Nalgene = Cancer !?!
April 24th, 2008 Emile
Sierra Blogging Post had and article yesterday talking about the link between Nalgene bottles and cancer. This was the first I had actually ever heard of this.
Nalgene recently announced they are pulling their hard-plastic bottles from shelves nationwide in the next few months. The polycarbonate plastic bottles, made with bishephonol A (BPA), have been found to cause cancer and increase risks of other serious health problems.
from: Sierra Blogging Post
Entry Filed under: Gear
10 Comments Add your own
1. Kat | April 24th, 2008
ahhhhhhh! so it is true. sad day.
2. Rick | April 24th, 2008
It’s not just cancer causing, it’s also known as a gender bending chemical and can cause increased amounts of estrogen production in males.
Canada is moving to ban it’s use in baby bottles immediately and will likely ban it outright eventually.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/18/bisphenol-a.html?ref=rss
Mountain Equipment Coop stopped selling the hard plastic Nalgene bottles months ago.
Wired has a small post on this as well: http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/04/its-time-to-pan.html
3. Wade | April 24th, 2008
I guess that’s why I tend to like pink after a backpacking trip….
Okay, I know I don’t have jokes….
4. Steve Sergeant | April 24th, 2008
What wilderness have you been lost in for the last couple of years? The green media has been talking about the apparent negative endocrine effects of Bisphenol-A, as found in Lexan Polycarbonate, for at least 2 years.
However, Nalgene still makes lots of bottles that aren’t made of Lexan Polycarbonate. I’ve been using their classic, milky-white, High-Density PolyEthylene (HDPE, #2) bottles for almost 20 years, and have never seen any discussion in the science press about their dangers.
Note, also, that many metal bottles have a plastic lining to prevent corrosion. Many of those plastic linings could contain, you guessed it, phthalates or Bisphenol-A.
Blaming Nalgene for harm from Lexan bottles is sort of like blaming Chevrolet for traffic accidents. Other companies make Lexan bottles, and other makes of cars get in traffic accidents.
5. The Brandon | April 24th, 2008
Gotta get cancer somehow…
6. Wade | April 25th, 2008
I think the reason why some people are just now hearing about it is because Nalgene, the industry leader in this type of product, is actually making the change away from Lexan.
7. iClimbRocks | April 27th, 2008
Thank goodness for Sigg bottles! I will miss the use of my nalgenes though….
8. John | April 29th, 2008
You know, I dont mean to sound un-caring, but people are a little too concerned about germs today. I have used nalgenes for about 4 years now, all of them, and honestly, the amount of harmfull stuff in them is so small that it wont really harm you. Plus, in my un-doctoral mind, I would think that being exposed to small amounts could build up an immunity. Maybe.
I guess its obvious that i am not concerned to much by this recent “discovery.”
we should all be sure to look into this carefully and more importantly, not worry about it.
thanks.
~John
9. Katie | April 30th, 2008
It’s frustrating when people just pass things off like “oh too bad this company sold cancer-causing commodities to me for years. maybe i’ll try their #2 bottle instead”. It’s called consumer protection - using all these synthesized chemicals in production is unnatural and should be more thoroughly tested BEFORE they sell hazardous baby bottles, etc. The company should be held responsible. We have become way too docile about our own health because of all the cancer-this cancer-that news thrown around these day. It’s not just about OUR health either; the environment is impacted too and cannot speak for itself.
And unfortunately, you cannot build up your resistance ot cancer. You just get it.
10. Erika | July 12th, 2008
I was just wondering how you would know which bottles may contain BPA because I have a couple Nalgene bottles and I have looked everywhere on them for the “ingredients” but I cannot find them!! I was also wondering if anyone knows if the times a Nalgene bottle (I know…CERTAIN ones and other companies’ too!) is refilled or used contributes to the rising in cancer. I would just really like as much information possible about this so that we can al stay healthy! Thanks!!
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