SUPERB AIRTIGHT BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS

June 03, 2022

Introduction to BPA

So what is BPA anyway? BPA is the common abbreviation for Bisphenol A, a dysfunctional building block of several important polymers and polymer additives. BPA is also used as a key monomer in the production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastic is used in a large variety of products including water bottles and baby bottles. Epoxy resins are used in the lining of the majority of food and beverage cans including but not limited to beer cans, soup cans, baby food cans, vegetable cans, and soda cans. Clearly, BPA is a part of many products used in everyday life.

-Why the controversy surrounding BPA?

So now that we know what BPA is, why do some people say Bisphenol A should be avoided? According to testing on rats, it has been shown that BPA can act as an endocrine disruptor that mimics the rat's own hormones and can lead to adverse biological effects. Some of these biological effects have included developmental toxicity, carcinogenic effects, and possible neurotoxicity. Although no tests on humans have taken place a recent study by the Yale School of Medicine demonstrated that adverse neurological effects occur in non-human primates regularly exposed to Bisphenol A at levels equal to the EPA's maximum safe dose of 50 µg/kg/day. So while no evidence exists that BPA is harmful to humans there is a concern that long-term low dose exposure to Bisphenol A may induce chronic toxicity in humans.

-What BPA-free water bottle options exist?

One of the primary industries impacted by the BPA debate is the bottled water industry. The overwhelming majority of large re-usable plastic bottles, including 3 and 5-gallon water bottles are made from polycarbonate plastic which is marked by a #7 recycling symbol. These large polycarbonate bottles are routinely delivered to millions of homes and offices throughout the United States. So what is a person to do if they want water delivery but don't want bottles that contain BPA? Although, polycarbonate bottles are the industry standard there are some less well-known options for bottled water drinkers who are looking to avoid Bisphenol-A.

Another plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is also used to make 5-gallon bottles suitable for bottled water delivery. This plastic is marked with a #1 recycling symbol and does not contain any BPA. The PET bottles can be reused after sterilization and also offer the durability needed for repetitive water delivery. Furthermore, these BPA-free bottles weigh the same as polycarbonate bottles. The only downside with the 5-gallon PET bottles is that they are more scarce than their polycarbonate counterparts and can be more difficult to find from bottled water delivery companies.

For concerned water drinkers who want to avoid plastic bottles altogether glass bottles represent the best option on the market. Glass is totally BPA-free and will not leach into the water. Bottled water purists who are determined to err on the side of caution can now opt for glass water bottles. With the guarantee of absolute purity comes several sacrifices which include a heavier bottle and the possibility of shattering. A 5-gallon glass bottle weighs approximately 9 pounds more than a plastic 5-gallon bottle. With a glass bottle, there is also the danger of cracking or shattering the bottle which could cause bodily harm. Glass bottles are also more difficult to find than polycarbonate plastic bottles but there are some water delivery companies that do carry them.