YOU DOWN WITH BPA?

TYPICALLY AN ENVIRONMENTALLY MINDED GROUP, we climbers have long been ahead of the curve when it comes to reducing plastic and other waste — and have made a huge step by drinking from mostly reusable polycarbonate water bottles (i.e., the iconic Nalgene sippers). And though said bottles are good for the environment, reducing waste and encouraging us to use clean, cheap tap water (visit tappening.com), it seems they might not be so great for our health.

On April 9, the TODAY show aired an unsettling (and, say those in the plastics industry, overblown) special report, bringing in doctors and toxicologists to discuss the dangers of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used “primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins . . . “ according to the National Toxicology Program (NTP; part of the Department of Health and Human Services). And on April 14, the NTP released a draft brief analyzing and discussing the possible dangers of the chemical. (To download the report, visit cerhr.niehs.nih. gov/chemicals/bisphenol/BPADraftBriefVF_04_14_08.pdf.)

According to the NTP report, BPA not only “can migrate into food from food and beverage containers” — especially when the food/liquid is hot — but it’s also been shown to adversely affect the developmental and reproductive health of lab animals and, possibly, us. And while the NTP report, in a “weight of evidence” analysis of scores of studies, went on to fi nd “insuffi cient evidence for a conclusion” regarding BPA’s effects on human health, major manufacturers in the outdoor industry, including Nalgene and Camelbak, have already stopped using BPA (and Canada, in April, moved to ban its use in baby bottles).

Analysis Although conclusive evidence is at present lacking re. the long-term health effects of plastics with BPA, recent events should provide reason enough to question the safety of your trusty, sticker-encrusted water bottle. Still, the best way of looking at it might be, why take chances when there are so many BPA-free alternatives out there? Before you go chucking your bottles, take a moment to ID their plastic type — if the recycling code on the bottom shows a 7 in the little arrow triangle, you almost certainly have a polycarbonate bottle. (Recycling codes range from 1 to 7; for info, visit healthobservatory.org, or americanchemistry.com for alternative views on BPA.) Weed out these old No. 7s or repurpose accordingly (see sidebar at right). Now it’s time to select a new water container. Here are some options:

• Camelbak (camelbak.com) — Camelbak responded quickly to concerns surrounding BPA, stating on their website that their extensive line of plastic, reusable bottles is now BPA free.

• Klean Kanteen (kleankanteen.com) — Klean Kanteen offers a full line of stainless-steel bottles, de facto BPA free.

• Nalgene (nalgene-outdoor.com) — Nalgene is phasing out BPA and offers many alternatives, including an upcoming stainless-steel series.

• Polar Bottle (polarbottle.com) — Polar Bottle’s bicycle-style plastic bottles are not only BPA free, they’re also recyclable and double walled.

• Sigg (sigg.com) — Sigg offers a line of BPA-free, stainless-steel bottles, including a double-walled thermal version.

• Thermos (thermos.com) — This reputable maker of thermal containers also makes stainless-steel, BPA-free beverage bottles.

• Ultimate Direction (ultimatedirection.com) — Ultimate Direction’s various water containers are made with BPA-free plastic.

YOUR OLD POLYCARBONATE BOTTLES AREN’T RECYCLABLE, but that doesn’t mean you should trash ‘em. Instead, convert them into something useful. A few ideas:

• Spill-proof chalk tote

• Planter, containing an eco-friendly sunfl ower

• Cold-weather-camping pee bottle

• Coin jar (future road-trip fundage)

• Solar-powered lantern (with the help of products like the SolLight Lightcap; sollight.com)

Access Bulletins • Losing Lost Horse: In May, it was announced that the Lost Horse Canyon crag in Montana is to be the site of a gravel quarry. The Bitterroot Climbers Coalition is urging action — visit bitterrootclimbers.org for more.

• Rumney Burning: A May 28 fi re atop the crags at Rumney, New Hampshire, resulted in a climbing (and general-access) closure at the state’s hottest sport area — visit fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain and neclimbs.com.