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Glass water bottles are becoming more popular as people seek to be healthier.
They are BPA-free, easy to clean, and are often made from recycled glass.
Depending on the brand, they may not be made in China like other water bottles.
The best thing about glass water bottles is you will never have to worry about plastic breaking down over time.
Also great is they are dishwasher safe, saving you time from hand-washing and ensuring they are germ-free.
Yes, there is the chance of it breaking if you drop it.
But you will buy a glass water bottle with a silicone holder — which most of them have — so you will protect the bottle and may get lucky should it drop.
After years of using glass water bottles, I’ve accidentally dropped them 8-9 times.
But only once did one break.
It broke on my concrete driveway.
It really depends where you are, and how it hits when it lands.
The best things about glass water bottles are also that there won’t be a metallic taste when you drink from glass water bottles.
Chemicals won’t leach into your water like they might from plastics or non-food grade metals.
Worth repeating is that you can usually put them in the dishwasher which you can’t do with other types of reusable water bottles.
This is a huge time saver, especially if you get in the habit of bringing your glass water bottle with you every day.
And because you can wash them in the dishwasher, you may find yourself adding tea bags or fruit to your water knowing you can wash it out well.
Best Glass Water Bottles
I am always on the lookout for the best glass water bottles and love trying them out.
Here’s a review of glass water bottles.
All of these bottles are lead-free and BPA-free.
EcoVessel Surf Glass Water Bottle: 22 ounces.
Made with up to 60% recycled glass. Dishwasher safe.
This one has a flip straw top.
ZuluLifefactory Glass Water Bottle
Camelback Glass EddyTakeya glass water bottle: 22 ounces. Twist cap.
The silicone sleeve protects most of this bottle making it safer if you drop it.
You can still see inside it.
We love that it’s dishwasher safe.
Bottle opening is 1.25 inches.
You can definitely fit ice cubes in it but not as easily as a wide-mouth bottle.
The glass bottle is made in Japan; the silicone sleeve and cap are made in China.
Ello Pure BPA-free glass water bottle: 20 oz.
Twist cap; no straw.
This one is made in China.
However, they offer so many colors that it’s a popular choice.
It has a smaller mouth opening which takes longer to fit ice cubes in.
Be sure to check out our review of the recycled glass water bottles: Eco Vessel and Zulu.
Glass water bottle review
For my use, the best glass water bottle is the Lifefactory 22 ounce bottle.
The Lifefactory 22 ounce glass water bottle is easy to grip.
It has a wide mouth which makes easy to add ice to it.
With the wide opening, it’s very easy to clean the bottle too, though I usually put it in the dishwasher.
Plus, because of the silicone grip if there’s condensation on the bottle it won’t be slippery.
Like most of these water bottles, it’s dishwasher safe (even the silicone sleeve).
This bottle has the best reviews on Amazon.
Also note that they make a glass Lifefactory baby bottle.
These bottles are made in France, and the silicone sleeves are made in the United States.
UPDATE: CamelBak has come out with a glass version of their popular Eddy glass water bottle.
The CamelBak glass Eddy is a great bottle.
Other glass water bottles
The Takeya glass water bottle comes in sizes 16 ounces and 25 ounces and features a silicone sleeve.
They also have a wide mouth.
Takeya glass bottles are made in Japan.
A great option is buy 6 Aquasana 18-ounce bottles.
These bottles also have wide mouths but they don’t come with silicone sleeves.
You can, however buy a 6 pack of colorful silicone sleeves designed just for these bottles on Amazon.
These bottles are a little smaller than some, holding 18 ounces of water.
Bormioli Rocco Giara Bottles are made in Italy (though there is some indication that some are made in the United States) and very reasonably priced.
They come in the largest size of the glass water bottles at 33 3/4 ounces and there are lots of cool colors.
These bottles seem to us to be more for your dining table instead of toting about, however.
The Love Water Bottle allows you to write on your own bottle.
However, these glass bottles are made in China.
