Lancelot Acres

I thought I'd post a few articles I've found containing information about plastics. I do want to say that it is extremely hard to go 'plastic-free', but a water bottle that you use continuously through the day, EVERYDAY might be a good place to start.

Bottles of water that you purchase at the store are single-use and shouldn't be reused. They are porous and hard to clean, so bacteria clings and then transfers to your water. If you notice a water bottle that has been cleaned and/or reused, it often turns cloudy. That isn't good. I often wonder if the water bottles were heated to an unsafe level in the backroom of the store (stored next to a furnace), or during the delivery (heated by the sun while waiting to load, etc).

***********************************************************************************************************

Nalgene was recently recalled as it has a chemical that alters hormones. Here is a bit of information on that:

The highly-respected MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) store, a bastion of earth-conscious products for sport and outdoor enthusiasts across the country for years, is pulling those beloved water bottles from its shelves, along with other food and beverage containers made of polycarbonate plastic. There's no recall on these products, so MEC has decided to take measures into its own hands.

"The bottles won't be back at least until May when the federal government has tested them," said Jorge Nanez, an employee at the Toronto MEC. He confirmed the GSI H2O! Lexan bottles have also been pulled from store shelves. "It's just a precaution situation. We decided just to go that way, but it's not like it's confirmed to be dangerous." Nanez said the store is accepting returns on the bottles in question.

The possible health risks, from the plastic's chemical compound "bisphenol A" leaching bad stuff into the liquid or food we consume in these containers, includes cancer and low sperm counts.

Health Canada is reviewing data from independent studies, and plans to release preliminary findings next spring.

"The writing is on the wall for bisphenol A. When a product loses consumer confidence to this extent, it's obviously time to move to the safter, comparably priced alternatives."

As part of its national Toxic Nation campaign, Environment Defence tested a sample of Canadians for toxic chemicals in their bodies. Everyone tested for bisphenol A had measurable levels in their blood. Click here for test results.

Environment Defence references two recent panels in the U.S. who've noted potential health effects of exposure to bisphenol A. The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences panel of 38 scientists found that most people are exposed to level of the chemical at levels higher than those that cause health effects in animal studies. A U.S. National Toxicology Program panel concluded recently that bisphenol A exposure to fetuses and to children could have behavioural and nervous system impacts.

****************************************************************************************************************

Here are two articles on safe/unsafe plastics. The two articles are a little different, but similar...

Adapted from Green Remodeling, by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).

The news about plastics has been pretty alarming lately, causing some of us to go dashing for the water bottles to see what kind of plastic they are—and find out if we've been unwittingly poisoning our children and ourselves with chemicals leaching into the water from them.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: If you've been concerned, here is a handy chart that identifies the good, bad, and OK plastics and where they are found. Find out here:

1 Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
Used to make soft drink, water, sports drink, ketchup, and salad dressing bottles, and peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars.
GOOD:FOR ONE USE ONLY!!

2 High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Milk, water, and juice bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners, and grocery, trash, and retail bags.
GOOD: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones.

3 Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)
Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other foods sold in delicatessens and groceries are wrapped in PVC.
BAD: To soften into its flexible form, manufacturers add "plasticizers" during production. Traces of these chemicals can leach out of PVC when in contact with foods. According to the National Institutes of Health, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), commonly found in PVC, is a suspected human carcinogen.

4 Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles.
OK: Not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones, but not as widely recycled as #1 or #2.

5 Polypropylene (PP)
Some ketchup bottles and yogurt and margarine tubs.
OK: Hazardous during production, but not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer or disrupting hormones. Not as widely recycled as #1 and #2.

6 Polystyrene (PS)
Foam insulation and also for hard applications (e.g. cups, some toys)
BAD: Benzene (material used in production) is a known human carcinogen. Butadiene and styrene (the basic building block of the plastic) are suspected carcinogens. Energy intensive and poor recycling.

