Cheryl Crowe: Breast cancer from a water bottle?

Ok! I want to know one thing. Can I start freezing my water again?

Nicki

I have read in several places that unless water is in hard, clear plastic bottles it is indeed unsafe and that the plastic is leeched into the water. You should never refill or reuse these bottles either. Heat in the car would simply accelerate this. I doubt she knows what caused it, but I would put money on the adulterated meat and dairy (can you say hormones that the creepy FDA won't even put on labels) and the polluted air and water. In combination with other factors this is what I believe causes cancer.

It has been 115+ degrees for the past week in Phoenix; this is not a new phenomenon, afterall, it's Phoenix in July. I cant put a lot of faith in the water bottle theory, there'd be no one left in AZ!

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I use glass whenever possible. I also wonder about the Betras insulated mug I got in the hospital. I use it all the time because it keeps ice from melting and it doesn't sweat. I cannot find a rating number on it. Anyone know?

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Don't know about the insulated mug but Betras according to the National Geographic green guide is among the safest plastics for sports bottles, so I would imagine they are careful about their insulation properties.

Here is a little more not about Dioxin but about endocrine disrupters in plastic and what to look for if you are concerned about the issue.

Plastic Water Bottles
by P.W. McRandle
Filed under: Kitchen, Plastics, Bottled water

Whether you buy bottled water or conscientiously tote some from home, you'll want to avoid swallowing chemicals along with it. Particularly for small children, whose bodies are developing, it's best to steer clear of plastics that can release chemicals that could harm them in the long term. Below, the plastics not to choose (check the recycling number on the bottom of your bottle) and those that are safer:

Plastics to Avoid

#3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) commonly contains di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine disruptor and probable human carcinogen, as a softener.

#6 Polystyrene (PS) may leach styrene, a possible endocrine disruptor and human carcinogen, into water and food.

#7 Polycarbonate contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol-A, which can leach out as bottles age, are heated or exposed to acidic solutions. Unfortunately, #7 is used in most baby bottles and five-gallon water jugs and in many reusable sports bottles.

Better Plastics

#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), the most common and easily recycled plastic for bottled water and soft drinks, has also been considered the most safe. However, one 2003 Italian study found that the amount of DEHP in bottled spring water increased after 9 months of storage in a PET bottle.

#2 High Density Polyethylene

#4 Low Density Polyethylene

#5 Polypropylene

Best Reusable Bottles: Betras USA Sports Bottles, Brita Fill & Go Water Filtration Bottle, Arrow Canteen

Better Baby Bottles: Choose tempered glass or opaque plastic made of polypropylene (#5) or polyethylene (#1), which do not contain bisphenol-A.

Tips for Use:

*Sniff and Taste: If there's a hint of plastic in your water, don't drink it.

*Keep bottled water away from heat, which promotes leaching of chemicals.

*Use bottled water quickly, as chemicals may migrate from plastic during storage. Ask retailers how long water has been on their shelves, and don't buy if it's been months.

*Do not reuse bottles intended for single use. Reused water bottles also make good breeding grounds for bacteria.

*Choose rigid, reusable containers or, for hot/acidic liquids, thermoses with stainless steel or ceramic interiors.

For more info, see Product Reports on "bottled water" and "baby bottles."

From
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/101/plastic

Pay attention to the recycling number at the bottom of your bottle if you want to know what plastic you have.

Can someone tell me if:
#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), the most common and easily recycled plastic for bottled water and soft drinks, has also been considered the most safe. However, one 2003 Italian study found that the amount of DEHP in bottled spring water increased after 9 months of storage in a PET bottle.

If this is the case why is everyone so alarmed about bottled water except as Valerie says about accumulating bacteria?--
Of all the Cancer risks--this would not be at the top of mine.

With all the safe plastics out there seems to me unlikely that most of us would be encountering this exposure except for #7 Polycarbonate.

I went to the Nalgene sports bottle (the clear one and didn't know there was a difference till I viewed this thread
and found out about Crowe--not a clue) because, I could never figure out how long my bottles water had been sitting in the car--whether it was a new bottle or a half year old or more that just reappeared from beneath my seats----

I was a heck of allot more concerned about Bacteria than Cancer. I think the Bacteria issues are important; even more so if you live in a hot climate like Arizona.

