Health hazards in your water bottle

It's a darn good thing your body doesn't need those eight glasses of water a day- because it's becoming harder and harder to drink the stuff without filling up on some other cancer-causing, heart-stopping toxin. Tap water is bad enough, and I know you've already heard about the negative effects of soft plastic bottles.

But those who have shelled out big bucks for "environmentally friendly" hard plastic bottles are no better off. That's because those bottles are made from polycarbonates that often include a chemical called bisphenol A or "BPA," and research indicates it could have hormone-mimicking properties.

There was a time when these bottles were considered an environmentally responsible alternative to disposable water bottles. Ironically, it's now the environmentalists who are pushing to do away with the bottles. In many places, the bottles are even being pulled off store shelves. At least someone out there is taking action. The FDA certainly isn't.

Even after a panel of 38 researchers blasted BPA at a government-sponsored conference, the FDA refused to say "Uncle," - instead, claiming that "there has been no evidence that BPA is harmful to humans."

Um… no evidence? The panel reviewed OVER 700 PUBLISHED ARTICLES on BPA's effect on human health, and they cited numerous animal studies showing that even low doses could lead to breast and prostate cancer, obesity and hyperactivity, and reproductive problems such as infertility and miscarriage. Apparently, Americans have higher levels of BPA in their systems than those levels found to harm lab animals… so what's the FDA waiting for?

I think I know…

Fred vom Saal was one of the chief authors of the government-funded study on BPA. He accused U.S. health and environmental regulators of "pretending they're still in the dark." That's a fairly damning statement from a man who's just been paid by the government he's accusing.

Maybe if Fred had waved a wad of cash in front of their faces, it would have made a difference. You know it's no coincidence that the FDA throwing its weight behind BPA-because you know who's behind BPA: the politically powerful and ultra-rich lobby of the plastics industry.

Just what kind of money are we talking about here? I'll tell you…Nalge Nuc International (one of the most popular makers of the hard plastics) has annual sales of nearly $65 million. But it doesn't just end at water bottles. Over six million pounds of BPA is produced nearly every year in the U.S. alone, and the material is found in hundreds of products including dental sealants, food can liners, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses, and other every-day goods.

With so much cash at stake, the FDA likely believes that until they hear a burning bush telling them about the evils of BPA, "more conclusive tests" will likely be needed.

In the meantime, take it from me: If you're determined to tote your water around with you, get yourself a steel or glass container. And toss all your polycarbonate products into the trash - right on top of your faith in the FDA.