7 Other (usually polycarbonate)
Baby bottles, microwave ovenware, eating utensils, plastic coating for metal cans
BAD: Made with biphenyl-A, a chemical invented in the 1930s in search for synthetic estrogens. A hormone disruptor. Simulates the action of estrogen when tested in human breast cancer studies. Can leach into food as product ages.

Safer Plastics
#2HDPE, #4LDPE and #5PP
These three types of plastic are the healthiest. They transmit no known chemicals into your food and they're generally recyclable; #2 is very commonly accepted by municipal recycling programs, but you may have a more difficult time finding someone to recycle your #4 and #5 containers.

#1 PET
#1 bottles and containers are fine for single use and are widely accepted by municipal recyclers. You won't find many reusable containers made from #1, but they do exist. It's also best to avoid reusing #1 plastic bottles; water and soda bottles in particular are hard to clean, and because plastic is porous, these bottles absorb flavors and bacteria that you can't get rid of.

PLA
PLA (polylactide) plastics are made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes and sugar cane and anything else with a high starch content. The starch is converted into polylactide acid (PLA). Although you can't recycle these plant-based plastics, you can compost them in a municipal composter or in your backyard compost heap. Most decompose in about twelve days unlike conventional plastic, which can take up to 100 years.

*******************************************************************************************************************

Researching water bottles led me to research some of my plastic storage containers and I was surprised that many of Tupperware's products are not BPA-free. I would have thought that they would be leading the way in the 'green' movement. They actually released a statement that said their toys and a few other things are BPA-free, that list did NOT include children's tableware, cups/sippy lids, or snack cups, etc. I was very disappointed, as Tupperware was a brand I really trusted.

More research on the water bottles led me to check baby bottles and sippy cups. I found this great article on sippies. I will give my opinions on a few of these products at the bottom:

http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/05/sippy-cup-showdown-safer-bpa-free-sippy.html

Sippy Cup Showdown: Safer, BPA-Free Drinkware For Toddlers

Please note: We have just released a second edition of our Z Report on BPA, and have incorporated detailed lists of BPA-free and non-BPA-free sippy cups into the report. The directory includes profiles of more than 25 companies, identification of BPA content in both bottles and sippy cups, and a continuously updated log of additional feeding products produced by these companies. The reviews here can still help you make an informed decision regarding product design, durability, and appeal, but for a more complete reference guide to non-BPA sippy cups, we encourage you to access the updated information here.

Bisphenol-A, a substance used in the production of polycarbonate plastics that has estrogenic properties and has been shown in animal tests to cause a host of health problems, has brought the issue of potentially toxic plastics into the news over the last few years, and both parents and manufacturers are starting to catch onto the idea (plastics industry efforts notwithstanding) that safer plastics and even non-plastic materials can be used to make durable and attractive baby bottles and toddler cups. (Update: You can delve into the research we've discovered by checking out our del.icio.us list here - just be aware that some of the links are astroturf or industry organizations.)

We field-tested seven toddler cups made of either metal (aluminum or stainless steel) or non-polycarbonate plastic, all known to be free of bisphenol-A or other potentially toxic monomers or plasticizers. We used and abused the cups for a period of about two weeks. We got to know their strengths and weaknesses, watched our 2.5-year-old daughter Z use each of them repeatedly, and put each one through a series of leak and drop tests to assess their durability and reliability. In the end, we decided to assign them ratings in ease of use (Z) and care (us), durability, and eye appeal, with each category having a maximum award of ten points, for a total of 30 points. The final scores don't quite reflect our personal preferences, so we made sure to throw in a word about each of our favorites we reviewed.

First up, metal alternatives to plastic sippy cups.

