As studies grow by the day about the health hazards of bisphenol A (BPA), conventional wisdom seems to be pointing toward common tap water being the safer solution over the countless brands of bottled water sold at the grocery store.

Heavy contact with the very same chemical used to make CDs, dental sealants and sunglasses as well as clear plastic bottles may be responsible for a wide range of health problems for women, from irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) to fertility issues for their babies. In both cases, BPA creates problems because it works like a synthetic hormone with qualities similar to estrogen.

Adding to the problems associated with bottled water, the FDA has almost no ability to regulate it. For example, municipal water utilities are required by law to disclose test results to the public, but bottled water producers are exempt from such scrutiny. Although bottled water companies are required by the FDA to test for contaminants and other issues, their products don't have to be tested by a certified lab, nor do such problems have to be disclosed in a timely fashion.

In fact, a recent survey by the Environmental Working Group revealed less than 2 percent of the 200 brands of bottled water disclosed the methods their companies used to purify their products, chemical contaminants or the original source of the water.

CNN July 13, 2009

healthfinder.gov June 10, 2009