But sniff and taste ---that makes good sense to me ---If it smells funny -Don't drink it.

Okay Gals ---A little bit of a side track here. I use these
bottles daily for my Ice Tea---Green Tea---Kind of Ironic?

I brew it in the glass but then fill the sports bottle once its cool.

Anyway, they are getting pretty grungy on the bottom.---Does anyone have a bottle brush they like and does a good job?--
My dexterity is not so hot and I saw an Oxo and wondered if it really makes a difference. Any suggestions appreciated.

Susie

I use false teeth cleaning tablets to clean my vases, so I bet they would clean out your bottles.
Just fill the bottles and put in a half tablet and leave overnight! clean as a whistle.

DH and I had a little argument ove this whole subject. Bottom line is I wont be freezing my water in the near future!! Darn it all anyways.

Nicki

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Now even water is bad for me?? Maybe I should switch to straight vodka!

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LOL, AlaskaDeb, I totally agree with you!! I am as frustrated about all this whats good and whats not. And it constantly changes, and I can't keep up with it all. One day coffee is bad, next its good, now bad again. (Im just using coffee as one example).

I do think something in our enviroment especially industrialized nations is causing more and more cancers. I also find it shocking and alarming that I am seeing more and more young girls, not even 10 yet, look way more physically mature than we did at that age.

saw this today on AOL:

content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Microwaving food in plastic: Dangerous or not?

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If you use e-mail, chances are you've received an urgent "PLEASE READ THIS!" message about the dangers of microwaving food in plastic containers or plastic wrap. The message warns that chemicals can leach out of the plastic and into the food, causing cancer, reproductive problems, and other ills. Is there any truth to this, or is it just another Internet-fueled "urban legend"? As is often the case with alarmist e-mails, this one contains a small kernel of truth - and a lot of misinformation.

Migrating chemicals
When food is wrapped in plastic or placed in a plastic container and microwaved, substances used in manufacturing the plastic (plasticizers) may leak into the food. In particular, fatty foods such as meats and cheeses cause a softening agent called diethylhexyl adipate to leach out. This certainly sounds scary, so it's little wonder that a warning is making its way across the Web.

But here's what the e-mails don't mention. The FDA, recognizing the potential for small amounts of plasticizers to migrate, closely regulates plastic containers and materials that come into contact with food. Before approving a container, the FDA conducts tests to make sure that it doesn't leak unsafe amounts of any substance into food.

According to Dr. George Pauli, a retired associate director in the Office of Food Additive Safety at the FDA, these tests measure the migration of chemicals at temperatures that the container or wrap is likely to encounter during ordinary use. For microwave approval, the agency estimates the ratio of plastic surface area to food, how long the container is likely to be in the microwave, how often a person is likely to eat from the container, and how hot the food can be expected to get during microwaving. Because microwaves heat the water in food, the peak temperature is the boiling point of water - 212º F, or 100º C. The only exception is microwave popcorn and other packages that come with the instruction, "this side down." Such packages, says Pauli, are made with small amounts of metal to create a "frying pan effect." They get hotter than the boiling point of water and are tested accordingly.

The scientists then measure the chemicals that leach out and the extent to which they migrate to different kinds of foods. The maximum allowable amount is 100-1,000 times less per pound of body weight than the amount shown to harm laboratory animals over a lifetime of use. According to the FDA, this limit takes into account differences between laboratory animals and humans as well as individual variations in the use of plastic for microwaving. Only containers that pass this test can display a microwave-safe icon, the words "microwave safe," or words to the effect that they're approved for use in microwave ovens.

What about containers without a microwave-safe label? The FDA tests all containers that come in contact with food, but only those labeled microwave safe have been tested and found safe for that purpose. A container that's not labeled safe for microwave use isn't necessarily unsafe; the FDA simply hasn't determined whether it is or not. According to the American Plastics Council, some unlabeled containers are made of the same kind of plastic as microwave-safe containers, but they may not be safe because their walls are thinner and could melt in the microwave.