Metal Cups for Toddlers

Thermos Foogo Leak-Proof Sippy Cup

Materials: Stainless steel, polypropylene, and thermoplastic elastomer
Design: This 7 oz. sippy cup has a soft plastic spout and is sold with or without non-removable handles attached to the screw lid. Sold in pink/purple and blue/yellow color combinations.
Price: $15
Dishwasher safe? Top rack only, and not recommended.
Observations: This sippy is a great size for little hands, and the vacuum-insulated design makes it comfortable to hold with cold liquids. But the plastic screw lid is difficult to open and close tightly without considerable effort. The Foogo sippy performed well in our drop tests, receiving only minor scuffs due to its tough plastic base (we dropped each cup from 45- and 90-degree angles from a height of about three feet onto a brick patio). But the "Leak Proof" cup performed poorly in our leak tests, leaking water when shaken upside down and also slowly leaking drops of water from its spout when left on its side for a few minutes. Spout components are moderately easy to take apart and clean.
Z's Take: Z latched onto this sippy quickly, probably because it was very much like sippy cups she already has.
Ratings: Ease of Use and Care: 7. Durability: 9. Eye Appeal: 5. Total points: 21/30.

Thermos Foogo Leak-Proof Bottle With Straw

Materials: Stainless steel, polypropylene, and thermoplastic elastomer
Design: The 12-oz. Foogo straw cup has a Thermos-like cylindrical look and features a smoothly-operating flip-top lid and innovative straw construction. Vacuum double-walled, with a thin plastic housing on the bottom edge. Sold in pink/purple and blue/yellow color combinations. Thermos also makes a Foogo Food Jar in the same style and colors.
Price: $15
Dishwasher safe? Top rack only, and not recommended.
Z's Take: Z quickly mastered the lid's release button and enjoys using the cup.
Observations: Larger than the Foogo sippy, Thermos' Foogo straw cup is ideal for older toddlers due to its size and flip-top lid. The straw and lid components are a far superior design to other straw cups we've had (we learned to curse a Munchkin model) and the parts come apart easily for cleaning. (Baby Toolkit has a great post examining the lid design, in both words and pictures, and comparing it with Thermos' last generation of toddler straw cups, the Funtainer.) We believe this cup will transition fairly well as our daughter grows out of the "sippy" stage. The cup lived up to its "Leak Proof" title with its lid closed but fared poorly in our drop test; dropped from both 45- and a 90-degree angles, it suffered dents in its bottom edge through the weak plastic frame and showed discolored denting in the plastic as well, making us wonder whether a bit more abuse would break off the bottom shell completely. Recommended for older toddlers. Jeremiah's runner-up favorite.
Ratings: Ease of Use and Care: 8. Durability: 6. Eye Appeal: 8. Total points: 22/30.

SIGG Kids' Cup

Materials: Extruded aluminum with baked enamel interior (a water-based resin which does not contain BPA - read about it on Eco Child's Play) and powder paint exterior, polypropylene cap.
Design: The SIGG is a stylish standout in this bunch, with 0.3 liter and 0.6 liter bottles recommended for toddler use, and 1-liter models available for adults. All SIGG bottles can share interchangeable lids - screw-top, "active" (flip-top) and "bottle top" (a twist-style sports bottle lid), plus additional accessories which further expand on the lid varieties. Toddler SIGGs are sold with the bottle-top lid and a "mud cap," a hemispheric snap-locking cap held onto the neck via a plastic ring slipped on between the lid and the bottle body.
Price: $15-22
Dishwasher safe? Not recommended
Z's Take: Z immediately loved her SIGG sippy for its colorful, playful graphics. She has had some difficulty mastering the twist-to-open sports cap, but she loves the round cap that snaps on top of it.
Observations: The SIGG's single-walled design means the cup gets very cold with cold liquids. The bottles also dent and scratch easily if (when) dropped. And while minor dents and scratches may just make a bottle look well-loved, larger ones could cause paint to chip off. SIGG does sell some models with a more durable exterior coating but somewhat less vibrant designs. The SIGG leaked a slight amount of water into its cap when left on its side for an hour, but the water did not escape. Based on Z's current difficulty in twisting the lid, we'd recommend the larger 0.6 liter bottle for older toddlers, for whom manual dexterity, a decreased inclination to drop things at random, and increased water needs should dovetail nicely. Interchangeable caps mean that Z may be able to use her SIGG for a while as she grows - if she doesn't outgrow the design. Jeremiah's hands-down favorite, and Jenni's runner-up; the variety of bright and clever graphics must be seen to be believed.
Ratings: Ease of Use and Care: 9. Durability: 7. Eye Appeal: 10. Total points: 26/30.