Glass Water Bottles Made in the U.S.A
(…or at least not made in China)
Glass water bottles that are (mostly) made in America include Lifefactory and BottlesUp bottles.
Because of production costs and requirements, it’s difficult to find a glass water bottle made in the USA completely.
Lifefactory’s bottles are made in the USA, Poland, and France.
Parts of BottlesUp glass water bottles are made in the USA; the other parts are all made in North and Central America.
These (partially) American-made bottles are the only bottles I can find that are made in the US.
Even though it’s tough to find a bottle made in America, the glass bottles listed above, with the exception of the Love Bottle, are not made in China.
Why Use a Glass Water Bottle
Glass bottles are free of chemicals including BPA/S, phthalates, PVC, lead and cadmium.
With a glass water bottle you know what you’re getting – a BPA free water bottle that’s durable and dishwasher safe.
People tend to prefer glass bottles to stainless steel water bottles because they are made in countries other than China.
Plus, if you don’t like the slight metallic taste that comes with some stainless bottles you’d likely want to try a glass bottle.
They also usually can be washed in the dishwasher safely.
It’s also great to be able to see into the water bottle.
Other water bottles, especially if they aren’t cleaned well, can grow mold if they aren’t washed well and air-dried.
But how would you know if you can’t see inside?
Downsides to Glass Water Bottles
The biggest problem with glass bottles is that they break more easily than stainless steel.
The silicone cases are supposed to help, but because they break so easily a glass water bottle may not be the best choice for children.
What to Considering when You Buy Glass Water Bottles
Size:
The Sizes of water bottles made of glass vary.
Ranging from 22 ounces to 33 ounces.
Though there are also very large containers, see below.
Depending on your access to water during the course of the day you may want a larger bottle.
Sling/Protection:
The best bottles have a built-in protection via a silicone sleeve.
But depending on your lifestyle and use for the bottle you may be fine with no sling or protection.
But really, you won’t regret having this sleeve.
It’s meant to stay on the bottle, even in the dishwasher.
It will protect your bottle and give it more of a chance if you should drop it.
Where It’s Made and Manufactured:
As previously mentioned, many people like glass water bottles because they aren’t made in China.
If this is important to you consider the bottles that are manufactured in France, Italy, or the US.
Use of the Bottle:
Are you planning on using your glass water bottle for sports?
Hiking?
Sitting at your desk?
Around your house?
You may want a wide-mouth bottle if you are more active or one with a straw if you will use it a lot while driving.
Straw or No Straw:
I prefer drinking right from the bottle so my mouth is on the glass and not a silicone straw.
It’s also more difficult to clean when there is a straw.
But this is really a personal preference.
Large 3 Gallon Glass Water Bottle or 5 Gallon Glass Water Bottle
If you’re looking for a large glass water bottle, consider a 3 gallon or 5 gallon (sometimes called a glass carboy).
These are great for storing water as well as more making homemade beer and wine.
They are generally not for toting water around, however.
BPA Free Water Bottles
Can You Just Reuse a Glass Water Bottle?
You can certainly choose to reuse a glass water bottle from another container.
Or you can buy a 12 pack of Voss Water which is packaged in 27 ounces glass bottles and just reuse those bottles.
We did review the Eco Vessel Glass Water Bottle…and it’s one of our favorites!
What is the best glass water bottle?
We believe the best glass water bottles have a plastic sleeve on it and is one that you will use.
Decide if you prefer the screw on top which is easier to clean and prevents leaks, or if you prefer one with a flip cap, which is easier to open and close and use in general, especially on the go.
It’s great to use a reusable water bottle, whether it is glass, plastic or stainless steel.
Get in the habit of carrying one wherever you go.
Not only will you likely be taking on healthier habits — drinking water — you will reducing the demand for plastic.
When you choose a glass water bottle, you know it’s BPA-free.
Learn from the Mayo Clinic why you want to avoid BPA.
Are BPA Water Bottles Dangerous
Chemically speaking, the world is now a more dangerous place than it ever was before.
It’s not just about the drugs such as heroin or meth that some people choose to put inside their bodies.
