With a growing number of people turning to more sustainable options, reusable water bottles have been on the rise. People across the world are starting to realize how much waste they can save by choosing a reusable bottle over a single-use, plastic one.
While some people have opted to buy sturdy plastic bottles that can be used over and over again, more and more people are shifting to buying aluminum bottles as these are more eco-friendly. However, aluminum doesn’t really sound like something you’d want to have in your body. Many people ask, “Are aluminum water bottles really safe?”
There’s a lot of concern in regards to over-exposing oneself to aluminum. Prolonged exposure to increasing amounts of aluminum could pose some health risks, including neurotoxicity of the brain’s barrier. So does that mean we should pass on buying that aluminum container in the store?
The short answer is: no, you don’t need to. In general, aluminum is safe, as it’s abundantly present in the environment, there is no health risk that accompanies drinking out of an aluminum water bottle. Aluminum itself doesn’t have a high toxicity level, and the aluminum in water bottles less so. The next section of this article will explain the safety of aluminum water bottles more thoroughly.
ARE ALUMINUM BOTTLES SAFE?
Concerns regarding aluminum water bottles have less to do with the actual aluminum and more to do with the other materials that make the bottles. With all the talk and discussion surrounding the question of safety in aluminum bottles, one term often stands out: BPA.
WHAT IS BPA?
BPA stands for Bisphenol-A, a chemical that’s frequently used in the manufacturing of food containers. BPA is a common ingredient in these products as it’s used to create stronger, sturdier plastic. However, BPA is not present in all plastic types. As a matter of fact, it has never been present in Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, which is commonly used in majority of plastic bottles in the market.
Ralph Vasami, executive director of the PET Resin Association (PETRA), also guarantees PET as a safe plastic material and clarifies the confusion over polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). “We want the public to know that PET doesn’t contain any BPA and never has. Although the names of the two plastics may sound somewhat similar, they are chemically different,” he says.
Additionally, there have been a lot of conflicting reports about Bisphenol-A or BPA over the years. Numerous legislators and groups have called for its ban in different materials over fears of health-related issues that can prove dangerous. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several international health authorities have since ruled that BPA is indeed safe.
However, if caution remains at the top of your mind more than anything, you can still proceed by only considering aluminum water bottles lined with BPA-free epoxy resins. Having a lined aluminum water bottle will prevent the occurrence of corrosion, a possible health risk that you would want to avoid.
