Ale from Toronto writes:

How dangerous is it to drink water from a bottle laden with bisphenol A?

Hi Ale, thank you for the question.

Bisphenol A is an organic compound that is essential in the synthesis of certain polymers.  In other words, it is used to make plastics.

One of the largest sources of bisphenol A is in a plastic called polycarbonate, which is used to make electronics, sports equipment, medical equipment, but you would be most familiar with it’s use in baby bottles and water bottles.  It is also used in the manufacturing of plastic wrap and some epoxy coatings used in food containers.

The chemical has very low acute symptoms.  This means that you won’t get sick from drinking it immediately.  It has a cumulative and long term affect.

The word “laden” that you used is somewhat misleading.  Very small amounts leach out of plastics due to contact with food and water. However, if you drink reverse osmosis bottled water, it is very corrosive and can and probably will leach more of the chemical than regular and more natural spring or tap water.

The actual health effect of this chemical is what’s known as an “endocrine disruptor”.  That is, the chemical can mimic the bodies hormones and cause unwanted effects, such as a decrease in testosterone, changes in the genital tract, hyperactivity, and predisposition to breast and prostate cancer.

In my opinion, infrequent and low doses of bisphenol A carries a very low risk of adverse health problems because it is a chronic problem, not an acute one.  Because it is a long term and chronic problem, your best bet would be to eliminate as much plastic as possible coming into contact with your food and drink.

For more information on the health effects of bisphenol A, contact your local health unit or medical practitioner.  You may also reference the Environmental Defence web page about bisphenol A here for more information.

If you require any clarifications or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to send them in to us.

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