instead of lead

After tug was given a higher purpose for scientific research, I asked if they could test Sawyer's SIGG bottles. They are the new hip kiddie accessory to replace plastic water bottles, which supposedly have unsafe amounts of Bisphenol A, thought to be either a hormone-disruptor and/or a carcinogen. Research is still uncertain but it seems like one of those choices that if you can make it easily, why not?

Of course, we have two SIGG and we don't use them as much as we probably should - he's starting to drink from glass now. I originally hoped to have one to leave at his daycare but I don't think she believed me when I said it should just be washed with hot water, NOT put in the dishwasher, and so he hasn't taken it there recently. But when we are out and about, he takes one of the SIGG bottles.

I felt fairly certain that they were probably safe, given that a) they are known for being non-toxic (although if you asked me for specifics, I'm not sure I could have answered coherently before I started writing this post), and b) they are made in switzerland (and if you can't trust the swiss...?).

One is bright blue and has red characters = fine. One is yellow and has several zoo characters of different colors. This one tested with funny amounts of trace so the scientist ran more tests (all of which were accompanied by exclamations of "how interesting! oh, this is just fascinating!). Turned out that it contains bismuth, which I learned is the heaviest of the periodic metals (remember your periodic table? I didn't either). I also learned that it is now being used as a replacement for lead.

I thought I was just getting toys tested and I learned more about chemistry than I have in along time.