Nalgene bottles may pose health problems
By: Ashley Engar
Issue date: 3/22/04 Section: News
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Multiple turns in the dishwasher of plastics and popular water bottles distributed on campus- namely Nalgene bottles-have been linked to an increase of aneuploidy, a condition that is a major cause of miscarriage, birth defects and Down Syndrome.
In 1998, researchers at Case Western Reserve University, performing a study using mice, stumbled onto the discovery when their control data went awry.
"We found that a stronger alkaline detergent, more basic than acidic, was being used to clean the mice cages and was breaking down the plastic," Case Western geneticist and professor Patricia Hunt said.
Bisphenol A (BPA), which was released from the plastic caused by the breakdown, was unexpectedly traced back to the increase of aneuploidy in the mice.
BPA is the chemical compound that makes up the Lexan polycarbonate found in Nalgene bottles, and is known to interfere with natural hormone activity.
According to some researchers. BPA may also cause hormone-related problems such as premature puberty and weight gain, breast cancer, low sperm count and an enlarged prostate.
Senior Scott Stapelton uses his Nalgene bottle every day. He said he will continue to use it until the research is categorically proven to be true.
"There are so many risks that are potential," Stapelton said. "Before anything is proven, there needs to be a balance between worrying and living."
Last November, Nalgene submitted an official response to the study and to distributors.
According to Margaret Gregory, director of Nalgene sales and marketing, polycarbonate like that used in their product has been studied, tested and safely used for more than 40 years in products used for human consumption ranging from Nalgene bottles to baby bottles.
"In fact, use of polycarbonate is approved as safe for products that come in contact with food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other international regulatory agencies," Gregory said.
"Government agencies worldwide have spent more than four decades researching the effects of bisphenol A, and have found that BPA in plastic does not pose a risk to consumers or to the environment," Gregory said.
Freshman Victoria Pineiro, another frequent Nalgene user, agreed with the official response.
"Everything causes something," Pineiro said.
Though Hunt's study is not proven, she still recommends to be careful with plastics and keeping them in safe storage.
"When plastics look hazy or sticky, that's when it raises concern for us," Hunt said. Hunt said they will continue to study the effects of BPA and plastics.
aengar@chronicle.utah.edu