Danger of plastics leeching from bottle into water...

hutchibk · 08-01-2009, 12:13 AM

In doing some research for a friend tonight about plastic water bottles, I found this. Thought it was important to share with everyone...

http://www.ewg.org/reports/bottledwater

"The identity of most brands in this study are anonymous. This is typical scientific practice for market-basket style testing programs. We consider these results to represent a snapshot of the market during the window of time in which we purchased samples. While our study findings show that consumers can't trust that bottled water is pure or cleaner than tap water, it was not designed to indicate pollutant profiles typical over time for particular brands. Walmart and Giant bottled water brands are named in this study because our first tests and numerous followup tests confirmed that these brands contained contaminants at levels that exceeded state standards or voluntary industry guidelines.

"The study also included assays for breast cancer cell proliferation, conducted at the University of Missouri. One bottled water brand spurred a 78% increase in the growth of the breast cancer cells compared to the control sample, with 1,200 initial breast cancer cells multiplying to 32,000 in 4 days, versus only 18,000 for the control sample, indicating that chemical contaminants in the bottled water sample stimulated accelerated division of cancer cells. When estrogen-blocking chemicals were added, the effect was inhibited, showing that the cancer-spurring chemicals mimic estrogen, a hormone linked to breast cancer. Though this result is considered a modest effect relative to the potency of some other industrial chemicals in spurring breast cancer cell growth, the sheer volume of bottled water people consume elevates the health significance of the finding. While the specific chemical(s) responsible for this cancer cell proliferation were not identified in this pilot study, ingestion of endocrine-disrupting and cancer-promoting chemicals from plastics is considered to be a potentially important health concern (Le 2008)."

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Personally, I don't buy bottled water anymore except on occasion, mostly when traveling because I don't have a choice. I prefer Fiji. Nestle brand waters tend to be pretty clean. I hate all the plastic, so I have a swiss made SIGG aluminum water bottle that I refill everytime I leave the house. I filter with solid core filters (Clear2O water filter pitcher) for now, and am planning on an Amway/Quixtar water treatment system on our kitchen sink as soon as we can afford it.

AlaskaAngel · 08-01-2009, 08:57 AM

Thanks, Brenda. I need to be more diligent about this, as I drink plain seltzer water year-round and I haven't been buying it in glass containers....

Our water supply happens to be rain-catch here, and until this last year our redwood tank was just fine for that. But as it was getting older it got leakier and we finally had to put a liner in it. I was very reluctant because of the plastics issues. It was very difficult to find a company that sold any tank liner that we felt would be okay, and when we did it was spendy, but worth it.

A.A.

StephN · 08-01-2009, 02:41 PM

Dear AA -
Off the plastic warnings subject, but what is INSIDE the plastic can have other bad effects.

Just a hint about the seltzer water. My great aunt and uncle drank some every night before going to bed. I assume this was after they cleaned their teeth, and I believe the containers were glass.

They both lost all their teeth due to the corrosive effect on their tooth enamel. Mind you this was in the 60's - 70's, but when I mentioned it to my dentist in the 90's, he said to avoid fizzy drinks as much as possible.

Maybe Harrie can weigh in on this.

AlaskaAngel · 08-01-2009, 03:44 PM

Hi StephN,

Wikipedia says no but they aren't necessarily dental experts. This source says the risk is minimal with waters that don't have minerals or sweeteners added:

http://www.universityscience.ie/page...inyBubbles.php

but I'm still searching.

I have been choosing only no-mineral, no-sweetener seltzers and for those who pickle up about sour things, don't look, but I add either organic lemon or organic lime juice to it with ice. In my mind this was supposed to result in some weight loss since it replaced such pleasures as beer and Squirt for me, but alas, no such luck. I try to remember how huge I would be if I hadn't made the change to plain seltzer, but it isn't all that comforting... I don't drink more than a glass a day.

Thanks for mentioning this.

A.A.

StephN · 08-01-2009, 05:37 PM

Good to add to the other info, A.A.

Actually, I think what the relatives drank was mostly Club Soda, and maybe there is some difference. Haven't looked it up.

