Q: Yesterday my daughter told me I should stop buying bottled water because the plastic bottles are toxic. I thought bottled water was healthier than drinking fluoridated, chlorinated tap water, so now I'm thoroughly confused -- and worried. Can you tell me what to believe?

JVW: Well, you and your daughter are both right. Most municipal water supplies do contain fluoride and chlorine, which have both been implicated in numerous health concerns. So bottled water does seem like the wise alternative. However, the plastic bottles holding that water contain a substance called bisphenol A, a chemical that mimics estrogen activity in both humans and animals. Bisphenol A is a potential carcinogen and may also increase your risk of Type II diabetes.

Unfortunately, avoiding it isn't as easy as boycotting bottled water: Bisphenol A is one of the 50 top-produced chemicals in the world. And in addition to being the building block of most plastic products, it's also one of the primary ingredients in the resins used to line over 100 billion different canned products.

Given its prevalence, at this point it's nearly impossible to completely avoid bisphenol A. But giving up bottled water is a start, and every little bit helps. Instead, invest in a high-quality water filter that will eliminate the potentially harmful chemicals from your tap water (and make sure to use only filtered water to make ice cubes).

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