In my earlier post on nursing and bottle feeding, I wrote that we use only Medela bottles, largely because they are made from polypropylene rather than polycarbonate. The latter contains bisphenol-A, a chemical that mimics estrogen and has links to developmental and neurological abnormalities as well as cancer.
Since that post, the Globe and Mail has published several articles on bisphenol-A and sales of glass baby bottles in Canada has soared. It’s still a fringe market – you won’t find glass bottles at Babies ‘R’ Us. Yet the growing popularity of non-polycarbonate bottles is a clear sign that many parents are concerned about bisphenol-A.
Feeling somewhat vindicated (I have been called neurotic about such issues), I scanned the kitchen for more polycarbonate. The Brita pitcher. We filter all of our drinking water through the Brita. In part, it’s habit. Brita’s advertising has been so effective that it now seems reckless to fill a water glass straight from the tap. We also use Brita because our house was built in 1909. We replaced lead water pipes inside the house when we renovated, but the pipes from the city mains into our house are still lead. There may be controversy over the health effects of bisphenol-A but there’s no controversy over lead. Its neurological effects, especially on children, are well documented. Brita claims that their filters remove 90% of lead.
So, with my vast amount of spare time, I tried to determine (1) if Brita pitchers are made from polycarbonate and (2) if we really need to filter our drinking water.
Answering the first question was not straightforward. Brita should get the most-annoying-website award. I emailed them, explaining my concerns about bisphenol-A and asking what tests had been done on Brita pitchers. They responded (within 48 hours as they promise) that “the reservoirs and pitchers are made either from NAS (a Styrene based plastic) or SAN (Styrene Acrylonitrile).” I am not a chemist; I assumed they were trying to tell me that the pitchers do not contain bisphenol-A but wasn’t sure. I asked for clarification. The second response came by regular mail about ten days later. The cover letter stated that the information I requested was enclosed. It wasn’t. Other than the cover letter, the envelope was empty. I emailed once again and got a quick response: “Brita pitchers do not contain bisphenol-A”. Seemed like a lot of work for an answer that Brita should have been happy to provide.
READ APRIL 2008 UPDATE ON BISPHENOL A
The second question, whether or not we should filter our drinking water, was easier. Our city tests household water as a free service. We provided samples of flowing tap water, as well as water that had been sitting in the pipes for half an hour. The results took about a week. Turns out that the lead level in our water is 1.2 parts per billion. The maximum acceptable concentration set by Health Canada is 10 ppb, and water leaves our city treatment plant at 0.5 ppb. So, while our water is considered safe, the old lead pipes are adding to the amount of lead that we are consuming.
Is it still worth running our water through (rather expensive) Brita filters? According to the city employee who tested our water, yes. While there are guidelines for “safe” levels of lead in our bloodstream, toxic effects of lead have been reported in children at well below these levels. For infants and children there is essentially no safe dose. Drinking water is only one source. For families living in older homes like ours, lead paint is no doubt a more significant source. I could write a long and repetitious book about my efforts to rid our house of lead paint. Ask my husband. The bottom line is that any reduction in lead exposure is worth the effort if you have young children. According to our helpful city employee, under normal circumstances, Brita removes about 60%, not 90%, of lead, and only if the filter is changed regularly. If the filter is old, the lead content of the water in the pitcher could actually be higher than that in the tap.
And what about the safety of NAS and/or SAN plastic? And PVC water pipes? And bisphenol-A in the lining of baby formula cans? No wonder I am – not – neurotic.
Some useful reading:
Having Faith. An Ecologist’s Journey to Motherhood. 2001. Sandra Steingraber.
In Harm’s Way. 2000. Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
August 9, 2007 article on bisphenol-A and phthalates in baby bottles from ENN.
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know my husband and I are really enjoying your blog. Your writings on multiples are insightful and intelligent and ring very true to us as parents of 10 month old twins.
Best Wishes, Rosanne
Hi – and thanks for your comment. Hearing from other parents of multiples is a very rewarding part of writing this blog. We went to our local Multiple Birth Families picnic a few weeks ago. It was reassuring to see so many parents coping with twins and more, but everyone was so busy running after all their kids, there was no time to talk! Online is another way…. Best of luck with your twins.
