Hard-plastic polycarbonate bottles raise questions

Ever seen those big plastic beverage bottles that are used when working out a lot? They are practically indestructible, but some people are worried the bottles could pose a health hazard. These plastic containers are made with bisphenol A. The BPA compound is known to disrupt hormonal systems due to its mimicking nature.

Products made with this chemical are said to be harmless by the FDA and plastics industry. But others believe the small amounts used in bottles such as Nalgene could be an issue after all. The claim comes from evidence citing that Americans are exposed to more BPA than what's already considered harmful for lab animals.

Considering the publicity lead has gotten due to product composition, bisphenol A could become the next whipping boy. Companies may want to consider safer alternatives in the future. Some stores, such as Mountain Equipment, may decide to halt restocking the popular bottles. We'll keep an eye on this to see how the issue develops.