Plastic water bottles

Yes, it is true.  There is very little point in using these unless you live in an area where drinking water is contaminated with sewage/agricultural run-off (West Bank, Palestine), high arsenic (areas of India and Bangladesh) or nitrate concentrations (any of the above places, and possibly agricltural areas in the US.).  Bisphenol A, a major ingredient in many plastics is an endocrine disruptor.  The health effects of Bisphenol A are still under investigation.  How much is safe is not known.  Biological systems effected are not well understood.  How much is coming off the water bottle and into the water it contains is unknown.

On environmental impact level, plastic water bottles just use petroleum and create mountains of waste.  Yes, they can be recycled, but recycling is not cost free.  Someone pays for it (whether through taxes, higher costs, or energy consumption and more pollution). 

Carry a glass bottle, carry a cup, use a drinking fountain.

Dipping into Psychology, but keeping focus on Oxytocin and Cortisol

Briefly here, on today's NY Times article on touch , and that warm touches (and who knows, maybe the playful punch in the arm or slap to the back of the head) results in release of oxytocin and reduction of cortisol.  Oxytocin is released within the brain and triggers feelings of relaxation, well-being and warmth towards others. For more info look that hormone up on Wikipedia.  Cortisol is elevated in people who are under prolonged stress and is associated with a range of undesirable health effects like cancer, elevated blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and if I remember correctly possibly diabetes. Oxytocin is probably signalling "its OK.  You are not alone"  "The threat is gone", or "we will fight this battle together".

So, reach out and support your friends, colleagues, team-mates and loved ones.  It is likely to do a statistically significant world of good

This week's topic is Androgen/Estrogen Disruption

Could write a book here, but will be brief for now.  First listen to (and watch if you want) this clip:  Tone setting music.  Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mimic or interfere with "signals" from the endocrine system (glands).  Examples of hormones are androgens (such as testosterone), estrogens, thyroid hormones, epinephrine (aka adrenaline) etc.  Examples of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment (and/or food and drinking water) are phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA) and perchlorate.  You can read numerous articles on endocrine disruption in Environmental Health Perspectives, including that of Reproductive Toxicology Rock Star Shanna Swan.  This is a great source of information because its peer-reviewed and you can get the entire article for free. 

Phthalates and BPA are part of many plastics and they interfere with sex hormones (in this case estrogen mimics).  This is hugely important during fetal development as organsystems (including brain) are being formed.  Had a student ask if increased exposures to estrogenic compounds would results in higher rates of homosexuality.   Not sure that this is appropriate to discuss here, but estrogen is the hormone that  masculinizes the brain, so you might see a tendency towards masculinization and associated behavioral traits.  Yes, sex hormones are important for brain development. A lot of other chemicals may have similar effects. Will link to an interesting article reporting on prenatal exposure to phthalates and aggressive, disruptive behavior during childhood.
Click "manufacturer's point of view" for information on industry response.  Businesses often put their own interests first.  There is nothing wrong with that as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.  My opinion.