Yep – stay safe with glass – no leaching and environmentally friendly.
Thanks for doing the research on Brita filters. After reading about bisphenol-A I had exactly the same question. I feel reassured that I’m probably not doing harm by using them.
It’s hard to know what to think about the dangers of plastic, given all the conflicting information out there, but styrene seems to be a word to be concerned about. The Green Guide (http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/108/plastic) includes polystyrene under its “Plastics to Avoid.” I’m not sure what connection polystyrene has to Brita’s “Styrene based plastic.” I think Johnny may be right that glass is the safe option…
This entry came up as the number one result on my search for “brita pitcher bisphenol-a”, very helpful! Responding to the comment by Neill regarding styrene, The Green Guide actually does also have a post regarding Brita pitchers in particular (http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/ask/brita), and they see “no reason not to use Brita pitchers so long as they are the correct filter for the contaminants in your tap water”. I suppose you can always filter and then transfer to a glass pitcher to minimize exposure if really worried.
I am thinking of switching from my filter pitcher to a tap system, this way the water is not stored in plastic at all.
Hi Sarah,
Yes, I tried to do this as well but couldn’t get a filter to fit our unconventional tap. I think it’s the best solution in most cases though.
Thanks so much for your article it helps with my research a lot. I switched over from using any plastic held water products last year and now use a Brita at home along with a glass bottle when I want to take some water with me out. I research personal care products, cleaners, food and the like on a regular basis as I do not feel that we should be pawns to the big corporations. In this day and age it is clear that unless we look out for ourselves the companies themselves or the government certainly won’t.
So right away upon switching to Brita last year I began to look into what the jug and reservoir is made of, since the jug is the hard plastic that is typical of #7 plastic that contains the Bisphenol-A. I was shocked to find not an ounce of information about this on the Brita web site and I totally agree with you as to their web site. What is worse upon doing search after search I could not come up with one site that had some substantial info on the Brita jug ingredients. So just a few days ago I finally called Brita and was told the same as you that they are made of NAS and/or SAN. I wanted to know the details of these products and the customer service rep was unable to give me one detail about their composition. I find this very very disappointing, it makes you wonder. But anyhow I asked if they are going to come out with any glass pitchers and she said that nothing is in the works but that my comment will be passed along to marketing.
So thanks again for your research. It is great to see more and more people so involved and interested in their well being!
We’ve been using a circa 1996 pitcher and it has no recycle/plastic code on the bottom. I was reasonably content about the safety after reading your post, but I decided to email them anyway. Emailed Brita at midnight EDT last night and had a response by 10am EDT the next morning. Hard to argue with that. I’m still content about the safety and won’t change our habits. We drink it fast enough there’s not going to be much leaching going on.
March 26, 2008
[...]
Dear [...],
Thank you for contacting us about Brita Pour Through System – Classic/Standard Pitcher. We always appreciate hearing from our consumers.
The pitcher lids and filter housing are made from Polypropylene plastic. The reservoirs and pitchers are both made either from NAS (a Styrene based plastic) or SAN (Styrene Acrylonitrile). The soft-touch handles are made from an elastomer called Santoprene (not to be confused with Neoprene or Latex). The lids for the chrome pitcher only are made from ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). All were tested by NSF International for safety and wetted contact.
Brita does not use polycarbonate plastic in any of our products. There is no Bisphenol A, or any other plasticizer used in our products, either. Purchasing a new pitcher is not necessary, because our pitchers have always been free of the substances you are concerned about.
Again, thank you for contacting us.
Sincerely,
[...]
Consumer Response Representative
Consumer Services
Twinutero, I just had a frustrating experience with the Brita website like you had. I got the same generic e-mail you did that said the Brita pitcher is made of NAS or SAN. My e-mail did NOT include the additional helpful information that was in Derek’s e-mail reported above (just days earlier!) which explicitly stated that Brita does not use polycarbonate or bisphenols. So I’m really glad I did a Google search and found your blog. Thanks!