Yes, the weight thing is hard when we need our thirst quenched. I still have an organic ginger ale once in a while. I used to like Barq's root beer, but gave that up when I slashed back the sugar intake.

harrie · 08-02-2009, 11:56 PM

It is best to avoid anything, consumed chronically, that contains a significant level of acid. This includes putting the lemon slices in your water. You may notice, after drinking this type of water too often, teeth may become a bit more cold sensitive. This is due to the erosive action.
Look on the labels. Anything with asorbic acid in it, you run the risk of erosion.
Speaking of plastic water bottles, I think it is even more dangerous to have it in a heated envoirnment such as sitting in your car.
I use to drink a lot of water from those plastic bottles. Not anymore. A while ago at the health foods store I picked up one of those "green" bottles. It has the prettiest design on the outside and it is made of stainless steel.

Joan M · 08-05-2009, 09:21 AM

Lately I've been switching liquids in plastic containers and cartons to glass containers when I get them home from the supermarket.

Joan

Rich66 · 08-06-2009, 03:10 PM

"switching liquids in plastic containers and cartons to glass containers"

Probably good if no other choice but, me thinks the junk is already in the liquid.

harrie · 08-06-2009, 11:14 PM

That makes sense Rich.

StephN · 08-07-2009, 04:32 AM

On the To Transfer or Not To Transfer problem. I read a recommendation that it is a good idea to transfer anything that will sit around in plastic for any length of time. Since these days practically EVERYthing except pickles and pasta sauces comes in plastic containers, there are some foods I will transfer.

An aside: I used to buy Newman's Own salad dressings partly because they were in glass bottles, but they have also switched so it is Annie's, Brianna's or make my own.

Karen Wheel · 08-07-2009, 10:47 AM

I have been doing a combined approach to my “cure” and treatment program – the medical doctors drug and chemo approach and combining it with holistic idea and diet.

One of the biggest things I have read – and most all the books agree – that water or the right water is really important. Many suggest buying a water purifier (or distiller) and most all say that bottled water isn’t recommended. Especially bottled water with added flavor or sweeteners…. We cancer fighters need to just say “no”.

Many have suggested a water purification system – for your house – as the skin is one of the largest organs in the body --- and well, it absorbs when we even shower… and wash our hands. So, I am looking into this for our new house we have in design stage. But for now, I am drinking spring water – taken fresh from the spring (here in my small town in Italy) and taken home in 5 gallon (liter) glass bottles. This was my compromise for now… but I feel great and feel strange every time I drink out of a plastic bottle as it really makes me think.

And, for the argument that you change the water from plastic to glass in your house – well, picture this – I thought of that too – but when we were in Venice a few months ago, I got a great “picture” of this and forever changed my mind… It was hot, probably 85 degrees …. And we were walking along the sea front and saw a bunch of barges entering the city’s waterways (everything goes on boats – no cars in Venice) but there were stacks of packages of water in plastic bottles --- sitting baking in the heat --- and then being off loaded from these barges to go to local restaurants and markets …. It hit me --- POW … this water has already been changed from the original format into something that is dangerous to drink. You see the point, you don’t know where the bottled water has been, and at what temperature since it was bottled in the plastic. That’s why they say not to drink the water from plastic after it has been heated up in your car as the plastic gives off toxic chemicals --- and we drink them unknowingly.

Toxic overload is what most holistic approaches agree is the main cause for cancer… if we need to battle it – we need to clean up the toxic parts of our bodies and cleanse it and drink safe water….

My two cents…. Karen

Suggested reading:
Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor - Kris Carr
Cancer Battleplan Sourcebook - David Frahm

Age – 44 pre- menopausal
No children – no pregnancies
2-09 – Biopsy – Cancer
3-09 – Partial mastectomy Right – 3 nodes taken but not involved
Tumor results:
1.5 cm – Stage 1
Her-2 3+ - Estrogen positive 80% - Progestin 10%
Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Started Herceptin (for 1 year every 21 days)
4-09 – 6-09 Chemo – 9 weeks of Navelbine
7-09 - 30 sessions of radiation (midstream now!)

hutchibk · 08-07-2009, 03:21 PM

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever leave a plastic water bottle in the car in the heat and then drink out of it.

Better yet, avoid plastic bottled water and tap water (apx 260 toxic contaminants...chlorine, flouride, etc http://toxicology.suite101.com/artic...s_in_tap_water) at all costs, when possible. That leaves very few choices, but I feel good about my Clear2O water pitcher with a solid core for now...