re-using water bottles

[tabbycat]

Some time in the last two years I read a spot in CL about re-using the bottles from bottled water. The spot said something to the effect that it wasn't a good idea because the plastic degrades.

Anyone out there remember which issue it was? I'm currently digging my way through back issues hunting for it.

Anyone out there know anything more about this? I've been trying to search the web for more info, but haven't found anything so far.

I'd appreciate any input on this subject.

Thanks!

[valchemist]

I typed reusing waterbottles into google and got a lot of information. here is some:

http://www.google.com/search?q=reusing+water+bottles&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

[Melman]

There's always the debunking article on the urban legends Snopes.com site: http://www.snopes.com/toxins/bottles.asp

[TerriS]

I reuse them all the time but only for about a week. After a week the water starts to taste a bit off and I have in the past noticed an unpleasant tummy effect if I go for much more than a week.

[DocAgocs]

It all has to do with perspective. Of course the International Water Bottling Association isn't going to come out with a statement saying their bottles aren't healthy. I think for most people it isn't too much of an issue. But, for those who it is an issue for, it can be a BIG one! I'm more concerned with plastic components that can get into the water in bottle in terms of hormone disruption. Plastic are porbably the worst and most pervasive group of hormone disruptors in the body. The more "plasticky" the plastic is, the worse they are. Plastic wraps for food are the worst. Applying heat to them isn't real great. Also, how long has the water been in the bottle between bottling, storage, shipment, storage and finally sale on the shelf?

If you want to use plastic to drink out of I would go with the hard Nalgene bottles that you can get at any outdoor store. They are very hard plastic that is shatter resistant and they contain fewer plasticizers, so should be better for you. Lots of colors, too! :D
I say why subject yourself to the potential of additional toxins that tax your body when you don't have to?

[Laura]

I know little about this subject, but I do know that my friend who has lupus won't drink any water out of a plastic bottle, much less re-use them. It was something her doctor told her about toxins ultimately being released into the liquid. She still buys milk in plastic containers as the shelf life for milk is so short, there doesn't seem to be the same type of problem.