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Nadine Wimmer reportingA federal study is underway to look at possible health problems from a product many of us use every day. In fact, water bottles have been a concern for a long time.
It's not the water itself. Actually, it's what we carry the water around in that's causing concern. Many would consider carrying water to be part of a healthy habit, but the concern is the plastic container and a chemical it contains.
A group of students studying finals told us they keep water on hand to keep refreshed. Marcela White said, "When I study, I have to have something to drink, it helps me refresh and take a break."
Ageo Garcia said, "I think that when you're studying, somehow you need a lot of moisture, I don't know."
Americans consume 8-billion gallons of bottled water a year. But many plastic containers contain bisphenol A, a chemical that has been shown to affect hormones in some animal tests.
Dan Tessier, a toxicologist at the University of Chicago, said, "The effects are primarily reproductive and fertility effects in both male and female organisms."
How do you know which bottles are most at risk? The key is on the bottom. Inside the triangle you'll see a number from one to seven. Most water bottles are a one; chemically, that's not considered a risk. It's the Nalgene containers, with a seven on the bottom, that contain bisphenol A.
But the FDA and plastics industry say we're talking about such low levels, there is no health danger. Dr. Gilbert Ross, with The American Council on Science and Health, says, "The toxic effects on rats were done at levels that are thousands of times higher than we are exposed to in the environment."
Still, scientists worry even low levels can be harmful. That's of concern for those who use plastic baby bottles, since heating them is thought to make the chemicals seep out even more.
The government should release its study in a few weeks. In the meantime, some people are going back to glass, as long as it doesn't have lead in it.
E-mail: nwimmer@ksl.com
