Nalgene no-no!

Go grab your favorite water bottle. Right now! Go!

Take a look at the bottom of the bottle. Is there a #7 on the bottom? If there is, then you better keep reading!

Many Nalgene water bottles and other hard plastic sport water bottles are made using polycarbonate, which can leech Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like chemical. No ladies, this estrogen imitator won't give you better skin or shinier hair. Rather, this estrogen mimic has been linked to breast cancer, earlier onsets of puberty and birth defects. Men, you're not in the clear either. Studies suggest BPA to cause feminization in males including reduced semen production and the development of breasts. While some are still questioning the real implications of these studies, they were enough to cause many of the country's largest retailers - including Wal-Mart - to ban the sale of products containing BPA.

So does that mean it's time to ditch the Nalgene and (gasp) turn back to bottled water? No way! At least not in my opinion. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid the leeching of BPA. I found these great suggestions from the Washington Post:

To avoid exposure to BPA:

* Look for BPA-free toys, baby bottles and containers. There's been a recent explosion of such products, which may often carry a higher price tag.

* Reduce your use of canned food; eat fresh or frozen foods instead. Bisphenol A has been found in the lining of canned food tins.

* If you use hard polycarbonate plastics (Nalgene bottles, baby bottles, sippy cups), do not heat them or use them for warm or hot liquids. Heating plastics to high temperatures may promote the leaching of chemicals out of containers and into the food or liquid they hold. Freezing plastics poses no such risk.

* Instead of polycarbonate and PVC plastics, consider using alternatives such as polyethylene plastic -- also labeled as PETE or recycling code #1, #2 (HDPE) and #4 (LDPE). Polypropylene (recycling code #5, or PP) is also considered a safe choice. Recycling code #7 may mean the product contains BPA.

* Do not wash polycarbonate plastic containers in the dishwasher with harsh detergents.

To be on the safe side, I'm definitely going to follow these precautions. However, am I ready to cut the ties with my faithful, trusted Nalgene bottle? (We've been in a committed relationship for about 6 years now!). I can't say for sure - but you won't catch me putting it into the microwave or dishwasher.

For more expert information about the risks surrounding BPA, listen to this quick interview with Michael D. Shelby, director of the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, that was recently featured on NPR's All Things Considered.