap metals as opposed to primary which comes from mining nickel ore) comes from recycled stainless steel, but don't remember the exact percentage.
I hadn't even thought about our fridge water, Carol. Thanks for bringing that up. That is sort of what I was getting at with my last blurb on PVC since most of our water piping is through PVC. Not very comforting.
Thanks for the info, Kelly! Working for the USGS has pumped you full of useful information, thank you for sharing it. That is really good to know that such a large percentage of secondary nickel comes from recycling rather than further mining.
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