I volunteered at a large community walking event last weekend and a local medical center donated 3000 water bottles for the participants. I fielded several inquiries as to whether these bottles were "safe." The walkers had heard of the bisphenol-A (BPA) concerns in Plastic #7 polycarbonate water bottles. These bottles were of the opaque polyethylene, which isn't made with BPA. I also received advertising email from companies jumping on the BPA-free bandwagon. If people are concerned, they are happy to sell them new water bottles made of materials that never had BPA (including aluminum, stainless steel, polypropylene and polyethylene) or newly formulated BPA-free polycarbonate. You can check your current water bottle by looking on the bottom for the embossed triangle. If there is a 7 inside the triangle recycling symbol, it may be polycarbonate and may or may not be manufactured using BPA. In other words, if there is any number except 7 in the triangle, it is BPA-free. If there is a 7, you would have to check the labeling further to see whether it is BPA-free.

Reviews of BPA-Free Water Bottles

• Nalgene OTG Tritan Bottle
• SIGG Sport Aluminum Bottle
• Camelbak Performance Bottle
• Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Bottle
• Ultimate Direction