plastic bottles unsafe?

[acroyear]

Today Show had a thing (I'll put up a link later when the web site updates) on plastic drinking bottles and how some of them aren't really all that safe for us, especially those with recycle-numbers 3, 6, and 7.

Some other links - note that some are contradictory:

• http://www.cure-guide.com/Natural_Health_Newsletter/Plastic_Bottles/plastic_bottles.html
• http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1102earthtalk1102.html
• http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/ask/nalgene
  

Also note that "7" is the official "other" category and as such, some are safer than others because some are made of different stuff.  It's a reason some recycling centers won't take 7's.  (Yes, this "other" contradicts another article that says 7 is only Nalgene).

Update: apparently, most store-bought bottles and coffee mugs are 5 (good), including my Disney hotel mug, but the "free" stuff is what you have to watch out for.  The water bottles that come as "swag" from pharmaceutical companies are iffy, like the blue bottles we got at an MS walk from Copaxone which is a 7.  The pink bottles from the Avon walk a few years back are unmarked with the recyc #.

Both say "made in China".

Comments

[redsteve.livejournal.com]

Since I'm currently drinking from a tap refilled plastic water bottle... (Holding bottle over head and looking into the bottom) Ah. "1". Very good, I'm safe for another day. And the asbestos sleeve keeps my water nice and cold.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

well, actually, they were saying that "1" (soda bottles, store-bought packaged water bottles like deerpark and aquafina) were fine the first time, but don't re-use them.

[redsteve.livejournal.com]

Ah well. So much for having my reckless behavior affirmed.