Klean Kanteen

Materials: Stainless steel, polypropylene
Design: The extruded stainless steel Klean Kanteen's design, shape, and industrial sensibilities inspired love and scorn, depending on where you looked in our family. The toddler size is 12 oz. (sizes go up from there for adults) and lids come in three parts, which are too difficult to describe late in the evening but fit together solidly, if somewhat squeakily. Klean Kanteens outfitted for sippin' use Avent sippy inserts, and a sippy cup purchase includes two of them.
Price: $18
Dishwasher safe? Shell, but not lids
Z's Take: Z seems comfortable with the sippy lid, and the bottle's neck makes for a comfortable grip with no need for handles.
Observations: As with the aluminum SIGG, the Klean Kanteen's single-walled construction means the bottle can get quite chilly if you put cold water in it. The bottle also dents very easily, leaving pea-sized dents in the bottom edge when dropped at both 45- and 90-degree angles. The bottle's logo also faded significantly from gentle hand-washing alone, but then again, the logo is also ugly. The bottle leaked a bit when shaken upside down, but passed our side-rest leak test with no problems. Also like the SIGG, the Klean Kanteen can accept a variety of caps, and the shell's mouth is large enough to make drinking with no lid comfortable. Lids sometimes squeak when they're being screwed on, and the non-toddler sports lid we were sent squeaked a bit when we used it. Jenni's favorite. For more Klean Kanteen reviews, check out Thingamababy and Eco Child's Play.
Ratings: Ease of Use and Care: 10. Durability: 7. Eye Appeal: 7. (Note: This is an average of Jenni's 9 and Jeremiah's 5. Different strokes.) Total points: 24/30.

BPA-Free Plastic Cups

After we started doing research on the hazards of plastics, we learned that not all plastic sippy cups contain harmful plasticizers like BPA; while plastics numbered 3 (PVC), 6 (polystyrene) and 7 (often polycarbonate) should usually be avoided, others, like polypropylene and polyethylene (numbered 1, 2, 4 and 5 based on type and density) contain no known harmful chemicals in them. One company, Born Free, has even branched out into an uncommon new form of plastic, polyamide, which also has no known harmful components, and has made major waves in the baby bottle industry by offering a rare alternative to BPA-laced polycarbonate.

We began examining the many plastic bottles we already had, discarding those made of dangerous or unknown plastics and giving a fresh look to those we suddenly had a new way of looking at. Based on our experience and that information, and on a sample Born Free toddler cup which arrived in the mail yesterday, we feel confident recommending any of the following for parents looking for a cheap, durable alternative to polycarbonate drinkware.

BornFree Toddler Cups

Materials: Polyamide (PA) or polypropylene and thermoplastic elastomer or silicone (depending on model)
Design: Simple plastic sippy with soft, nipple-like sippy spout or hard plastic spout and removable handle ring.
Price: $10-$11
Dishwasher safe? Yes, top rack
Observations: We aren't sure what it is, but BornFree's sippy cup just looks nicer than other non-polycarbonate plastic sippy cups. Perhaps it's the unusual polyamide plastic, which is translucent rather than foggy, its soft but pleasant colors, or its ergonomic design. The cup leaked very slightly and the leak was contained in its removable cap, and it didn't dent or scratch noticeably when dropped. The spout is very soft and the vacuum design makes liquids come out slowly, which is ideal for toddlers just starting to use sippy cups. Born Free's other model has a hard spout. Our favorite plastic sippy cup.
Z's Take: Z handles the cup well but finds the flow to be a bit slow. She enjoys chewing on the nipple, which would soon destroy it; for older toddlers, make sure to get the "Drinking Cup" model.
Ratings: Ease of Use and Care: 10. Durability: 10. Eye Appeal: 7. Total points: 27/30.

