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Bottled Up?
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This week, The Weekly Beet reports on a pretty SIGGnificant cancer causing agent called Bisphenol A. Mary Kent pours out her Nalgene and fills up with the latest and greatest in water bottles!
 What started as a small company in 1908 responsible for the perfect eating and drinking containers used by the Swiss Army, Sigg Switzerland, founded by Ferdinand Sigg, has now blossomed into one of the hottest, eco-friendly companies on the planet. Coming in chic metallic colors with artsy, funky designs, Sigg's 'must have' water bottle has definitely come along way from it's start along the front lines! But, it isn't just the artistic flare that has Sigg selling it's durable, unbreakable water bottles off the shelf! With the recent exposure of Lexan plastic water bottles, or Polycarbonate #7, leaching carcinogenic chemicals into the ingredients held within the container, it seems that Sigg's aluminum bottle is just the alternative that environmentally conscious consumers are seeking. The interior coating of the Sigg bottle has been thoroughly tested to ensure 0.0% leaching and currently exceeds the current standards of the FDA, which let's be honest, does a really slack job in monitoring the safety of these chemicals now being found to leach from plastic. But, luckily, Steve Wasik, CEO of Sigg, has stated that "Very thorough migration testing in laboratories around the world is conducted regularly and has consistently shown SIGG aluminum bottles to have no presence of lead, phthalates, Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol B (BPB) or any other chemicals which scientists have deemed as potentially harmful." Now, that's what we call unBEETable!
Other plastics to be on the look out for that have the potential to damage our bodies are #3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), which contains di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine disruptor, #6 Polystyrene (PS), which contains styrene, another possible endocrine disruptor, and obviously, #7 Polycarbonate, which contains the hormone disruptor known as Bisphenol A. But, the most controversial of the moment is # 7 Polycarbonate and its leaching agent, Bisphenol A, better known as BPA. With 6 million pounds produced each year, BPA is found in the plastic that is used to make baby bottles, water bottles, kitchen utensils, storage containers, and travel mugs. The problem is that when the plastic is exposed to heat, acid, alcohol, harsh detergents, age, and microwaving, BPA begins to leak into the foods it is supposedly meant to be 'safe-guarding.'
Here's why we're steering clear of BPA. Bisphenol A has been linked to:
With BPA everywhere, here are few suggestions that we can all do to limit our exposure:
 - Throw out all hard, plastic water bottles and get a stainless steel one like Sigg, Klean Kanteen, or Camelbak. Fill up with reverse osmosis water at the health food store or with purified water from the tap.
- If you eat leftovers, store food in glass containers. Toss the tupperware.
- The lining of canned foods and beverages contain BPA. Canned beers included! Best to get drinks in bottles and fresh, whole produce.
- Get rid of plastic cooking utensils and opt for wooden, metal, or glass.
And, if you just can't seem to let go of your tupperware, click here for some tips on what to do to keep BPA at bay! But, really, we should all be educated on this harmful carcinogen and it starts with a little smarts in our bottle selection!
Don't bottle up with polycarbonate! Click here to find a Sigg near you! Don't miss a Beet. Stay tuned for next week.
Love,
Mary Kent
PS. MK is wearing nail polish by Zoya and Sicilian bracelet found at Finleaf. Her top is her favorite and unfortunately a secret.
PPS. Click here to receive a discount on Gaia's own Flower Essences.
PPPS. Check out NANCY GOMEZ AND MICHELLE VAN KEMPEN on Ladies Who Launch.
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Copyright ©2008 The Weekly Beet
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