Shannon KeoughHeart disease, diabetes and cancer are rumored to be caused from drinking out of water bottles.
Studies in the past year have shown that the chemical bisphenol A-BPA-is being leached out of plastic products such as water bottles, baby bottles, pacifiers, soup cans and soda cans.
Scientists observed approximately 1,455 American adults and concluded that people with a high concentration of BPA were more likely to have heart disease and diabetes.
The government is not listening to these scientists’ studies and are continuing to produce products with the harmful substance.
“This type of research is valuable to point to potential toxins in the environment; only further studies will confirm if this is a concern or not,” Dr. Gordon Ewy, chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Az., said to abcnews.com.
Freezing water bottles, keeping water bottles in the sun and reusing water bottles are now linked to cancer.
Over time, plastic left out can break down and carcinogens, cancer-causing chemical agents, leach into the water.
“When people reuse water bottles that is when it becomes harmful,” science professor Ralph Spagnolo said.
Although these studies have been done but products containing BPA are on the market, some people are considering changing drinking habits.
“I think because of the situation I’ll still drink from water bottles, but I won’t keep them in the sun,” Dave Hickey, junior business administration major, said.
There are still ways to drink from water bottles and be safe.
Not all water bottles contain BPA; as long as the bottom of the water bottle does not have the recycle code number 7, it is most likely to be BPA free.
Try drinking out of glasses more often to lower the risks of consuming BPA.
There are several Web sites dedicated to selling products that are BPA free at rei.com, nalgenechoice.com and camelbak.com.
To support a ban by the FDA on products with BPA, go to the sites above and be concious of the bottles used for water.
“When I found out water bottles were harmful I was devastated. I only drink water out of water bottles. I feel like I’ve been lied to my whole life, I wonder now if the harmful chemicals in water bottles is why I need braces. I’m probably going to sue,” Ben Nanna, junior English major, said.
