Gaiam Water Bottles: Who Can Consumers Trust Now?

Toledo, OHNow that you know that SIGG water bottles and Gaiam water bottles leach Bisphenol-A (BPA), you may be wondering if there is any water bottle you can trust.

Gaiam bottles were specifically marketed as BPA-free when, in fact, testing showed that Gaiam's aluminum water bottles leached BPA at a level of 23.8 parts per billion, approximately 20 times the level of BPA leaching found in independent tests of SIGG water bottles, according to Food Consumer.

BPA is commonly used in the production of plastic and the epoxy linings in metal cans used to store food and beverages.

Studies have shown that BPA mimics estrogen and can be harmful even in small doses. According to MSN Health, the chemical can cause infertility, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Children, infants and fetuses are more susceptible to the effects of BPA because their reproductive organs are still developing.

Concern about BPA has led health organizations to release statements about the compound, according to USA Today. The Endocrine Society cautioned that hormone-like chemicals pose "significant concern for public health" and urged people to reduce their exposure to them. Canada declared BPA to be a toxic substance, and the National Toxicology Program in the US has reportedly expressed "some concern" about BPA's effects on the brain.

USA Today notes that BPA research was highlighted at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Washington, D.C. One study was presented that linked BPA to abnormal heart rhythms in rats and mice, and a separate study found that BPA permanently changed the DNA of mice.

All this information about BPA has fueled public concern, especially now that consumers have learned some products are falsely marketed as BPA-free.