 Nestle  Pepsi-cola  Coca-cola

 34 billion liters of water were sold in bottles in 2008 alone  Worldwide, the water bottle industry is valued at: ◦ 800 billion dollars

 PET (polyethylene terephthalate)  PETE (polyethylene terephthalate – different form)  HDPE (high density polyethylene)  LDPE (low density polyethylene)  PP (polypropylene)  PVC (polyvinyl chloride)  PS (polystyrene)

 Typically used in carbonated beverage containers and water bottles  Why use PET? ◦ Shatter resistant ◦ Strong ◦ Lightweight ◦ Cheap ◦ Recyclable

 Problems with PET/PETE ◦ Leach carcinogens and other harmful chemicals ◦ ~ 25% of bottles are recycled, and the rest? ◦ Biological contamination ◦ Harmful byproducts leach from bottle factories into groundwater

 Bisphenol Alanine ◦ Acts like a hormone (significance?) ◦ Has potential to damage every organ of the body ◦ Studies show the highest amount of damage is done to the reproductive system ◦ Recent study showed 40% of all receipt paper has it  Carcinogen chemicals ◦ Phthalates, endocrine disruptor ◦ Styrenes, act as neurotransmitters

 Plastics are synthetic compounds that do not biodegrade ◦ They do however fall apart into particles as the plastic loses its strength  ~25% of all bottles are recycled, where do the rest end up? ◦ Pollution ◦ Pacific Garbage Patches (East and West)