BPA: Getting a bad rap?

Did you throw out all of your BPA-labeled bottles? The Food and Drug Administration is now saying “not so fast.”

The FDA recently announced that bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in many plastic sports bottles, is safe for use despite warnings earlier this year that the chemical could contain toxins and be a carcinogen.

In fact, in 2007 the U.S. National Institutes of Health had concerns about BPA’s effects on fetal and infant brain development and behavior.

A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association this week suggested that there may be a link between BPA exposure and heart disease and diabetes.

So what’s a health-conscience runner to do? Well, you certainly don’t have to choose between BPA and a water bottle. Companies like Klean Kanteen and SIGG make lightweight stainless steel bottles, and Camelbak plastic bottles are BPA-free. Either choice is a safer alternative without giving up the convenience.

And even if BPA is deemed safe, let’s face it, who enjoys the chemical “plastic” aftertaste after a long run?

– Tiffany Wendeln Connors