Clarus Services

Minnesota Bans BPA Use

Paul — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:44:46 +0000

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty on May 7 signed legislation banning the use of the plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in the manufacturing of children’s sippy cups and bottles.

BPA is a plastic-hardening compound used in the manufacture of polycarbonate water bottles. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a controversial finding that BPA is safe. However, the FDA report was widely questioned by scientists. Other states, such as Connecticut, are considering similar plans.

Environmental benefits of filtered water coolers

Wren — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:44:18 +0000

This article highlights the environmental benefits of point-of-use or filtered coolers and labels them the “next big thing in water consumption” since they reduce your carbon footprint, decrease contribution to landfills, and reduce energy consumption.
According to the article, “It costs a lot of money and energy to transport and store plastic water bottles, both of the single-use and water-cooler variety – even more so when you factor in how double-parked delivery trucks snarl traffic in cities and suburbs.”

One in six americans affected by pharmaceuticals in water

Wren — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:33:32 +0000

In the spring of 2008 a number of news stories were released warning of the effects of pharmaceuticals in both surface water like lakes and rivers and groundwater sources such as springs and wells.

In September 2008 the Associated Press reported that almost one in six Americans may be affected by pharmaceuticals in their water. Joseph Harrison, Professional Engineer (PE), and Technical Director of the Water Quality Association (WQA) discuss that specific performance standards have not yet been developed for pharmaceuticals, but many point-of-use technologies have proven effective for some of these emerging contaminants.

Link found between BPA and diabetes and heart disease

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:26:35 +0000

Coverage of a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association in which researchers found a connection between BPA and diabetes and heart disease in adults.

BPA, or bisphenol A, has been known to leach out of plastic water bottles. This article from ABC News is interesting in that it marks the first major stance by the American Medical Association (AMA) on BPA. “If this does not close the door on the use of BPA in consumer products, I don’t know what will,” said Dr. John Spangler, professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC.