Well, I think my first bit of advice would be to take a deep breath. Its true that contact with the Bisphenol-Aused in hard plastic bottles made with polycarbonatehas been linked to cancer, and it also can mimic human estrogen and cause genetic problems. But the link between Bisphenol-A and the use of Nalgene bottles isnt all that clear. In fact, earlier this year the European Food Safety Authority changed its guidelines to basically say that normal daily use of a plastic bottle made with polycarbonate doesnt pose any additional risk. Nalgene stands behind the safety of its bottles, but of course it would.
Nalgene N-Gen Bottle
N-Gen BottleYou dont mention what you use the bottle for. If for occasional use, such as when hiking or biking, my own view is that the risk is, for all intents and purposes, zero. Thats especially true if the bottle is in good shape, not scratched on the interior, and not exposed to heat or harsh chemicals. Use it, rinse it out, let it dry, and youre good to go.
As for Laken bottles, I should think theyd be fine. Theyre coated on the interior, and putting water into a bottle such as that would hardly cause aluminum to leach out.
Also keep in mind that bottles made with HDPE (high-density polyethylene) have not been associated with Bisphenol-A leakage and are widely regarded as extremely safe. This summer Ive been using Nalgenes 96-ounce collapsible Wide-Mouth Cantene ($10.50; nalgene-outdoor.com) and have been very happy with its versatility. HDPE also can be found in hard bottles; its the cloudy ones, as opposed to the clear or colored polycarbonate used in other bottles.
So, drink up.
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