That's Fit

I'm very particular about what I strap to the outside of my backpack. I don't want anything heavy swinging around to distract my cadence, especially when I'm peeling off significant miles. Gear strapped needs to be lightweight and of the utmost necessity (e.g. tarp, hat, suntan lotion).

Bethany over at DIY Life recently highlighted a new, intriguing product that fits my ultralight hiking standards and makes for a greener footprint, too. The new LightCap 200 by SolLight is a 2.6 oz cap that screws onto any standard wide mouth water bottle to create a solar-powered lantern. No more lantern batteries to carry, no dripping candles to burn. Four SuperBright LEDs offer six hours of light on a full charge. Unscrew the cap from the bottle and you've scored a mini-flashlight, too. The cap costs $19.95 -- photo from www.sollight.com.

The arrival of this new product couldn't be more timely. By now you've likely read about heightened concern surrounding water bottles (e.g., Nalgenes) and other products containing the controversial chemical BPA (bisphenol A). BPA is linked to a host of ailments in animal studies. Major retailers are shunning some BPA-tainted products, and Nalgene amazingly announced last week they will no longer be manufacturing water bottles with BPA. Turning your old BPA water bottle into a solar-powered lantern is a good solution. I know I'd be willing to snap this solar cap on my pack.

The last couple weeks were 'bad news' weeks for the controversial chemical BPA (bisphenol A) used in products such as baby bottles, polycarbonate water bottles (e.g., Nalgenes) and the lining of canned goods. The National Toxicology Program and the Canadian government have raised red flags over its safety, and many large retailers are pulling BPA-laden products from shelves. Then came the big surprise -- Nalge Nunc International Corp. backed down from strong consumer/market pressure and officially announced they would remove BPA from their Nalgene water bottles,.

After this move, I figured somebody would slap the maker-of-everything-Nalgene with a lawsuit. This past Tuesday, the first consumer class action lawsuit was filed -- by a California mom. Lani Felix-Lozano, mother of two daughters ages 11 and 13, alleges Nalgene continues to claim BPA is safe after a multitude of animal studies have linked the chemical to hormone disruptions, infertility, early puberty and cancer.

The lawsuit focuses on the premise Nalgene dowplayed the risks of BPA. On the company's website, Nalgene cites the Food and Drug Administration's stance that BPA is safe, but fails to cite many other studies revealing BPA's risks. Could you just imagine Nalgene's tremendous liability if Felix-Lozano wins this lawsuit? I'd hazard a guess a large majority of teens, young adults and middle-aged fitness fans own more than one colorful Nalgene made with BPA. I already recycled my evidence and have opted for BPA-free hydration instead -- but I think there's one lone, never-used Nalgene soldier rolling around the corner of my bedroom.

Anti-bisphenol A (BPA) consumers are shouting so loud, the manufacturing king of the popular Nalgene water bottle is finally listening. Consumers are snapping their wallets shut to BPA water bottles, and major Canadian retailers, the likes of WalMart Canada and Sears Canada, are pulling the BPA plug. It's looking like the market has forced Nalge Nunc International's hand to pull the chemical.

Nalge Nunc International announced today it will substitute BPA-free water bottles to replace its Nalgene Outdoor line, made with the controversial chemical. Over the next few months, bisphenol A-containing Nalgenes will be pulled from stores. The announcement is hardly out of the blue. The National Toxicology Program just stated concern over BPA's link to changes in behavior and the brain, early puberty and possible precancerous conditions in the prostate and breast in animal studies. Canada is likely poised to declare BPA toxic.

I'm not surprised by Nalgene's official PR dance surrounding the issue. The company's GM stated Nalgene believes their BPA-containing products are safe -- the new move is in response to customers requesting BPA-free alternatives. Environmental groups have been alarmed about BPA for years. Multiple animal studies link BPA to a host of ailments. Yet in the end, money talks.

As Bethany reported yesterday, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) is raising a red flag over the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) used in polycarbonate plastics. BPA is commonly found in hard plastic water bottles (e.g., Nalgene), plastic baby bottles, canned foods, dental sealants and other products. Unless you're living off the land and drink directly from a well, it's pretty much stuff we all use. BPA is connected with precancerous tumors, urinary problems and early puberty in animals. It's a known endocrine disrupter.

