About Plastics and Why We Should Use Stainless Steel Water Bottles
About Plastics
Most plastics are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource extracted and processed using energy-intensive techniques that destroy fragile ecosystems. Plastic packaging – especially the ubiquitous plastic bag – is an enormous source of landfill waste and is regularly eaten by numerous marine and land animals, to fatal consequences. Plastic can sit in landfills for thousands of years before breaking down to smaller pieces of plastic.
In terms of health risks, the evidence is growing that chemicals leached from plastics used in cooking and food/drink storage are harmful to human health. The most disturbing of these are hormone (endocrine) disrupters, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), which can stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Exposure to BPA at a young age can cause genetic damage, and BPA has been linked to recurrent miscarriage in women. The health risks of plastic are significantly amplified in children, whose immune and organ systems are developing and are more vulnerable. The manufacture of plastic, as well as its destruction by incineration, pollutes air, land and water and exposes workers to toxic chemicals, including carcinogens. The evidence of health risks from certain plastics is increasingly appearing in established, peer-reviewed scientific journals.
There are seven types of plastics:
1 PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) – soft drink, juice, water, beer, salad dressing, detergent, etc containers (leaches phthalates that causes cancer and is linked to kidney, liver, spleen, bone formation and body weight issues).
2 HDPE (high-density polyethylene) – milk, water, just, garbage bags, yogurt containers (considered safe)
3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – toys, pipes/tubes, food and non-food packaging (leaches with negative effects as PET and is banned from use in children plastic toys)
4 LDPE (low-density polyethylene) – plastic wraps, bread and food bags, produce bags (considered safe)
5 PP (polypropylene) – yogurt, medicine, Rubbermaid, baby bottles (considered safe)
6 PS (polystyrene) – styrofoam, egg cartons, disposible cups/bowls/cutlery (leaches and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, long term exposure causes brain and nervous system effects, issues with liver, kidney and stomach)
7 Other – includes anything not in the above. Some can be good and some can be bad (polycarbonates are very bad as they leach BPA; whereas corn starch bags are a biodegradable bio-based plastic which is safe).
Rule of thumb for choosing and using plastics:
Choose #5 (PP-polypropylene) whenever possible but #1, #2 and #4 are acceptable for single use items.
What about Glass?
Glass is great. Healthy, safe, clean however very breakable.
What about Aluminum?
Some studies have showed that possible connection between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease when autopsies of the brains of Alzheimer’s patients revealed higher than normal concentrations of aluminum. Although it is generally believed that the metal is harmless to human health, a role for aluminum in Alzheimer’s disease has been suggested. Aluminum is also known to alter the activity of several key enzymes in the central nervous system. There are also some studies showing elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease in areas where there is high concentration of aluminum in drinking water. Exposure to aluminum from cooking utensils, baking powder, deodorants, or antacids is not sufficient to cause the disease. These studies provide some evidence that potential links between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease exist, but this area requires continued research efforts.
There are numerous water bottles made from aluminum which is relatively strong, unbreakable and easy to use, however all aluminum water bottles are lined with an epoxy resin of some sort. Epoxy resins are basically a plastic coating that prevents the aluminum from coming into contact with your food items. Such coatings are found in canned foods including canned fish, soup, meats, vegetables, etc.
Why Stainless Steel is Best for Water Bottles
Stainless steel is a mix of different metals: iron, chromium and nickel. Iron is essential in a human diet. Chromium also is healthy for humans as long as the daily intake is less than 200mg (so it’s safe to cook 4 meals in a stainless steel pot per day). Though not good for your body, nickel prevents rusting. Very little nickel leaches, say when you cook with a stainless steel pot and the pot is heated – so little that scientists and medical professionals consider it absolutely safe except for those with nickel allergies.
There are two types of food grade stainless steel: #201 and #304
#201 is also known as 18/0 which measures the content of chromium/nickel. As the nickel content is low, it is more likely to rust, bend, tarnish/dull and be softer.
#304 is known as 18/8 and is like your good cutlery which lasts longer because it’s a higher quality, rust resistant, shiny and harder thus more durable.
The manufacturing of stainless steel is most environmentally friendly compared to aluminum and plastic – using less water, less energy, less processing. The recycling of stainless steel is also more economically and eco-friendly compared to aluminum and plastic.
Stainless steel water bottles do not require a coating as stainless steel is inert and does not leach. Stainless steel is the best option for reusable water bottles. Grade #304 for 18/8 stainless steel is our choice for Fill Your Own BPA free stainless steel water bottles.
