Plastic Water Bottles May Make You Sick:: Chemicals Can Seep into the Water They Hold

Drinking a lot of water daily is a requirement for good health especially during the summer. Because of the many seasonal activities such as soccer, golf and baseball games; participants and spectators look for the convenience of store-bought water. This water is stored in plastic recyclable bottles.

Plastic bottles contain chemicals like Phthalates and bishpenol A. According to author Paula Baillie-Hamilton, M.D. who wrote "Toxic Overload" (Penguin, 2005) these chemicals can seep into the water.

"These toxins disrupt the endocrine system, interfering with hormonal balance to trigger symptoms like weight gain and fatigue," Baillie-Hamilton states.

Take a plastic water bottle and turn it over. Notice on the bottom there is a triangle shaped code. Here are the safest ones to look for.

PET or PETE 1
This is usually on store-bought single-serve water and is deemed safe for one-time use. Refilling these bottles may increase the risk that chemicals will seep into the water.

HDPE 2
This marks the gallon jugs and hasn't been linked to leeching of chemicals into the water. These are usually the safest for a reusable bottle. Check out Nalgene-outdoor.com for some of these.

PP5
This is plastic that is easily molded and made with fewer chemicals than other bottles. Also a good refillable bottle. Check our BackCountryGear.com for bottles made of this material.

*Did you know that there is a date stamped on the bottle of when the water was put into it? The date is stamped near the cap. Many bottles even carry a stamp stating "Best Used By..." Try to consume the water within six months of the bottling date to be safe. Toxin levels can climb to 90% in water that has been in PET bottles for over six months.

*Check for wear in bottles. These weak areas can give toxins an easy way out, says Dr. Baillie-Hamilton. To avoid this, don't refill disposable bottles that have dings or dents. If your bottle develops a weak spot while you are using it, try to pour the remaining water into another safe container. To reduce damage to bottles or exposure of the water to harmful chemicals, throw away any bottles that have been stowed in a hot car or left outside in hot weather. Hand-wash reusable bottles and air dry instead of using high-heat dishwashers.