After hearing NTP's report I wondered, "What's happening over at Health Canada?" I previously reported the Canadian government's chemical review program has been testing BPA -- and in a surprising move last December, Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-Op (kinda like our country's REI) swept BPA-containing food and beverage containers off their shelves. That bold move garnered serious public attention. It prompted me to run out and purchase two BPA-free water bottles.

According to this NYT article, the word on the street is Canada is likely poised to declare BPA a toxic chemical. Rick Smith, the director of Environmental Defence, a Canadian group advocating against BPA, succinctly stated, "If the government issues a finding of toxic, no parent in their right mind will be using products made with this chemical." The tidal wave against BPA is growing -- over the last couple days major Canadian retailers such as Sears, Home Depot and Wal-Mart have removed some BPA-containing items from their shelves. I suspect lobbying for the removal of BPA, and staying away from the chemical until it's forced out of products, will be a no-brainer for many Canadians. Is America next?

Environmental groups have been warning us about the risks of BPA -- a compound commonly found in plastic goods -- for years. The FDA says it has found no reason to ban or restrict its use so far, but a government research study done by the National Toxicology Program agreed with previous studies -- in lab animals, small doses of BPA does lead to precancerous prostrate tumors. Not only that, the chemical also causes urinary problems and early puberty in the animals.

Perhaps most alarming, BPA is found in popular brand name baby bottles, as well as the lining of cans and bottles of formula. It's also used in food containers, plastic water bottles, and dental sealants.

Sandy over at our sister site Parent Dish recently wrote a post about how to tell if your plastic is a safe one. If your product is hard and clear, chances are it contains BPA. You can also flip it over and look at the bottom. If its stamped with a 3,6, or 7, it's not safe for use. The numbers 1 and 5, however, are concerned safe for single use.

I often bought organic baby food for our babies. We also worried about all the plastics surrounding them. While just last month the Food and Drug Administration reported, "It's not clear what effect, if any, phthalates (a plastic additive) have on health" -- a new, February 2008 study in Pediatrics reported baby care products are possible sources of infant phthalate exposure. They also state young infants may be more vulnerable to developmental and reproductive toxicity of phthalates. No doubt the dangers of phthalates is big news these days, and chemical-conscious consumers are throwing more and more money at chemical-free goods for their newborn bundles of joy.

Retailers are listening. Toys "R" Us has announced it will not sell baby products containing phthalates by the end of 2008 and Wal-Mart Stores has placed a similar demand on its suppliers. From organic cribs, mattresses and chemical-free baby carriers to stainless-steel sippy cups and shatterproof glass bottles, green baby alternatives are a big buck market.

Case in point, while we're past the baby years, we just bought two BPA-free water bottles by CamelBak for our son's lunch bag. I'm also looking for a couple of large SIGG aluminum water bottles, but they were pretty picked through at our local REI, so I'm waiting for a restock. In a previous post, I reported Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-Op (similar to REI in the U.S.) pulled polycarbonate (BPA) water bottles from their shelves last December.

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.

Julie's Health Club recently wrote about the rising health concern over polycarbonate plastic (e.g., Nalgene). I first heard the buzz a couple months back when an acquaintance recommended my kids stop drinking from polycarbonate plastic water bottles. She said research is linking this type of plastic to hormone problems. My son sips from a kid-sized Nalgene every day during kindergarten snack.

Now Globe and Mail reports Canada's largest specialty outdoor-goods retailer, Mountain Equipment Co-op, is pulling polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers from its shelves over health concerns. Polycarbonate plastic is made from bisphenol A (BPA), derived from petrochemicals and said to mimic estrogen. Independent studies have tied this chemical to illnesses potentially triggered by hormone disruption. Bisphenol A-makers state their research proves the chemical is safe.

According to Globe and Mail, Health Canada is embarking on its own assessment of the controversial chemical, with preliminary results due next spring. Mountain Equipment is following the controversy, and stated that concern over bisphenol A has risen among a portion of the company's membership. The retailer, with about $222 million in annual sales, charges a membership fee to customers.

Wow. When a retailer that large makes such a bold move, I am paying attention. I, too, am pulling that purple Nalgene out of my son's snack bag. To remain on the safe side, I will be purchasing water containers without bisphenol A. Nalgene does sell containers without the chemical, and I just wrote a post the other day on SIGG aluminum water bottles -- a choice to consider. SIGGs do not contain bisphenol A -- see this letter assuring this fact from SIGG USA's president, Steve Wasik, which I linked to via SIGG's frequently asked questions section of their website.