If you want to know more about plastics, I became an expert (just kidding, I just read a lot about chemistry) with my first baby. Polypropylene #5 is relatively safe and should not leach when heated. Most commercial water bottles (ex. Evian, Dasani) likely will not leach in the short term (most are made of PETE #1 and some are HDPE #2--usually juice and milk containers). #1 and #2 are only meant for 1 time use (very wasteful, in my opinion). They can leach over the long term. Stay away from all the other plastics (ex. #7, #3, #4 and I reallly hate #6, very bad for the environment and not very recyclable). Not only are they bad for the environment, they leach when heated and some can contain bisophenol-A and phthalates (bad stuff, as you know). But age and heat seem to be the big culprits regarding leaching.
I will send you a couple of links if you want to become a neurotic like me. These chemicals are not only found in plastics, but, for example, phthalates can be found in any product with "fragrance" in the non-active ingredients (ex. shaving creams, perfumes, soaps, etc.). Beware of toiletries. I try to eat and use what is closest to nature as possible (still got CML, but who knows what I was exposed to growing up or what genetic instability I had, virus I caught, yada, yada---will never know because I am sure there is more than one thing that causes CML just like there are at least 20+ genetic issues that lead to type 2 diabetes, for example, and you don't have to have all 20 to get it).
In our petroleum dependent society, (now you can get an idea about my politics--yes, I drive a hybrid and my husband wants to buy an electric car--pretty granola), it is almost impossible to stay away from or boycott petrolium based products (i.e. plastic bags, containers, computers, cel phones, toys, you name it). Dangers are everywhere. We cannot control the air we breathe and sometimes the water we drink (good for you that you drink filtered water---from what I read, it is best, esp. if you are susceptible to bacteria reeking havoc). I try to do the best I can without getting too anxious.
As for drinking water when you take Gleevec, I take it with orange juice with extra powdered vitamin C. Learned both from Trey (well, he didn't mention the powdered stuff, but mentioned the OJ and extra vita C). The OJ is acitic, and for me, the extra vita C, I hope, will stimulate cell growth. The powdered vita C is not great for the teeth, but so far, I have been OK. I would use a straw, but it is made out of unknown plastic. See, I really am nuts about this.
I have studied harmful chemicals and chemical mixes in beauty/baby products. In my opinion, it is best to stay away from most products as the chemicals are not always researched well or approved by the FDA (they get away with this because of the right not to reveal "secret ingredients" that makes their product so "special"). We do not always know what is really in stuff. Dish soap, household cleaners and laundry detergent, to name a few, are some unknowns. Beware of products that profess they are "plant/botanically derived". Many are virtually the same as the regular ones. Just change some molecules around, you know, and you get the same thing as the real deal, even if it is derived from coconut (popularly used and modified). Vinegar and baking soda with lemon or lavender oil work well as cleaners. However, I am still a little chemically dependant. I still use laundry detergent and stain remover (especially with two incredibly messy toddlers).
Good luck to you. Hope I have not made things worse for you. Sorry if you already know this stuff. Disregard then. I really hope you are doing well.
Here are the links that really helped me. I have more if you need. All the best to you Michael.
http://www.care2.com...s-are-safe.html
http://www.healthobs...cfm?refid=77083
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ (if you are not that familiar with chemicals, some of the info may alarm you, for example, they may say that something like aloe vera can be toxic to some degree, or other "organic" things. It is mostly due to purety issues. And I don't believe there is any substance out there that if you look hard enough, you won't find there is not something harmful somone reported about it).
