FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY — Scientists at Goethe University, located here, have found that polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, plastics, of which individual bottled water containers commonly are made, may contain hormone-disrupting chemicals that leach into the water, Discovery News reported April 28.
According to researchers, it now appears that some as-yet-unidentified chemicals in PET plastics have the potential to interfere with estrogen and other reproductive hormones in the same manner that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are suspected of doing.
BPA is a plastic hardening compound used in the manufacture of polycarbonate water bottles, other food packaging and PVC water pipes. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is maintaining the position that BPA is safe, continues to assess the use of the chemical compound in food contact applications, as WaterTech Online® and the Journal Sentinel recently reported.
The International Bottled Water Association, the trade organization of bottled water producers, says it believes that the current state of research shows that BPA does not threaten consumers’ health.
The scientists at Goethe University, led by ecotoxicologist Martin Wagner, said more research is needed to determine if drinking out of PET plastic containers is harmful to human health.
For the full report, click here.
For related information, click here.
Every month in 
