The Science Behind Polycarbonate! While polycarbonates have been with us for a number of years, it wasn't until fairly recently that manufacturing technology evolved to the point of producing polycarbonate drinkware items economically. The attractiveness of a polycarbonate bottle was obvious; it was rigid and strong and felt substantial in the hand! The material sparkled like fine glassware and took a gorgeous imprint; unique molding shape opportunities were endless! It was also virtually shatterproof and scratch resistant! Yet it was in the functionality arena where polycarbonates really performed. Liquids can be stored in polycarbonates almost indefinitely without any transfer of odors or taste to the bottle's contents! It also washes and dries easily and, with moderate care, retains its attractive appearance for a long period of time. BPA – The Miracle Material Behind Polycarbonates: Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastic, a lightweight and extremely durable material. Besides sports bottles, examples of the numerous consumer products that are made entirely or in part of polycarbonate include CD cases,computers, safety glasses, cell phones and a variety of food contact products such as baby bottles and food storage containers. Safety: Polycarbonate has been authorized for use in food and beverage contact applications by government agencies worldwide, and safely used for more than 50 years. During that time, polycarbonate and BPA have been extensively studied and tested for health and safety by both manufacturers and government agencies. The Food and Drug Administration; the Environmental Protection Agency; the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food; the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment; the Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and other researchers around the world have studied the safety of BPA and polycarbonate for approximately 40 of the 50 years in which BPA has been used as an industrial "ingredient". Findings of all major studies indicate that the quantity of BPA required to manufacture food and beverage containers does not pose any health risk to humans. Significant Studies Supporting the Safety of BPA and Polycarbonates: Research Triangle Institute (now RTI International), under the sponsorship of a plastics industry consortium, exposed rats to low doses of BPA and found no evidence of health or reproductive effects over three generations. (2001) Chemical Compound Safety Research Institute for the Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences exposed rats to low doses of BPA and found no health or reproductive effects over two generations. (2001) National Toxicology Program, co-sponsored by the U.S. EPA and NIEHS, confirmed "the inability of other credible studies in several different laboratories to observe low-dose effects of BPA, and the consistency of these negative studies [showing no health or reproductive effects from low-dose exposure]". (2001) U.S. EPA confirmed conclusions that low-dose effects of BPA were not demonstrated. (2002) Comprehensive risk assessment on BPA by the European Commission and reviewed by the EU's Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) found that "there is no convincing evidence that low doses of bisphenol-A have effects on developmental parameters in offspring". (2002) Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry concluded there is no need for regulatory action. (2002) Scientific panel convened by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis found "no consistent affirmative evidence of low dose BPA effects for any endpoint". (2004)    "#1 for promotional products" want to speak to a real human being?    (866)495-9253