I discovered your website upon searching the web for SAN (i.e. the material the Brita pitcher is made of, or “styrene acrylonitrile” and the filter is made of “polypropolene”)
I have some concerns about trusting Brita’s response, as I read on another web source from CANADA where No. 7 plastics have been banned, that SAN or styrene acrylonitrile is catagorized as “Other” in the same group as the Number 7 plastics that may contain Bisphenol a. I just thought I’d pass this along to anyone willing to listen, as our children’s health and lives are at stake here. Please be careful about trusting the companies to be honest!
Here is the link I found:Plastic Types, Characteristics… Dangers and Recycling
(exerpt from http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/factsonplastic.htm)
Fortunately, consumers have a way to identify the type of plastic in many products, especially food storage containers and packaging. Many, but not all, such plastic products have a number – the resin identification code – molded, formed or imprinted in or on the container, often on the bottom. This system of coding was developed in 1988 by the U.S.-based Society of the Plastics Industry to facilitate the recycling of post-consumer plastics. It is voluntary for plastic manufacturers, but has become relatively standard on certain plastic products sold globally. Knowing the code for a particular product, consumers can then inform themselves of the characteristics of the plastic and the risks of using that product.
The seven plastic resin codes are each briefly described below to provide a quick snapshot detailing the name of the resin (i.e., the base material of the plastic), typical products it is found in, dangerous chemicals it leaches, and why they are dangerous.
Symbol 1: Polyethylene terephalate (PET or PETE) – Used in soft drink, juice, water, beer, mouthwash, peanut butter, salad dressing, detergent and cleaner containers. Leaches Antimony trioxide: workers exposed to antimony trioxide for long periods of time have exhibited respiratory and skin irritation; among female workers, increased incidence of menstrual problems and miscarriage; their children exhibited slower development in the first twelve months of life. The longer a liquid is left in such a container the greater the concentration of antimony released into the liquid.
Symbol 2: High density polyethylene (HDPE) – Used in opaque milk, water, and juice containers, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, garbage bags, yogurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners. Our research on risks associated with this type of plastic is ongoing.
Symbol 3: Polyvinyl chloride (V or Vinyl or PVC) – Used in toys, clear food and non-food packaging (e.g., cling wrap), some squeeze bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles, shower curtains, medical tubing, and numerous construction products (e.g., pipes, siding). PVC has been described as one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. Leaches di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) or butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), depending on which is used as the plasticizer or softener (usually DEHP). DEHP and BBzP are endocrine disruptors mimicking the female hormone estrogen; have been strongly linked to asthma and allergic symptoms in children; may cause certain types of cancer; linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. In Europe , DEHP and BBzP and other dangerous pthalates have been banned from use in plastic toys for children under three since 1999. Not so elsewhere, including Canada . There is currently a similar NDP Private Members Bill (C-307) before the House of Commons, but the chances of it passing appear slim.
Symbol 4: Low density polyethylene (LDPE) – Used in grocery store, dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, most plastic wraps, squeezable bottles (honey, mustard). Our research on risks associated with this type of plastic is ongoing.
Symbol 5: Polypropylene (PP) – Used in ketchup bottles, yogurt and margarine tubs, medecine and syrup bottles, straws, Rubbermaid and other opaque plastic containers, including baby bottles. Our research on risks associated with this type of plastic is ongoing.
Symbol 6: Polystyrene (PS) – Used in Styrofoam containers, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, take-out food containers, plastic cutlery, compact disc cases. Leaches styrene, which is an endocrine disruptor mimicking the female hormone estrogen, and thus has the potential to cause reproductive and developmental problems; long-term exposure by workers has shown brain and nervous system effects; adverse effects on red blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomach in animal studies. Also present in secondhand cigarette smoke, off-gassing of building materials, car exhaust and possibly drinking water. Styrene migrates significantly from polystyrene containers into the container’s contents when oily foods are heated in such containers.
