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<P><A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/smallbusiness/05shortcuts.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=THE+%28POSSIBLE%29+PERILS+OF+BEING+THIRSTY+WHILE+BEING+GREEN&oref=slogin"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/smallbusiness/05shortcuts.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=THE+%28POSSIBLE%29+PERILS+OF+BEING+THIRSTY+WHILE+BEING+GREEN&oref=slogin</FONT></U></A></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">January 5, 2008 </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Shortcuts </FONT>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=6 FACE="Times New Roman">The (Possible) Perils of Being Thirsty While Being Green </FONT></B>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">By ALINA TUGEND </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">I HAVE the usual New Year’s resolutions — </FONT><A HREF="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/physical-activity/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">exercise</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> more, lose weight, be a nicer person. I also hope to find out if I am inadvertently poisoning my children. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">My fear has to do with reusing what are known as “single use” plastic water bottles, like Poland Spring. I buy them not because I distrust New York tap water, but because they are easy to carry around in the car and to various kids’ sporting events. And if one is lost, as it invariably is, no biggie.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">We refill them with tap water and use them a number of times before recycling. I was, I sanctimoniously thought, doing my green part.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">But by trying to save the earth, am I hurting my family’s health? I had heard it wasn’t a good idea to refill these single-use bottles because the plastic leaches dangerous chemicals. But is that enough of a risk to make me change my ways? What if I stop using plastic bottles and then drink less water? Is that a good trade-off?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">It is the old conundrum about risk versus benefits.</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Here is what I found out: most plastics are stamped with a number from 1 to 7 at the bottom — these numbers are used to indicate how to recycle or dispose of the plastic.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">The type of plastic bottle that typically holds water, soda and juice is made from polyethylene terephthalate, a petroleum-based material also known as PET that is labeled No. 1.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">The trouble with reusing those plastic bottles is that each time they are washed and refilled they become a little more scratched and crinkly, which can lead them to degrade. That can cause a trace metal called antimony to leach out, said Frederick S. vom Saal, a professor of biology at the </FONT><A HREF="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/university_of_missouri/index.html?inline=nyt-org"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">University of Missouri</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> who has studied plastics for years.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">“We have to assume that along with that metal, others are almost certainly leaching out as well, but we don’t know what they are and we don’t know what to look for because manufacturers won’t tell us what else is in the bottles,” Professor vom Saal said.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">One inaccuracy that I came across repeatedly is that a chemical called phthalates, which can interfere with male hormones, poses a danger from such water bottles. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Lynn R. Goldman, professor of environmental health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said the truth was that it leached in barely discernible amounts.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Perhaps more worrisome is that because the bottles — with their small openings — are harder to wash out than the wide-mouth hiking and sports bottles, they can house bacteria.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">At this point, I do not feel terribly anxious about reusing the bottles several times — that is usually all we can do before we lose them or they crumple beyond recognition. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">But perhaps a better alternative — in terms of health and the environment — is to use the hard plastic bottles made with polycarbonate plastic, often known by the brand Nalgene. It has the numeral 7 stamped at the bottom and is the same type of material used to make some baby bottles, the lining of tin cans and other products. I have some of those around the house. They are just too big to fit into our car cup holders so I retired them to the basement.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Time to dig them out?</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Not quite. Environmental groups and some scientists have raised concern that such plastic can leach bisphenol A, an endocrine-disrupting chemical.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">It is a big enough issue that last year, the National Toxicology Program Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction convened a 12-member expert panel to examine studies related to the chemical.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">At the same time, another government-financed group, made up of about 40 scientists with expertise in bisphenol A, reviewed more than 700 relevant studies.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Here is where it gets a little tricky. The first group concluded that most people’s exposure to the chemical was well below the </FONT><A HREF="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/e/environmental_protection_agency/index.html?inline=nyt-org"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">Environmental Protection Agency</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">’s standard.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Nonetheless, the panel expressed “some concern” that the chemical could cause behavioral and neurological problems in developing fetuses and young children. For more information, go to www. </FONT><A HREF="http://niehs.nih.gov"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">niehs.nih.gov</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">More studies are being done on certain aspects of the chemical, said Michael D. Shelby, director of the center, and a final brief will be issued this summer.