Munchkin Cupsicle

Materials: Polypropylene, polyethylene, and silicone
Design: This 10 oz. insulated cup keeps liquids cold after it has been chilled in the freezer. Loud colors and patterns, bordering on neon.
Price: $8 for two
Dishwasher safe? Yes, top rack
Z's Take: This cup is from our private collection, and has served its owner well, but the flow rate is too slow at this point to satisfy her thirst.
Observations: On the large side of the sippy spectrum, this cup is basically indestructible, not only failing to dent or scratch when dropped, but actually bouncing about 50% of the distance back up off the ground. It does not leak when left on its side, but does when shaken upside down. Spout components come apart easily for cleaning.
Ratings: Ease of Use and Care: 10. Durability: 10. Eye Appeal: 2. Total points: 22/30.

Avent Magic Cup

Materials: Polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomer, silicone
Design: A no-frills plastic sippy cup with a removable handle ring.
Price: $9 for two
Dishwasher safe? Yes
Observations: What can we say? It's ugly, it's cheap, and it gets the job done. The Magic Cup first failed our side-rest leak test with flying colors, but then we realized we had screwed on the lid incorrectly and managed to seal it tight but off its threading. It passed a retest but we are newly aware of its persnickitiness.
Z's Take: Old faithful.
Ratings: Ease of Use and Care: 7. Durability: 9. Eye Appeal: 2. Total points: 18/30.

What to do?

Update: Since this post was written, Z Recommends has published a report on BPA in bottles made by all major U.S. brands. If you are looking for additional information about safe baby bottles, read our research, and recommendations, here.

If you are uncertain of the types of plastic in your toddler's drinkware, check the bottom of the cup, which may classify the plastic according to a recycling code. 1, 2, 4, and 5 are OK, but 3 and 6 are not, and 7 usually is not, either. If the number is not specified, you can call the company to learn the type of plastic used or simply replace unaccounted-for plastics with known safe alternatives.

If you do and must use plastics numbered 3, 6 and 7, know that the following habits increase the likelihood of toxins migrating to the surface of your plastic and posing a risk to your child:

Using scratched or worn plastic containers
Heating food in plastic containers
Placing hot food in plastic containers to cool
Heating foods covered in plastic wrap
Washing plastic containers in the dishwasher

Thanks to Born Free, Klean Kanteen, SIGG, and Thermos for sending us product samples to review!

********************************************************************************************************************

We have several of these products and I thought I'd give my own review on each.

Our favorite for us (adults): The Klean Kanteen. We love the KK . You can get a flat cap and just drink out of the steel container, and that's what Lance and I both prefer over a water bottle spout. With the KK, you can get a sippy top, water bottle top, or flat top. Very versatile in fitting any age group.

What's in your water bottle? Sippy Cups? Baby bottles?

What's in your water bottle? Sippy cup? Safe plastics list

I've been hearing a lot on the news lately about BPA and how unsafe it is in plastics. Water bottles are particularly alarming. There are safe and unsafe plastics, but even the 'safe' ones aren't safe if heated or reused (if they are one-time use plastics).

http://zrecs.blogspot.com/2007/05/sippy-cup-showdown-safer-bpa-free-sippy.html

Sippy Cup Showdown: Safer, BPA-Free Drinkware For Toddlers

About Me

Links

Categories

Recent Entries

Friends

About Me

Categories

Recent Entries

Links

Friends