It’s also about the pollutants we put into the air, water, and the food we eat.
And it turns out that some studies also prove BPA water bottles dangerous for our health as well.
bpa water bottles danger – Plenty BPA water bottles sold in the market today.
But what’s the truth behind the purported dangers of this type of containers?
BPA stands for bisphenol A, and it’s an industrial chemical that’s been in use since the 1960’s for manufacturing certain plastics and resins.
Until very recently, it’s a common component of polycarbonate plastics that are used for making various products, such as water bottles and other containers used to store food and beverages.
It is also used in epoxy resins, and these resins are used to coat the inside of metal products.
These products include bottle tops, food cans, and even water supply lines.
BPA may even be found in dental sealant and composites.
The problem with BPA is that the chemical can seep into the food or beverage from the containers that are made with BPA.
And BPA has been implicated for causing several serious medical conditions.
BPA is a known endocrine disruptor, and it can scramble hormone signals.
Studies have long proved BPA water bottles dangerous, and that also included other canned food containers.
For example, BPA has been linked to obesity and diabetes.
One study conducted in the Miguel Hernandez University in Spain found that BPA causes the release of almost double the insulin that the body actually needs to break down food.
Having high insulin levels can make the body less sensitive to insulin over time, and for some people that can cause weight gain and Type 2 diabetes.
bpa water bottles danger
There are other risks as well:
It can be dangerous for the unborn and for young children.
It can act like a hormone in the body which can disrupt normal hormone levels in fetuses, infants, and young children.
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study and found that BPA exposure for unborn baby girls may cause behavioral problems when they become children.
The National Toxicology Program at the FDA reviewed the available evidence and afterwards expressed concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain and behavior of infants and young children.
The BPA may cause more serious effects on children because their bodies are still developing and they aren’t as efficient as adults at eliminating the BPA from their system.
Other studies show that there may be a link between BPA exposure and an increased risk of cancer.
Of particular concern are types of cancer that include breast, prostate, and uterine cancer.
Two independent studies also show that adults who have the highest rates of BPA in their bodies also have a higher incidence of heart problems.
BPA can also cause sexual dysfunction.
A research article published in 2009 reported that men who were exposed to high levels of BPA at work were 4 times as like to experience erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire, compared to men who didn’t work with BPA.
These workers who were exposed to BPA were also 7 times more likely to have ejaculation problems.
It also affects women’s fertility.
BPA has been linked to miscarriages, and women undergoing in vitro fertilization and who had higher BPA levels had more difficulty in becoming pregnant.
They had lower estrogen levels, they had fewer fertilized eggs, and their eggs were of lower quality.
BPA contamination is rampant.
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention took urine samples from a statistical group that was representative of the US population, and found that traces of BPA were present in 90% of the urine samples.
BPA Water Contamination
Scientists have also proved BPA water bottles dangerous not just in the food and beverage containers we use.
The problem is that these plastic containers we use that have BPA are being dumped in the seas.
Even the ships that cross these seas have their hulls coated with anti rust chemicals that contain BPA.
BPA is a man-made chemical, and it does not occur naturally in the environment.
So if BPA traces have been found in the seas, then they must have come from man-made sources.
It’s already been found that as early as 2010 BPA environmental contamination is widespread.
Japanese scientists and researchers took water and sand samples from more than 200 sites all over the world, mostly on the coasts of Southeast Asia and North America.
What they found is that every batch of water or sand they tested was found to contain BPA.
It was found in the shorelines of 20 countries.
They found widespread decomposition of polycarbonate, which is a hard type of plastic made from BPA.
The researchers were actually surprised at the time when they discovered that polycarbonate plastic biodegrades in the environment.
Of course, the American Chemistry Council (the lobbying group that represents BPA manufacturers), immediately expressed their skepticism.
But other scientists expressed alarm at the news.
Dr. Frederick von Saal, a biologist at the University of Missouri and a highly regarded expert on hormones, expressed concern that people can go to the beach and absorb the BPA through the skin from the water and from the sand.
