jan 16 
Question by Seltzer addict
Send this post to a friendWhich is the better of two evils *for both body and environment: cans (BPAs) or bottles (pthalates)? I drink alot of seltzer and purchase cases at a time. I used to also buy bottled water, and have made the switch to reusable stainless steel bottles. I switched my seltzer purchases from bottle to cans, thinking that it would be both healthier and easier to recycle. Now I see that cans also leach BPAs, and am now confused as to what form of seltzer is best.
Comments (3) |  |
1. 02/20/2008 06:26:03 PM
First, the easier half of your question: Aluminum cans are 100 percent recyclable, and can be recycled again and again. In contrast, when you recycle a plastic PET bottle, instead of being made into a new beverage container, it's often made into other, less commonly recycled items such as clothing and carpet. Of course, it's best to avoid disposable beverage containers altogether where possible - but when the choice is between an aluminum can and a plastic bottle, the can is beats the bottle for sustainability.
Glass is also an excellent alternative for beverage packaging, though it's heavier than aluminum (causing higher use of transport energy) and is not as recyclable in many communities. Another way to reduce the environmental impact of your beverage purchases is to choose a beverage that was made nearby, and not imported from overseas.
The tougher half of your question is how we can compare the possible health threats posed by two different chemicals that we don’t know enough about. There have not been enough independent studies of pthalates to really know. A few studies have found that bottles made from PET plastic can leach phthalates if they’re stored for a long time, especially in a hot environment. But we don’t know where the phthalates in bottled water are coming from, it could be contaminants in the bottling plant. One study on bottled mineral water looked at bottles made from polyethylene (PE), PET, and glass. When the water was brand new, there were rare and low measurements of phthalates, but after storage for 10 weeks, all three types of containers contained measurable concentrations of four phthalates, as well as bisphenol A (BPA). Some people think that the chemicals may be leaching from the little plastic circle that's usually in the inside of the cap. It's just one study, but it is alarming.
BPA is used to line the inside of metal food and soda cans in the form of an epoxy resin and migrates from the can liner into the food or beverage. Soda and other acidic foods in cans, like canned tomatoes, are likely to contain more BPA than your seltzer. BPA mimics estrogen in the body and has been linked to a variety of problems, including obesity!
One option is to go for glass bottles (keeping in mind the little plastic circle inside the lid), or plastic but don’t store it for too long. But the best option might be to get one of those fun devices that allow you to create your own seltzer by filling the container with your filtered tap water and screwing in a CO2 canister. If you do decide to buy seltzer, take a look at the label and try to buy one that hasn't been shipped across the country (or across the world!) Transportation creates a lot of pollution.
Glass is also an excellent alternative for beverage packaging, though it's heavier than aluminum (causing higher use of transport energy) and is not as recyclable in many communities. Another way to reduce the environmental impact of your beverage purchases is to choose a beverage that was made nearby, and not imported from overseas.
The tougher half of your question is how we can compare the possible health threats posed by two different chemicals that we don’t know enough about. There have not been enough independent studies of pthalates to really know. A few studies have found that bottles made from PET plastic can leach phthalates if they’re stored for a long time, especially in a hot environment. But we don’t know where the phthalates in bottled water are coming from, it could be contaminants in the bottling plant. One study on bottled mineral water looked at bottles made from polyethylene (PE), PET, and glass. When the water was brand new, there were rare and low measurements of phthalates, but after storage for 10 weeks, all three types of containers contained measurable concentrations of four phthalates, as well as bisphenol A (BPA). Some people think that the chemicals may be leaching from the little plastic circle that's usually in the inside of the cap. It's just one study, but it is alarming.
BPA is used to line the inside of metal food and soda cans in the form of an epoxy resin and migrates from the can liner into the food or beverage. Soda and other acidic foods in cans, like canned tomatoes, are likely to contain more BPA than your seltzer. BPA mimics estrogen in the body and has been linked to a variety of problems, including obesity!
One option is to go for glass bottles (keeping in mind the little plastic circle inside the lid), or plastic but don’t store it for too long. But the best option might be to get one of those fun devices that allow you to create your own seltzer by filling the container with your filtered tap water and screwing in a CO2 canister. If you do decide to buy seltzer, take a look at the label and try to buy one that hasn't been shipped across the country (or across the world!) Transportation creates a lot of pollution.
2. 02/22/2008 04:29:35 PM
How can I get the message across to the ignorant and/or uncaring
3. 02/26/2008 04:05:43 AM
It's a very good website. I learned a lot from it.
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