Symbol 7: Other – This is a catch-all category that includes anything that does not come within the other six categories. As such, one must be careful in interpreting this category because it includes polycarbonate – a dangerous plastic – but it also includes the new, safer, biodegradable bio-based plastics made from renewable resources such as corn and potato starch, and sugar cane. Polycarbonate is used in most plastic baby bottles (!), clear plastic “sippy†cups, Nalgene brand and other “sports†water bottles, three and five gallon large water storage containers, metal food can liners, some juice and ketchup containers, compact discs, cell phones, computers. Polycarbonate leaches Bisphenol A (some effects described above), and numerous studies have indicated a wide array of possible adverse effects from low-level exposure to Bisphenol A: chromosome damage in female ovaries, decreased sperm production in males, early onset of puberty, various behavioural changes, altered immune function, and sex reversal in frogs.
Important Note: Two other types of plastic that fall under code 7 are acrylonitrile styrene (AS) or styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Both AS/SAN and ABS are higher quality plastics with increased strength, rigidity, toughness and temperature and chemical resistance. AS/SAN is used in mixing bowls, thermos casing, dishes, cutlery, coffee filters, toothbrushes, outer covers (printers, calculators, lamps), battery housing. The incorporation of butadiene during the manufacture of AS/SAN, produces ABS, which is an even tougher plastic. ABS is used in LEGO toys, pipes, golf club heads, automotive parts, protective head gear. Our research on risks associated with AS/SAN and ABS is ongoing.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY PLASTIC USE: You may wish to seriously consider your – and especially your children’s – use of plastics numbered 1, 3, 6 and 7 (polycarbonate), all of which have been shown to leach dangerous chemicals. This does not necessarily mean the others are completely safe, just that they have been studied less to date.
So if you have to use plastic, it is safest to stick to numbers 2, 4, 5 and 7 (other than polycarbonate) whenever possible.
If an item does not have a plastic code on it, or if the type of plastic is unclear from the code (e.g., with #7, it likely will not say it is polycarbonate), your best bet is to contact the manufacturer and ask them directly what type of plastic was used to make the product.
Plastic Tips
Here are some simple tips to help you in working toward a life without plastic, or a life of safer, more informed plastic use.
1. Avoid polycarbonate (#7) baby bottles and sippy cups. For baby bottles, try and use glass (e.g., Evenflo), polyethylene (e.g., Evenflo, Medela, Playtex) or polypropylene (e.g., Gerber, Medela) instead. Sippy cups made of stainless steel (e.g., Kleen Kanteen), or of polypropylene or polyethylene (e.g., Avent, Evenflo, First Years, Gerber, Playtex) are safer. Be sure to check the bottle or cup to be sure of the type of plastic it contains. As for baby bottle nipples, try and use silicone which does not leach the carcinogenic nitrosamines that can be found in latex.
2. If you must use polycarbonate (#7) bottles, avoid heating food and drink in the bottle. Heat it in a separate container and transfer it to the bottle once it is warm enough for the child to eat or drink. If the plastic is showing signs of wear – scratched, cloudy – discard the container.
3. For drinking water, try and avoid plastic bottles. If you do use plastic bottles made from #1 or #2 plastic try not to reuse them as they are intended only for single use. One alternative is a stainless steel water bottle. For storing large quantities of water, glass and stainless steel containers are also available. If you use a #1 water bottle, try to consume the contents as soon as possible because leaching of antimony increases with time.
4. Try to avoid heating foods in plastic containers, especially in the microwave oven, which can cause the plastic to degrade and leach chemicals faster. As well, leaching increases when plastic comes into contact with oily or fatty foods, or when the plastic is scratched, worn, cracked, or sticky.
5. Use plastic wraps with caution, especially in the microwave, and try to keep the plastic from touching the food. Alternatives include wax paper or paper towels.
Try and use alternatives to plastic packaging and storage containers. Cloth, paper or cardboard are possibilities for transporting groceries. Stainless steel and glass food storage containers are available.
6. Avoid plastic dishes and utensils for meals. Alternatives include glass, ceramic, wood, stainless steel, and lacquer ware. Offer your child or grandchild a non-plastic dish set made of either stainless steel or wood (safely coated using the Japanese lacquer technique).
Brilliant info to all who have posted here so far. Thank you so much for sharing – weirdly, it is incredibly difficult to live life without exposing ourselves or our babies to all these horrible chemicals, but with helpful info like this, we can try to avoid some of them!