The implications of the findings are still being studied to this day, because plastic continues to flow into the oceans.
There’s a huge patch of garbage floating in the Pacific Ocean that’s as large as the state of Texas, and that’s a lot of BPA seeping into the water.
Are BPA Water Bottles Dead?
BPA Free Water Bottles
BPA Free Water Bottles
The lobbying group American Chemistry Council was unable to stem the tide of alarm these news reports have caused, and as a result people were made aware of the dangers of BPA.
Several states in the US imposed bans on the use of BPA for water bottles.
Other countries have put up similar legislation, including the countries of the European Union, Canada, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Still, there are other actions you can do, especially if you are a parent.
While totally eliminating BPA may be impossible due to its ubiquitous presence, there are steps you can take which may minimize your exposure, and your child’s exposure as well.
Buy food products that are fresh or frozen, instead of buying them in cans.
BPA may still be used in many containers of canned food, because it helps in preserving the food.
Check for labels that state they are BPA-free.
Nowadays, this is not more common.
Many brands of tableware, sippy cups, and bottles have prominent labels stating that they are BPA-free.
If you have to buy infant formula, again you need to check for a BPA-free label.
If there is none and you really want a particular brand that comes in a can, perhaps you should choose the powdered formula over the liquid option.
Liquid products are more likely to absorb BPA from the container lining than powdered products.
Your best bet for food products is to use or buy containers that are not made of plastic at all.
Containers that are made from stainless steel, glass, enamel, or porcelain do not have any BPA.
Never use plastics with a recycling coding of 3 and 7 for food storage or preparation.
Plastics with the code 7 are OK only if they also say “PLA” or have a leaf symbol on them.
Codes 2, 4, and 5 are safe, but you should only use the code 1 plastics once.
Keep all the plastic containers out of the sun.
Aluminum containers may also contain BPA, so you should avoid them too.
Some kinds of aluminum bottles are lined with an epoxy resin that leached even more BPA into the water they contained.
They may actually be more dangerous than the products they were supposed to replace.
The exceptions were the aluminum bottles lined with EcoCare copolyester (Sigg), plastic bottles made of Tritan copolyester (Nalgene), and uncoated stainless steel bottles (Sigg and Steel Works).
If you’re concerned about the tap water in your home, you may also want to think about a water filter.
Just make sure that the filter you use is rated to screen out BPA.
Is the problem solved?
When BPA-free products began appearing in the market, many believed so.
However, a new study found that the substitute for BPA (called BPS or bisphenol-S) may be just as dangerous as the BPA it replaced.
The study found that BPS may also affect prenatal brain development.
Of course, true to form the lobbying group American Chemistry Council objected to the findings, but nowadays no one really takes them seriously anymore since they work for the manufacturers.
Still, the findings are preliminary, but it only goes to show that the chemicals in modern society can be very difficult to eliminate in the face of corporate convenience.
So for the meantime, the best way to minimize BPA (and BPS) contamination is to avoid buying prepackaged foods as much as possible.
Scientists have already proven BPA water bottles dangerous your health, so a stainless steel cup for drinking is your best bet.
Are BPA Water Bottles Dead
Have you heard about the chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) which is used in the manufacture of plastic and resins?
There was a controversy regarding the presence of the said chemical in various products like water bottles, feeding bottles, and soda cans as it was reported by different organizations that BPA can cause various health problems like diabetes, obesity, and asthma.
This health scare has led to the use of BPA-free plastic products like water and feeding bottles.
Which leads us to the question—are BPA water bottles dead?
BPA has been harnessed in commercial applications since 1957.
It is used for making clear and hard plastic and epoxy resins.
Aside from water bottles, BPA is found in CDs, DVDs, and sports equipment. Bring your own water bottle
It is also utilized for lining water pipes and for coating the insides of beverage and food cans.
On the surface, BPA sounds like a very valuable resource.
But in 2008, the potential hazards of the chemical on human health were revealed and made headlines.
