Comments on: Bottled “Water”? http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/ notes, thoughts, and a little (science) culture while teaching chemistry Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:19:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: jsteves http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-78 jsteves Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:32:45 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-78 I think I heard about that estrogen issue in fish too! I haven't followed the issue of water contamination very carefully, but I've read a couple of articles in C&EN that seem to indicate that pharmaceutical pollution is a potential problem (and I think Courtney Shedden did a poster presentation on pharmaceutical contamination a few years ago). As for this article about Wal-Mart and Giant, it definitely seems to be aimed at making people afraid of drinking bottled water (and it probably will change some people's minds too!) but lacks a solid argument. I just have to chuckle at the reference to "bacteria" as one of the 38 chemicals. I also use a brita pitcher and try to avoid using bottled water because I want to conserve plastic. Frankly though, I'm just happy I can get drinkable water whenever I need it. I think I heard about that estrogen issue in fish too! I haven’t followed the issue of water contamination very carefully, but I’ve read a couple of articles in C&EN that seem to indicate that pharmaceutical pollution is a potential problem (and I think Courtney Shedden did a poster presentation on pharmaceutical contamination a few years ago). As for this article about Wal-Mart and Giant, it definitely seems to be aimed at making people afraid of drinking bottled water (and it probably will change some people’s minds too!) but lacks a solid argument. I just have to chuckle at the reference to “bacteria” as one of the 38 chemicals. I also use a brita pitcher and try to avoid using bottled water because I want to conserve plastic. Frankly though, I’m just happy I can get drinkable water whenever I need it.

]]> By: awood http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-69 awood Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:14:28 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-69 My internship this summer was at a water research center and one of our main projects was on the drinking water supply for New York City (i.e. tap water). The main concern in that project was low dose pharmaceutical contaminants which essentially come from poor waste water treatment which is dumped into our drinking water. It's not necessarily about killing you in that case; it is about the effects of these drugs on the fish, bacteria and other organisms which are now living in, for example, an estrogen rich environment. And also, what are the long term effects on the people who are drinking low dose chemicals everyday. So I think there is a LOT at stake in this water discussion (even if this particular article did not do the issue justice). My internship this summer was at a water research center and one of our main projects was on the drinking water supply for New York City (i.e. tap water). The main concern in that project was low dose pharmaceutical contaminants which essentially come from poor waste water treatment which is dumped into our drinking water. It’s not necessarily about killing you in that case; it is about the effects of these drugs on the fish, bacteria and other organisms which are now living in, for example, an estrogen rich environment. And also, what are the long term effects on the people who are drinking low dose chemicals everyday. So I think there is a LOT at stake in this water discussion (even if this particular article did not do the issue justice).

]]> By: pweibel http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-68 pweibel Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:03:46 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-68 I think it's basically fearmongering, the same reason that the anti-smoking ad in Farley Gym says that cigarette smoke contains Polonium 210... (not saying I'm pro smoking, just same reasoning) Talk about things people know nothing about and they'll believe you I think it’s basically fearmongering, the same reason that the anti-smoking ad in Farley Gym says that cigarette smoke contains Polonium 210… (not saying I’m pro smoking, just same reasoning) Talk about things people know nothing about and they’ll believe you

]]> By: jaxtell http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-67 jaxtell Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:00:56 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-67 I'm also a little disappointed with the lack of responsibility in reporting this issue. In addition to not mentioning the "satisfactory" levels of chemical concentrations in water and all 10 brands that were tested, I feel the use of the term "the radioactive element strontium" is slightly misleading and represents an unreasonable bias towards the overall purpose of the article. 14-C could be referred to as "the radioactive element carbon," but the negative connotation would be pretty unnecessary. Two of the many radioactive isotopes of strontium, 89-Sr and 90-Sr, have many beneficial applications, one of which is radiotherapy for certain cancers. While negative effects from 90-Sr have been reported, I think the one referring to strontium could have been a little bit more specific. In my own opinion on the bottled water issue, I drink bottled water only as a matter of convenience. I much prefer well water or well-filtered water, but until someone proves that death is a possible result of drinking bottled water, I'm not really that concerned. I’m also a little disappointed with the lack of responsibility in reporting this issue. In addition to not mentioning the “satisfactory” levels of chemical concentrations in water and all 10 brands that were tested, I feel the use of the term “the radioactive element strontium” is slightly misleading and represents an unreasonable bias towards the overall purpose of the article. 14-C could be referred to as “the radioactive element carbon,” but the negative connotation would be pretty unnecessary. Two of the many radioactive isotopes of strontium, 89-Sr and 90-Sr, have many beneficial applications, one of which is radiotherapy for certain cancers. While negative effects from 90-Sr have been reported, I think the one referring to strontium could have been a little bit more specific.

In my own opinion on the bottled water issue, I drink bottled water only as a matter of convenience. I much prefer well water or well-filtered water, but until someone proves that death is a possible result of drinking bottled water, I’m not really that concerned.

]]> By: pokane http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-66 pokane Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:31:34 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-66 I used to be a bottled water freak, but mainly for the taste and not because i thought it was any healthier. A few months ago I switched to a brita pitcher and a BPA free water bottle. I felt bad with all the plastic bottles I was going through. I used to be a bottled water freak, but mainly for the taste and not because i thought it was any healthier. A few months ago I switched to a brita pitcher and a BPA free water bottle. I felt bad with all the plastic bottles I was going through.

]]> By: skassel http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-62 skassel Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:28:29 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-62 That's a little better. It would be good to work it into your post. Have you found anything about EWG (the group mentioned in the article)? And, how are you embedding links in your comments? That’s a little better. It would be good to work it into your post. Have you found anything about EWG (the group mentioned in the article)? And, how are you embedding links in your comments?

]]> By: nharmuth http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-61 nharmuth Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:45:14 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-61 Here's another <a href="http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20081014/report-some-bottled-water-not-so-pure" rel="nofollow">article </a> about the same research Here’s another article about the same research

]]> By: skassel http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-60 skassel Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:25:57 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-60 Moms are great like that! One other thing, I would link the image you use to the original source. Moms are great like that! One other thing, I would link the image you use to the original source.

]]> By: nharmuth http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-58 nharmuth Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:12:48 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-58 oh yeah sorry I meant to do that... my mom was yelling at me to eat dinner but I think those fit well oh yeah sorry I meant to do that… my mom was yelling at me to eat dinner but I think those fit well

]]> By: skassel http://www.justachemblog.net/bottled-water/comment-page-1/#comment-56 skassel Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:08:13 +0000 http://www.justachemblog.net/?p=377#comment-56 I hope you don't mind that I added a couple of categories to your post. Please change them as you see fit. I hope you don’t mind that I added a couple of categories to your post. Please change them as you see fit.

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