Recently, I received an email from a family friend which was quite alarming. The text urged you to forward the email to all your female loved ones expressing concerns over plastic bottles being left in warm cars causing serious health issues in particular breast cancer. This was rather alarming reading. Does this mean we can’t reuse such bottles? Is this a myth? How is this possible? On further investigation I read that Cheryl Crow had expressed her concern on ‘The Ellen Show’, claiming the bottles had been one of the reasons she suffered from breast cancer, due to the high levels of dioxin formed through plastic bottles, which were found in the breast tissue as a result of the chemical reacting with heat in a car environment.
However P J Hamel explains “the Web site devoted to debunking urban legends, says the Sheryl Crow/hot car story isn’t true. Now, there’s some evidence that certain types of plastic bottles, those made with bisphenol A (BPA; Nalgene is a good example), MAY cause gene alterations that MAY lead to cancer in lab animals. The FDA currently sides with the plastic industry in supporting the bottles’ safety; but many manufacturers have begun to produce bottles without the controversial BPA. So it might someday be proven true; but for now, there’s not enough evidence. In the meantime, glass and stainless steel seem to be worry-free alternatives. PJH.”
From reading various sources it’s fair to say that this story or ‘myth’ cannot be ignored. Research is still ongoing and until we know for sure what the truth is I say take extra care when dealing with plastics whether it be in a car or even microwave. This is a case were products find themselves at the front of criticism especially when it comes to dealing with the body and its diseases caused by them.