Written by Kenyon Wallace, published in the Globe and Mail, December 8, 2007

Ryan Leech was a self-professed “Nalgene addict” for five years. Now the Port Moody, B.C.-based professional mountain bike rider – who uses six of the handy polycarbonate water bottles to stay hydrated during his dangerous performances – says he’ll never use the products again after learning that Canada’s largest specialty outdoor-goods retailer pulled them from its shelves over health concerns.

Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-op instructed its stores across the country this week to remove polycarbonate plastic containers – including the brightly coloured water bottles – that contain the plastic building-block bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor that mimics estrogen. Many environmental groups and consumers praised the move, but other retailers are wondering how to proceed.

Wal-Mart’s director of corporate affairs, Kevin Groh, would not comment on whether the behemoth retailer will take polycarbonate plastic bottles off its shelves, but offered the following statement: “We’re certainly keen on Health Canada’s guidance and we have placed this situation firmly on our radar as we engage chemical specialists as part of our overall sustainability program.

A preliminary assessment of bisphenol A is expected from Health Canada next spring.

Elizabeth Margles, Loblaw’s vice-president of communications, said the company has no plans to remove polycarbonate plastic products from its stores.

“We are looking at bisphenol A and we have been talking with our suppliers and vendors to make sure our products meet our safety specifications,” she said. “But we have no plans to follow suit.”

“MEC is completely overreacting,” said Joe Raftis, owner of Europe Bound Travel Outfitters, one of Mountain Equipment Co-op’s biggest competitors. “There’s no conclusive proof that these bottles are dangerous. But if [MEC] wants to take bottles off the shelf, that’s fine by me. My sales are just going to skyrocket.”

Mr. Raftis added that the market has plenty of alternatives, and sales of stainless steel and aluminum water bottles have jumped in the past few days.

“People are buying six or eight metal bottles at a time,” he said.

Calls to Sears, the Hudson’s Bay Co. and Shoppers Drug Mart were not returned.

Now confronted with the possibility of a health hazard, Mr. Leech, along with droves of Canada’s backpackers, campers and outdoor-lovers are wondering what to do with the containers, which were marketed to last a lifetime.

“I loved using my Nalgene bottles because they’re so user-friendly,” Mr. Leech said. “You can strap them to your backpack, they hold lots of water and you don’t have to keep buying bottled water.”

Mr. Leech said he switched to stainless steel water bottles as soon as he heard about the MEC recall, and is re-evaluating how he uses plastics.

Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence, a national group that has been lobbying Health Canada to ban bisphenol A, said MEC’s removal of polycarbonate products is the tipping point.

“The writing is on the wall for this chemical,” he said. “There’s no way that a product can lose this degree of consumer confidence and remain a viable business prospect.”

Some bottle manufacturers have acknowledged that over time, bisphenol A from the containers can leech into the contents, albeit in extremely small quantities, Mr. Smith said.

“The only thing the industry argues about is whether the levels that end up in our bodies are harmful or not,” he said.

“I think any consumer would say that if there’s any chance this stuff is harmful and if there are easy alternatives available, why not just get rid of it?”

But it’s not clear whether customers will be enthusiastic about switching to stainless steel from the unbreakable bottles.

“We’ve got probably five water bottles at home, and until I know that all the Nalgene accessories I’ve bought over the years will work with these new steel bottles, I’m sticking with plastic,” said Ed Taves, 46.

Mr. Taves drove 110 kilometres to Toronto from his home in Heidelberg, Ont., this week to stock up on some last-minute travel supplies for his daughter, Jennifer, who is heading to Guatemala for three months in the new year.

Jennifer Taves, 20, said she heard about MEC’s removal of polycarbonate products, but said she’s not concerned enough about health risks to switch. The familiar bright bottle will be hanging from her backpack when she arrives in Guatemala, she said.