Nalgene Pulls Bottles over Safety Concerns

The debate about the safety of Nalgene bottles and containers made with bisphenol-A took a major turn last week.

Nalge Nunc International, the company that manufactures Nalgene bottles, announced it will pull all bottles made from BPA from stores and discontinue making any bottles with the chemical. According to a story in the AP, the U.S. government's national Toxicology Program has evidence that possibly  links the chemical--which is used in many plastics--to changes in the brain, onset of early puberty, and possible cancer risks.

We've blogged previously on concerns about Nalgene bottle safety here and here. A USA Today article last fall noted that BPA and phthalates are incredibly widespread, and that most people in North America have concentrations of these powerful chemicals in their bodies:

"Nearly every American has been exposed. A 2000 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found phthalates in the urine of 75% of people tested. CDC research has shown that 95% of Americans have detectable levels of bisphenol A in their bodies."

According to statements on Nalgene's website, the company is discontinuing use of all BPA plastic, and plans to introduce new bottles using Tritan copolyester, which does not contain BPA. Outdoor retailer REI is cooperating with the move and is pulling all bottles containing BPA from its shelves. According to spokesperson Megan Behrbaum, REI is making no statement on the safety of BPA bottles, but pulled the bottles because "we had seen increasing requests from customers for alternatives to polycarbonate bottles," she said. "This move will reduce confusion," she said. You can read a detailed article on water bottle choices at this REI web page.

Canadian gear retailer Mountain Equipment Co-op pulled BPA plastic bottles from its shelves in December. Last week, Wal-Mart Canada and other Canadian retailers announced they were pulling all BPA-based food and beverage containers, including baby bottles and sipping cups.

Nalgenes have long been an iconic piece of equipment for hikers. For those of you looking for alternatives to plastic, investigate Kleen Kanteen stainless steel bottles and SIGG aluminum. While Kleen Kanteens are not coated, SIGG bottles are. A document available from SIGG asserts that that the coatings on their bottles leached no BPA in tests.

Have thoughts on plastic safety and Nalgene's decision? Post a comment.