Polycarb water bottles harmful to health

Since October, Canada already ban hard plastic baby bottle which can contain bisphenol A. The Canadian government also recommends that a very hot water or boiling water not be put into a polycarbonate water bottles. As very hot water causes bisphenol A to migrate out of the bottle at a much higher rate than when it is filled with cooler liquids. U.S. is urged to follow Canada to ban the polycarbonate water bottles but due to a huge market and some problems they seems havn't do stop selling it. However, the Consumer Association of Penang, Malaysia now started to urge the education ministry and parents ban the use of plycarbonate water bottles in school.

GEORGE TOWN: Polycarbonate water bottles are harmful and the use of them may be linked to many health abnormalities, says the Consumer Association of Penang.

Its president S.M. Mohamed Idris said that polycarbonate-made water bottles will leach out bisphenol A (BPA), a potent hormone disruptor which can have a detrimental effect on future generations.

“BPA is a synthetic chemical that is also known as ‘environmental hormones.’ It can disrupt the hormone-secreting glands that form a network known as the endocrine system that includes the thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, thymus, adrenal, ovaries and testical glands.

“The chemical could lead to impairment of the reproductive organs, has an adverse effect on tumours and on prostate development by reducing sperm count, and also has adverse influence on breast cancer tissue development,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday.

He said that such bottles can be identified by a number seven inside a triangle with the letters PC next to it.

“The bottles are being sold everywhere and people think they are safe as they can withstand high temperature liquids.

“But researchers have found out that BPA can leach into the bottle’s contents through normal wear and tear, exposure to heat and cleaning agents,” he said.

Mohamed Idris claimed that a study conducted by the University of Missouri found that the chemical can even leach into liquids at room temperature.

“This finding is alarming and I urge the Education Ministry and parents to ban the use of the bottles in schools and for the people to restrain from using polycarbonate or any other plastic bottles,” he said.

He said that steel or glass bottles are preferred and cost about the same as the polycarbonate bottle at around RM12.

To identify polycarbonate bottles, check to see if the bottom of the bottle has the number 7 in the center of the recycling symbol. Although the number 7 is a broad category, you can only be sure it is polycarbonate if the number 7 also has a PC beside it. If the bottle does not have a recycling symbol, there is no certain means of identifying whether it is made from polycarbonate or not.