For a long time I have been hearing and reading about the dangers of plastic water bottles. How we shouldn’t be using them over and over again and putting them in our dishwasher etc. But how exactly am I supposed to clean my water bottles if not for the dishwasher?
I was mostly ignoring it. I am not an alarmist. I figured that my Nalgene bottles were probably relatively safe. Right?
This morning I happened to catch a segment on the Today show where the expert was saying to NEVER use Nalgene bottles, that there was no safe exposure level. My husband happened to be standing here getting ready to leave.
He went into the kitchen, gathered them all up, and threw them away. (Or put them into a tied bag to recycle or whatever we can do with them. Another thing to add to my list of things to obsessively research the options and simultaneously be paralyzed them.) We have a lot of them, probably close to 20.
So now I have been forced into action. Do I buy SIGG or Klean Kantene? I have both websites open and am clicking back and forth. Are there any others that people are using?
Should I tell my kids to just drink from the faucet? What?
I love my sigg! I tell so many people about them that I have been asked if I am working on commission.
If you can find them at a local store (Whole Foods and Wegmans have them around my place) they are much cheaper than ordering them online– over $5 less and no shipping.
Comment by dcfullest — April 9, 2008 @ 10:07 am
I think the hose it better.
Comment by Wendy — April 9, 2008 @ 11:32 am
I seriously just put 4 Nalgene bottles in my amazon cart this morning and then decided to do a little more research before checking out. So, thanks Chris! Good timing!
Comment by Karly — April 9, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
Oh, and I would go with the Sigg I think. But only because I hate when companies spell “C” words with a “K.” That’s just dumb.
Chris says: I HATE that too!
Comment by Karly — April 9, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
We are torn on this issue as well. So I reuse Snapple bottles for our water in the car. I put the kids’ water in their sippy cups and hope for the best.
Please let us know what your research reveals.
Comment by PollyS — April 9, 2008 @ 12:37 pm
The faucet is probably too dangerous. I don’t know about you but our water lines are plastic.
Chris says: Seriously I think my kids will just have to go cup their hands outside in the rain from now on.
Comment by The Lazy Organizer — April 9, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
We drink water in glasses from the faucet when we are home but I love the Sigg bottles for when we are out. There are so many different patterns that your kids will be thrilled to pick their own and you’ll be able to tell whose is whose. The Foogoo straw cup is also great by Thermos which might work for your younger kids.
Comment by DIVRCHK — April 9, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
What is Nalgene? What is a Sigg? And what are you talking about?
Comment by Dara — April 9, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/environment/20071221/7/2387
This article seems to clear up everyone’s questions/concerns. I guess wrapping yourself in plastic isn’t a good way to keep germs away anymore!! LOL
Comment by Dara — April 9, 2008 @ 6:42 pm
I have read a lot on this topic. I have found that plastic #5-7-9 are the worst, nalgene is #7 I think. Anyway the plastics release chemicals into the liquid that is stored in the bottle–even more if the bottle is hot such as leaving a water bottle in the car or adding hot liquid to the bottle. I bought a thermos type water bottle (stainless steel) that has a drinking spout–not the coffee tumbler type. I really like this bottle–it keeps my water cooler much longer and no chemical (that I know of–yet!) I got minw at Wallgreens for $18. If you are interested in health topics go to http://www.mercola.com–this site had lots of unknown info that you may find useful or just plain scarry!
Comment by Kim — April 9, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
I recently received the latest copy of “Nutrition Action” Health Letter. It’s a small but very popular health magazine printed monthly that I really like reading — no ads — and I liken it to the Consumer Reports of health info.
The latest copy had an article on this very topic. Honestly, when I read in the article that Nalgene bottles should not be used, I thought of you immediately because you had mentioned in your blog that your kids use them.
If you follow the link below, it will take you to the Nutrition Action website. There is a link in the upper left corner of the website for information about BPA, the bad agent in these plastics, and advice about what to do.
http://www.cspinet.org/nah/index.htm
I highly recommend you try the magazine (it’s all of 16 pages long this month) as it gives you really well-rounded information about health issues and recommendations about what grocery store products are healthful and which are not.
Good luck!
Comment by RM — April 9, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
You know if you are really worried about what your children are putting into their bodies. Yes plastic bottles are not the best, but is metal really that much better? How many medical studies have been done on metal vs. plastic? Are milks, waters, and a lot other of our day to day stuff we use are not in metal bottles. I feel more comfortable having my child use plastic Nalgene bottles then a metal bottle that I don’t know exactly what type metal or metals used. We do not wash our bottle in the dishwasher we hand was them. So use your best judgment and make the decision for your family.
p.s Who is to say that the people on the today show was not trying to push a new trend?
Comment by patti — April 9, 2008 @ 11:38 pm
Man, I thought Nalgene stuff had already been shown NOT to leak any plasticy-ness into the water, even when warm! Now I am soooo confused. We may as well start licking puddles we find outside, like the cat does.
Comment by Brigitte — April 10, 2008 @ 5:00 am
We love our Sigg bottles. Sigg has a pretty nice bottle brush. Unfortunately, can’t put them in the dishwasher. The handwashing has been an adjustment for me.
Comment by sharon — April 10, 2008 @ 7:52 am
Also, they are a little pricey. But I figure it’s cheaper than buying juice boxes every week.
Comment by sharon — April 10, 2008 @ 7:58 am
There are other types of Nalgene bottles out there that are made with non-leaching #2 plastic http://www.reusablebags.com/store/nalgene%AE-hdpe-wide-mouth-reusable-bottle-green-p-1026.html
I love the Sigg bottles as well!
Comment by Sara — April 10, 2008 @ 8:43 am
Nalgene just game out with BPA free and phalate free bottles. http://www.nalgenechoice.com/everyday.html
Comment by DIVRCHK — April 10, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
This is probably a silly comment, and I know it isn’t feasible when you’re on the go, but are your kids old enough to drink water from the tap in actual GLASS drinking glasses? It seems to me that is a fairly safe (chemically speaking, that is) option. Until they drop them and break them. I think you could give the small children those small juice glasses (easier to hold). Clearly, I have no children of my own! ha!
Comment by Regina — April 10, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
What about our plastic cups we wash and reuse for our children is there something to that as well. Just like you shuld never microwave in anthing plastic.
Comment by Anonymous — April 13, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
Come on people! This does not need to be so difficult. We just use recycled paper cups and paper plates!
Chris says: Well, except that they end up in a landfill
We need to have some sort of portable water containers for all the sports we do all summer long.
Comment by Elizabeth — April 21, 2008 @ 12:07 pm
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