Is Styrofoam microwave safe?

Styrofoam is the brand name of a plastic product (yes, Styrofoam is a kind of plastic) whose generic name is polystyrene. The white foam used, for example, in hot beverage drinking cups (Styrofoam proper) isn't the only kind of polystyrene used for food: Clear plastic "clamshell" containers are also made of polystyrene.

Contrary to popular belief, some Styrofoam and other polystyrene containers can safely be used in the microwave. Just follow the same rule you follow for other plastic containers: Check the label.


The bottom line
Here are some things to keep in mind when using the microwave:

Most takeout containers, water bottles, and plastic tubs or jars made to hold margarine, yogurt, whipped topping, and foods such as cream cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard are not microwave-safe.

Microwavable takeout dinner trays are formulated for one-time use only and will say so on the package.

Don't microwave plastic storage bags or plastic bags from the grocery store.

A recycle symbol does not mean a container is safe to use or reuse in the microwave oven. Only a microwave-safe icon or wording to that effect does.

Before microwaving food, be sure to vent the container: Leave the lid ajar, or lift the edge of the cover.

Don't allow plastic wrap to touch food during microwaving because it may melt. Wax paper, kitchen parchment paper, or white paper towels are alternatives.

If you're concerned about plastic wraps or containers in the microwave, transfer food to glass or ceramic containers labeled for microwave oven use.

Stop that hoax
If you receive an e-mailed "health alert," check out the claims before you forward it to friends and relatives or make any changes in your life. Here are some online sources that evaluate some of the e-mails currently making the rounds: hoaxbusters.ciac.org; truthorfiction.com; www.cdc.gov/hoax_rumors.htm; and urbanlegends.about.com/library/blxhealth.htm.

What about phthalates and dioxins?

Some e-mails and even some medical literature express concern about phthalates, chemical compounds that are used in plastics and have been linked to reproductive problems in animals. According to the FDA and the American Plastics Council, all plastic wrap and food containers (including water bottles) in the United States have been free of phthalates since the 1980s.

Other e-mails point the finger at dioxin, a chemical that may cause cancer. However, according to the FDA, there are no dioxins in any containers approved for contact with food.


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Last updated: August 21, 2006

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard

Beth- I gotta laugh. I've never been able to put styrofoam into the microwave without it turning into a weird science experiment!

"Some e-mails and even some medical literature expres! s concer n about phthalates, chemical compounds that are used in plastics and have been linked to reproductive problems in animals. According to the FDA and the American Plastics Council, all plastic wrap and food containers (including water bottles) in the United States have been free of phthalates since the 1980s."

Yes, but do we know all containers come from the United States?

I'd rather not think about the whole thing---I'm finding pyrex allot easier to clean and store--(I'm just not good with warped lids)

My concern is Teflon---Now if you can find anything nice to say on that subject I may reconsider that Calphalon One non-stick wok that I have been eyeing!

I'm sorry---never ever done that-----hmm still got cancer

Does anyone really know why we get it--if they did know it could be stopped.

Let's face it... a radiologist friend of mine said that if everyone lived long enough, everyone would get some form of cancer.  It's just one of the many ways the human body self-destructs over time. Some things may speed it up; some things may slow it down.  But it will still happen. 

I believe that everything can be carcinogenic in the right quantities or combinations.  Just because something is "natural" doesn't make it good!!  I mean, oestogen is a natural hormone in our bodies and, yet, it can turn against us and "feed" breast cancer growth.  The same goes for man-made things.  Plastic can help keep bacteria out of food that would otherwise kill you.

I think we get ourselves way too wound up about the "what if's".  I say again... until science understands how breast cancer develops and why, we cannot point to any one thing - or even combination of things - as a cause.  It's fear-mongering and it's irresponsible, and it detracts from the real issue... which is finding a prevention or cure.

There's also a Think Pink, Live Green blog post by Marisa Weiss, president and founder of Breastcancer.org on this subject:



http://community.breastcancer.org/livegreen/avoiding-bisphenol-a-bpa/