Hi Phyllis,
Thanks for your website. I too am concerned about toxins in municipal water. I’ve spent a few weeks doing a ton of research on different water filter systems. I agree that Multi-Pure is the best on the market. (And I was very turned off by questionable Aquasana marketing practices – ie. numerous fake websites – and their lack of NSF certification.) Do you know if their MPAD countertop model is BPA free polypropylene? They don’t seem to specify, and that’s a huge selling point for me. I am trying to decide between the stainless steel models and this plastic one (MPAD). Thanks, Susan

Hi Susan,
I asked MultiPure your question. Here is the answer:
“Yes, the MPAD is BPA Free.  We use food grade quality polypropylene for
our plastics.  The NSF tests for this as well.  We are certified by the
NSF.  We do not add anything into the water from our Systems.”–Lorinda Long
Customer Service, Multi-Pure Corporation

So I asked another question:
“How about the tubing? Is it free of phthalates and BPA?”

Her answer:
“Yes!”

German researchers Martin Wagner and Jörg Oehlmann were wondering how active the false estrogens are that are found in bottled water.

First they tested 20 different brands of mineral commonly for sale in Germany, using yeast modified to contain a human estrogen receptor. They found significant functional estrogen levels (presumably leaching from the plastic bottles) in 60 percent of the packages tested. The estrogen levels were most significant in the plastic water bottles, but also found in glass bottles and in cardboard cartons with plastic liners.

Does the estrogen actually stimulate reproduction? They rinsed polycarbonate plastic and glass bottles, added water and snails, and waited.  After a period of time, the snails housed in the plastic bottles generated significantly more baby snails than the ones in the glass bottles. This suggests that the plastic packaging is a source of active estrogen hormones.

Moral of the story:  avoid bottled water and get a home water filter!

In his 2007 book Boys Adrift, Sax describes five major factors contributing to what he calls a growing epidemic of unmotivated boys and underachieving young men. One of these five is environmental estrogens from drinks stored in plastic bottles, including baby bottles. Baby toys and pacifiers have contained the stuff too. What stuff? BPA and phthalates, used to soften and condition the plastic. Plastic bottles with recycling #1, used for bottled water and soda, are a key culprit.

Scientists are aware that the chemicals are environmental estrogens, and have focused on their tendency to cause cancer. Animal studies pinpointed the amount that would cause cancer in animals, and acceptable dose limits were created from those studies.

He poses the question: does taking estrogen affect boys and men? In recent years many Americans have been getting their water out of plastic bottles. And soda has been sold in plastic bottles rather than aluminum cans. As a result, Americans find themselves in a big experiment on this question. Aside from whether the plastic additives cause cancer, Sax says he believes they are causing delayed puberty and lost motivation.

The result of the extra estrogens, along with four other factors, is affecting a population of men who haven’t grown up, says Sax. He cites some interesting studies. One looks at men in the age group of 35 to 40. Normally, men this age are married. In fact, only 25 years ago, only 8 percent of American men in this age group had never married. But as of 2006 that 8 percent had nearly tripled. It was up to 22 percent and still rising rapidly. (He cites Eduardo Porter and Michelle O’Donnell, “Facing Middle Age with No Degree and No Wife,” New York Times, Aug. 6, 2006.)

The proportion of men aged 18-35 living at home with parents or relatives has doubled in the last 30 years. Meanwhile 36 percent of babies in the United States in 2004 were born to unmarried women. These statistics cut across all demographic groups.

Congress last year passed a law directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban one of the estrogen additives, phthalates, from products sold for children as of August, 2009, including pacifiers and baby bottles.

But the Food and Drug Administration is the agency in charge of food and drink containers like water bottles, and it is choosing to believe the 11 industry-funded studies showing small amounts of BPA are safe. (There are 104 independently funded studies showing it is hazardous, according to Catherine Zandonella, MPH, of The Green Guide, an online magazine.)

To be a savvy and safe consumer, be on the lookout for a recycling number of 1, 3, or 7 on the bottoms of plastic bottles. If you see it, don’t use it. Especially, avoid beverages that were allowed to get warm in the plastic bottle, making it easier for the chemicals to seep out. (Acid in soda does this too.) Avoid warming food in plastic containers.

The other four factors in the epidemic of men who don’t grow up named by Sax are:

* Education system changes. Kindergarten has become a very frustrating time for boys, who are expected to sit down and learn to read. They aren’t ready, and as a result they learn to hate school.

* Video games

* ADHD medications

* A scarcity in our culture of traditions for transition to manhood

If this piques your interest, you should read this book. Everyone should read it, I think. It was an eye-opener for me and will be for you too. That’s Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax.

Are you concerned about the trace chemicals in city water and the hazards of plastic water bottles? Find out more about my search for the best pure water answer, which turned out to be a home water filtration system, costing just 8 cents per gallon. Find out about filter alternatives, including shower-head filters, at www.home-water-filter.info .