Is there any validity to the recall of Nalgene bottles indicating that polycarbonate plastic bottles, made with bisphenol A (BPA) are cancer causing?

Should I chuck mine, if so what are the best alternatives.

The way I understand this is you would have to drink out of the Nalgene every day for quite a few years before you ran the risk. I still have a couple of old nalgene's and still use them on BW trips. I doubt I drink more than a couple of gallons worth of water a year from them and the water never sits in them for very long.

I would not chuck them just because they are old bottles, just don't use them everyday.

New nalgenes do not contain the chemical. If you buy new bottles they are fine until they determine that the material they are made from now causes cancer.

Thanks bogwalker,

I am more careful about these things than a lot of people, but if I had an older Nalgene bottle and I used it only for BW trips, I would still do so. I do think BPA exposure is a concern, especially in our children (what bugs me the most is canned foods...not sure what to do about that...I do try to use fewer canned foods but life isn't always perfect!). If I used it all the time, I would get a new one. Also, re-purposing your old Nalgenes is an idea, too (pee bottle, anyone? LOL).

For my kids, though, I have non-BPA water bottles. Though then I feed them freezer bag meals that I do make in the plastic freezer bags. Hypocrite? Perhaps...but for a few days a year, I say ok. (though I actually have no idea what possibly icky chemicals are in freezer bags...BPA? I dunno.) We use their water bottles at other times, too, so it is a bit different than the FBC cooking.

Nojobo and Bogwalker have very good explanations.

The biggest mechanism to exposure for BPA is canned goods for most people. Even canned organics.

Kids are at the greatest risk. I personally use only non-BPA nalgene bottles and just use the older ones for other items like a leech carrier now. I figure for 7-9 dollars why take a chance?

If you only use the Nalgene for the BWCA then I can't see how you would be exposing yourself that much for that 5-7 days.

T

Think the exposure is higher with warmer temps too...

I chucked (couldn't even donate as I didn't want to expose someone else) all camp cups/mugs/french presses and nalgenes that might have BPA in them. I repurchased all new BPA-free ones, but I fully expect some day those will be found to have something harmful in them too.

I try to avoid plastic where possible (some replacements are stainless, etc.), but like nojobro there are a few things I do still use a limited number of times per year. When I find an equivalent non-plastic thing, I'll replace them too.

Yes, I've heard the same thing about cans, which ticks me off to no end. Buy organic beans and do NOT want to hear the cans are lined with BPA plastic! All told, canned goods are a minimal part of the menu, but still...

You do what you can I figure. It's a minor miracle anyone lives as long as we do these days.

quote WoodPaddle: "Is there any validity to the recall of Nalgene bottles indicating that polycarbonate plastic bottles, made with bisphenol A (BPA) are cancer causing?

Should I chuck mine, if so what are the best alternatives.
"

Better to be safe-they will only hurt you if you use them.

Only if you eat it.

Reading I have done says it has to do with running them through the dish washer. Those exposed to boiling water release BPA at a rate of 55 that of those with room temp water. Biggest concern at first was from baby bottles cleaned in the dishwasher. We hand wash ours, never using the DW.
Someday they will say an overexposure to camping in the wild will cause over relaxation and people being too laidback.

CB

quote Cedarboy: "Someday they will say an overexposure to camping in the wild will cause over relaxation and people being too laidback.
CB"

I can't wait for that!

Maybe worth noting that it isn't actually a recall where they exchange old products or pull them from the shelves with nothing to replace them. Rather they are removing BPA from their products because that is what consumers want. Whether or not BPA is a problem is not settled.

Thanks everyone for their comments.

Rather than chuck your old Nalgenes you can use them for non-liguid stuff, like gorp or rice. They're pretty well rodent resistant. I use mine camping still, but use them to store dry goods up at the cabin too. Keeps the mice out of the oatmeal.

I went to the bwca last month with some cousins who live in Texas. They say "chunk" instead of "chuck". Pretty funny to read everyone above say "chuck"

Anyway, I have a tough time chucking mine. I use them at times, but not often. I like the idea of using them for seed, maybe they could be used in the garage to store all my nuts and bolts.
I did buy a Sigg for my whiskey. :)

quote WoodPaddle: "Is there any validity to the recall of Nalgene bottles indicating that polycarbonate plastic bottles, made with bisphenol A (BPA) are cancer causing?

Should I chuck mine, if so what are the best alternatives.
"

Do not throw them out. Get an extra lid. drill 3/8" holes in old one and use for leech bucket, sinking in lake to keep leeches alive. Use new lid for transporting leeches to and from TGO Fish Story Emporium.

I use my old ones to store lead shot for reloading shotgun shells. I wonder which will kill me sooner? Handling the lead shot or handling water bottles?

Think about all the old toys we had as kids. Was the stuff in Stretch Armstrong safe?

We used to play all day with mercury from thermometers. It's hardly affected me at all :O

I use mine the same as I always did. I have a couple new Nalgenes and several older ones and use them all equally. I don't even think about it.

quote whiteh20: "I use my old ones to store lead shot for reloading shotgun shells. I wonder which will kill me sooner? Handling the lead shot or handling water bottles?


Think about all the old toys we had as kids. Was the stuff in Stretch Armstrong safe? "

LOLOL!!!!!!!

I don't know.

quote Cedarboy: "Reading I have done says it has to do with running them through the dish washer. Those exposed to boiling water release BPA at a rate of 55 that of those with room temp water. Biggest concern at first was from baby bottles cleaned in the dishwasher. We hand wash ours, never using the DW.
Someday they will say an overexposure to camping in the wild will cause over relaxation and people being too laidback.


CB"

Can you think of a better way to go out??

yes

joe jackson...one of my all time favorites.

quote bogwalker: "New nalgenes do not contain the chemical. If you buy new bottles they are fine until they determine that the material they are made from now causes cancer. "

word...and i'm guessing the state of california has already declared the new material as carcinogenic;)

quote Jackfish: "I use mine the same as I always did. I have a couple new Nalgenes and several older ones and use them all equally. I don't even think about it."

+1

quote WoodPaddle: "Is there any validity to the recall of Nalgene bottles indicating that polycarbonate plastic bottles, made with bisphenol A (BPA) are cancer causing?

Should I chuck mine, if so what are the best alternatives.
"

Not if use them only for whiskey :)