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">But Professor vom Saal, the lead author of the scientists’ report, said their findings were far less benign. “There is a very high level of concern about the potential harm caused by bisphenol A in animals,” he said, including potential for </FONT><A HREF="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/diabetes/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">diabetes</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">, </FONT><A HREF="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">cancer</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> and </FONT><A HREF="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/obesity/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">obesity</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">. “The prediction by this panel is that we can expect similar harm in people.”</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">And industry has its own view. Steven Hentges, executive director of the polycarbonate/BPA global group of the American Chemistry Council, dismissed fears about bisphenol A and said that no country had banned or restricted the chemical’s use. “No government body has found reason to be alarmed,” he said. On its Web site, </FONT><A HREF="http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">Nalgene</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> reaches the same conclusion. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">So forget about those bottles? The reality is that bisphenol A is present in many types of material, from resins used to coat the interior surface of most food and beverage cans to some children’s toys. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">There is a danger in focusing exclusively on bottles rather than looking at the need for government regulation of the widespread use of these chemicals, Professor Goldman said.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">But choosing what water container you use can give you a slight sense of control. And Professor vom Saal noted that the range of exposure among people varied widely. So exchanging that polycarbonate water bottle for one made of glass or stainless steel may be a good idea.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Forget glass for obvious reasons (“Mom, I just sliced my finger”). A search of available stainless steel bottles showed they run around $16 and up — a safer but pricey alternative given that no matter how hard we try, we are bound to leave them scattered on various fields.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">“If I was to use plastic, I would stay with No. 2 and No. 5,” Professor vom Saal said. No. 2 is high-density polyethylene; No. 5 is polypropylene. Both are used in margarine tubs and yogurt containers for example.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">But, he warned, do not heat anything in any type of plastic in the microwave. </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">If you do use these hard No. 7 plastic bottles, the </FONT><A HREF="http://www.thegreenguide.com"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">Green Guide</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">, published by the </FONT><A HREF="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/n/national_geographic_society/index.html?inline=nyt-org"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">National Geographic Society</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">, advises you to avoid washing them in a dishwasher or with harsh detergent to limit wear and tear.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">I have no doubt that some readers think it is ridiculous to worry about such risks, while others will immediately toss out their plastic bottles. I am still on the fence. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">So, in a frenzy of indecision, I decided to look elsewhere in an attempt to be environmentally good. What about those plastic bags we use for sandwiches and snacks — is there a way to cut down on them?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">One friend suggested wax paper, another foil. </FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">“The big trade-off is between manufacturing and disposability,” said Seth Bauer, editorial director for the Green Guide and </FONT><A HREF="http://thegreenguide.com"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">thegreenguide.com</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">. “Plastic is manufactured incredibly efficiently and uses a lot less energy, while wax paper has a fairly intensive manufacturing process.”</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Mining aluminum is also bad for the environment, he noted, and uses a great deal of energy.</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Plastic bags can be rinsed out, if they do not hold meat, and reused, but wax paper is better than plastic when it comes to disposal. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">There is also a Web site, </FONT><A HREF="http://www.reusablebags.com"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">www.reusablebags.com</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">, which offers a product called “Wrap-N-Mat” with a Velcro closure that you can wash and use repeatedly at $6.95 a pop. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">I might try good old-fashioned </FONT><A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/mem/MWredirect.html?MW=http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/nyt-com/html-companyprofile.asp&symb=TUP"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">Tupperware</FONT></U></A><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">. I started searching on the Web for cute ones shaped like sandwiches and then realized I had plenty of containers in my cupboard that would do the job just fine.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Stop buying and use what we have in the house? Now that would be an innovative resolution.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Deborah L. DeBiasi</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Email: dldebiasi@deq.virginia.gov</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">WEB site address: </FONT><A HREF="file://www.deq.virginia.gov"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">www.deq.virginia.gov</FONT></U></A>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Virginia Department of Environmental Quality</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Office of Water Permit Programs</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Mail: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218</FONT><B><I> <FONT COLOR="#FF0000" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">(NEW!)</FONT></I></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Location: 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">PH: 804-698-4028</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">FAX: 804-698-4032</FONT>
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