Many health issues were raised regarding the use of BPA in various consumer products.
One study conducted by Dr. De-Kun Li indicated that exposure to the chemical may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction.
The study was reported in the Human Reproduction Journal and indicated that sexual desire and ejaculation problems may also be affected by BPA exposure.
Scientists at the University of Cincinnati also found in a study that BPA may cause heart diseases in women.
While another US study suggested that BPA exposure may increase the risk of diabetes and heart diseases in adults.
BPA exposure may also cause loss of connections between brain cells, resulting to memory and learning problems and depression.
And even women may not be spared from reproductive problems caused by BPA as exposure to the said chemical was found to affect the quality of woman’s eggs, according to Californian researchers.
BPA exposure was also found by University of Cincinnati scientists to reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment.
Meanwhile, a Yale School of Medicine research suggested that BPA exposure can increase the risks of cancer among females.
Fueling the fire, so to speak, was a report from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2010 that affirmed that BPA can cause possible hazards to children, infants, and fetuses.
The agency even supported moves to stop production of BPA water bottles and infant feeding cups, and recommended the development of alternatives to BPA.
With the many findings about the ill effects of BPA on human health, it was not surprising that many people were rattled.
The health scare was enough for many people to turn to BPA-free products like water bottles.
Parents were particularly worried that the feeding bottles used by their babies had BPA, so they bought BPA-free bottles and sippy cups instead.
Other stores voluntarily pulled out BPA products from their shelves in response to the public outcry.
Even the top retailers like Babies R Us, Toys R Us, and Walmart decided to stop selling baby feeding bottles with BPA.
Countries like Canada banned the use of BPA in baby bottles.
This move spurred calls in the U.S. Senate to prohibit the use of the said chemical in consumer products.
In the U.S., states like Chicago and Minnesota banned BPA in water bottles and sippy cups.
Connecticut also passed a law that banned BPA in reusable water bottles for children’s, as well as infant formula containers.
Even before that pronouncement from the FDA, six bottle makers all agreed to stop using BPA.
These were Avent, Gerber, Disney First Years, Playtex, Evenflo, and Dr. Brown.
BPA Free Water Bottles
Are non-BPA plastic water bottles safe now?
So just when everybody was buying BPA-free plastic bottles, a surprising turn of events happened.
The US FDA took a different stand on the issue three years later when it reported in March 2013 that BPA is safe at very low levels.
It added that the use of BPA in food packaging and containers is safe, and that the assessment was based on a review of scientists of hundreds of studies.
The US FDA reaffirmed that statement in July 2014, saying that BPA is harmless at current levels in occurring foods.
The finding was based on a four-year review of more than 300 studies conducted by FDA experts specializing in various fields like toxicology, endocrinology, analytical chemistry, and epidemiology.
One of the studies conducted by FDA scientists showed that BPA does not have any health effects particularly when in low doses.
The experiment had rats fed with low doses of the chemical did not have any changes in their body weights, hormone levels, and reproductive development.
However, the studies did mention that rats that were exposed to the two highest doses of BPA had lower body weight and abnormal female reproductive development.
The FDA was not the only one who made that assessment.
Regulatory agencies in various countries like Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and even in the European Union conducted extensive reviews on the subject.
Their findings were basically the same.
That the current levels of exposure to BPA through water bottles and food packaging do not pose a significant health risk to the public.
The contention is that the level of BPA in water bottles is too low to make any impact on human health.
Another argument is that BPA is quickly eliminated from the body.
It is immediately metabolized, and does not accumulate in the blood or tissues.
So it is highly unlikely that humans would be exposed to high levels of BPA and suffer from the various health problems that were said to be caused by BPA exposure.
So don’t be surprised to see BPA-free water bottles slowly losing their appeal to the general public.
With the FDA ruling out any harmful effects of BPA exposure on human health, it would only be a matter of time before non-BPA free water bottles inundate the market again.
Obviously, the answer to the question ‘are BPA water bottles dead’ is a resounding no.
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photo credit: Conor Lawless
