Bottled Water:

1
Bottled Water

• Risk Factors from Human Consumption and the
  Environment
• Delile Langeni, Ph.D. student
• Walden University
• PH 8165-2
• Instructor Dr. Raymond Thron
• Spring, 2009

2
The Health Risks of Plastic Containers

• Not limited to just bottled water
• Food containers, baby bottles, plastic wrap, 5
  gallon water containers, sports squeeze bottles,
  Styrofoam, etc
• Although the FDA has approved all plastics
  currently being used to package food, they might
  not all be safe
• The release of harmful toxins usually occurs with
  prolonged storage, or increased storage
  temperatures.

3
Good Plastics vs. Bad Plastics

• Bad Plastics
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Poly Carbonate, which contains bisphenol-A (BPA)
• Better Plastics
• Polyethylene terephtalate (PET or PETE)
• Polypropylene

4
Polyvinly Chloride (PVC)

• Considered to be most hazardous consumer product
  ever created
• Cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging,
  children's toys, industrial piping
• Mercury, dioxins, phthalates, toxins can leech
  from PVC
• Irreversible life long threats, which can cause
  cancer and harm immune and reproductive systems

5
Polystyrene (PS)

• Styrofoam is one form of polystyrene
• Common household product which can leech styrene
  into food
• Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg
  cartons, carry out containers
• Human carcinogen, which is hazardous for
  consumption

6
Poly Carbonate - BPA

• Contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol-A (BPA)
• Used mostly in baby bottles and reusable sports
  bottles
• Poses a risk of improper brain development in
  infants and children
• Not recommended for mothers that are pregnant or
  nursing
• BPA interfere with hormone levels
• People with high levels of BPA have higher risk
  of developing uterine fibrosis, breast cancer,
  and prostate cancer

7
Better Plastics PET/PETE

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), is
  safer to use
• Easily recycled
• Commonly found in water bottles, soda bottles,
  salad dressing, etc
• Does not contain BPA, but studies have shown to
  still leech harmful toxins if kept on a shelf for
  long periods of time

8
To Recycle or not to Recycle?

• When recycling, look for the triangle with the
  1
• More and more communities are starting to accept
  2, 4, and 5 for recycling
• 3 and 6 very difficult to recycle and is bad
  for the environment

9
Why Bottled Water?

• Convenient on the go
• Tastes better
• Unsure about the quality of tap water

10
Why not tap water?

• Drinking water in the U.S. is some of the safest
  in the world
• 90 of Americans are serviced by public water
  systems
• Quality regulated under the Safe Drinking Water
  Act and many other regulations

11
Alternatives to harmful plastics

• Tap water with water filter
• Consume bottled water (with the proper recycle
  code) shortly after being bottled by the
  manufacturer
• Aluminum or stainless steel water bottles
• Try to heat food in containers not containing
  plastic

12
Conclusion

• Release of harmful toxins can lead to serious
  health risks
• Vigilantly seek out plastics which are better for
  you to use
• Try to use only PET/PETE type plastics
• Use other alternative methods whenever possible
• Save the environment..RECYCLE

13
Questions
14
References

• Kotz, Deborah. Study of Chemical in Plastic
  Bottles Raises Alarm. U.S. News and Report.
  April 10, 2009 http//health.usnews.com/articles/h
  ealth/living-well-usn/2008/04/16/study-of-chemical
  -in-plastic-bottles-raises-alarm.html
• Olson, Cathe. Plastic water bottle safety.
  VegFamily The Magazine for Vegan Family Living.
  http//www.vegfamily.com/whole-family/plastic-wate
  r-bottle-safety.htm
• Colbert, MD, Don. Avoid Plastic Water Bottles.
  Alkaline ionized water, water and health. March
  7, 2009 http//www.wellspringwellbeing.com/2009/03
  /avoid-plastic-water-bottles/
• Howard, Brian Clark. What do Recycling Symbols
  on Plastics Mean? Green Homes.
  http//www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/re
  cycling-symbols-plastics-460321
• McRandle, P.W. Dangers of Plastic Water
  Bottles. Alkaline ionized water, water and
  health. March 15, 2009 http//www.wellspringwellbe
  ing.com/2009/03/dangers-of-plastic-water-bottles/
• http//www.pvcfree.org/
• http//www.epa.gov/Region3/radio-text/podcast_Tap_
  vs_Bottle.html