Carolyn Egerszegi - Just reading this now after your most recent post, but thought I'd comment in case others are re-reading these comments too. The stainless steel bottles you just bought are best. #1 is meant for 1-time use only. If you must use plastic, #5 is the most stable for multiple uses. As you said, #3 and #7 are the worst and should never be used for food/beverage storage. Some above mentioned SIGG bottles, but they are not necessarily safe - their aluminum core can leach, which isn't good for you either. Stick with the stainless steel and you'll be healthier for it! c
megan resch - sigg bottles aren't the right option either because they're aluminum which can lead to alzheimers.... if you want a reusable bottle go for stainless steel. it's the only safe option really.
Calvin - The above numbers do not mean that one is worse than the other. It only means that this item needs to be group together for recycling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code). So, for example you could have two items label with the number 7, though, one has BPA and the other is BPA-free. Both have similar materials that can be recycled together. Make sure to check with the manufacture first. Though, the FDA is currently doing lots of research with items made with BPA. Here is a link to the Commissioners take on it. http://www.fda.gov/oc/vonEschenbach/andys_take/bpa_the_science_evaluation_and_safety.html. Also, check out this article from John Hopkins published back in 2004. http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/articles/halden_dioxins2.html. I hope this is helpful.
misty - oh my goodnes, i just checked my daughters baby bottles...TOXIC!!!
Gail - Melissa,
Try a Sigg bottle! Not only are they beautiful - they are SAFE! I love mine and have gotten a lot of compliments on it! It keeps my water colder too!
Trina Knudsen - Rrrgh-garbage! I just found out all my favorite Nalgene bottles are 7's too...sad day.
Libby - After reading this post this weekend, I have become obsessed with checking the numbers on the bottom of anything plastic! Definitely good stuff to know... glad you posted it.
Melissa Jill :) - Hey Kimberly & Jen--Thanks for the info. I don't understand though why refilling a water bottle that is a #1 would be any different than re-using a sippy cup for example. Or re-using tupperware. Is there a certain number that is made for re-using?
Jennifer Bowen - Parents need to check their kids sippy cups and bottles too! I had to throw out several of Jordan's old sippy cups because of bad numbers on the bottom after I saw all this on the news and researched it further. Very scary! Also, what Kimberly mentioned about reusing plastics I have also heard. Plastic bottles should only be refilled once at most. The safest bottles for reuse, albiet more fragile, are glass ones.
Kimberly Davis - I hate to tell you this but a 1 should only be used once, twice at max. Normal water bottles are a 1 and they aren't supposed to be washed and reused for the same reason you mentioned. Sorry!
roz - right this second i have just checked and thrown out every container in my cupboard. thank you for saving my life.
Amy - Parting with bottles is hard. I accidentally left Brandon's bottle on a basketball court and he didn't stop talking about it for weeks. Also, I'm extremely impressed that you can go without alcohol or coffee. My biggest fear about having kids is being forced to give up my cup of coffee every morning!
Teodora - Uh, scary! And very important as well. Thank you for drawing our attention to it.
Amanda mays - Scary stuff! I drink water all day too but I uses glasses, paper cups at work and then store bought water bottles. I was just getting ready to buy a refillable one. Now I'll know to check that # thanks!
Tawnya - So glad to read you threw it out! As soon as I started reading your post and your info about you drinking your water- I thought oh do I dare mention that that plastic could be harming her? Then I continue reading and realize (to my delight- that you have already been told)! We use glass- and when we are on the go and for our children, we use the stainless steel. Who knows- 5 years from now- those too could be causing us harm.
Tanya Mills - Thanks for posting this! I just checked our water bottles, and they're all 7s. Uh oh!
Kerry - Whoa. I checked my water bottle immediately and it's a #1! Thanks for posting this.
Cameron Clark Photography - So up here in Flagstaff, where everything is earth friendly and everyone is on top of their GREEN game we have made the switch to SIGG metal bottles for just this purpose. You might like one... http://www.mysigg.com/index.asp
I love mine. You can get them at an Outdoor sporting goods store... we have 5 in a two block radius up here, yet another excuse for you to come to my studio opening... hee hee!
Erin Harvey - Wow, thanks for the heads up. I thought the number was just how many times it had been recycled, haha. I guess someone told me that when I was little... and we believe everything when we're little, right?