Everyday Mom

Oh another question in the minds of thousands as they contemplate the scary and often tragic news they received via email.  Supposedly, according to research done by a University of Idaho student during the master’s thesis process, there is proof that plastic water bottles can breakdown into carcinogenic compounds when reused or frozen.  This information was supported in the thesis and then started making its way around the world via email.  According to one version of the email, repeated washing and reusing of plastic water bottles causes an element of the plastic called PET or polyethylene terephthalate to break down and release DEHA or diethylhydroxylamine, a carcinogen.  Water drinkers are encouraged to use water bottles only once or at least not more than a couple of days. 

Another version retells the story of a woman whose friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  Apparently her doctor assured her that the cause was likely due to the carcinogenic elements that leached into her drinking water from the repeated use of disposable plastic water bottles.  This same story is told in yet another version where Sheryl Crow claims to have traced her breast cancer to plastic water  bottles as well. 

Have you heard this, received the email, repeated it or shared it with a loved one?  Did you mass forward the email to all of your friends?  Do you really believe this?  Some people do and have done one or all of the things I just suggested in order to share the word with others, but I hate to break the news to you, the rumor is likely false.  I’m a huge skeptic when it comes to stuff like this.  I head right over to Snopes if someone tells me a tragic story and wants me to modify my behavior in some way to stay out of danger.  There you will be able to find information on almost every mass email out there.  They’re not all false, but it’s better to check it out before forwarding it to everyone in your address book!

Check out the water bottle story on Snopes.  You’ll find that the student at U of I didn’t do good research and started a rumor based on bad facts.  You’ll also find that more than water bottles are made with the same materials everyone is up in arms about!  If you need more information, get online and do some research.  Don’t always believe everything you read.  If you really want to have a reason to stop using water bottles, try not filling our landfills with them.  That makes much more sense to me. 

If you are looking for great drinking water and bottles, check out Pure Water 2Go.  Or if you just want a good bottle to reuse with your water from home, pick up a water bottle at Eastern Mountain Sports.