Henry Raymond
Fairfax News => Current News & Events => Topic started by: Henry on September 07, 2005, 06:48:03 PM
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Is it safe to eat and drink out of plastic containers?
"All plastics leach small amounts of either pthalates or bis-phenol-a into water or an other liquid or food," says Bill Bress, state toxicologist, Vermont Department of Health. "As A result we all have small amounts of these compounds in our bodies." He adds, "Generally the softer the plastic, the more pthalates that leach." Bress says that the only container that don't leach chemicals are glass and ceramics.
"No one knows for sure the health implications of the plastics in our bodies," says Bress.
Bob Bessette, Northwestern MedicaL Center Laboratory manager agrees with Bress that plastics leach, however, he also has another concern with using some plastic containers. Bessette says that refilling pre-filled water bottles (like you would buy in a store) is not recommended because they are difficult to clean and can trap bacteria. Instead, he recommends using water bottles that are specifically designed to be refilled. Bessette adds that if there is still a concern about the cleanliness of the container, a standard 10 percent bleach disinfecting solution can be used. "Use about 1 ounce of bleach for 9 ounces of water," say Bessette.