April 25, 2008 - Class Action Suit Filed Against Maker of Nalgene Sports Bottles

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April 25, 2008 - A California woman has filed suit against the maker of Nalgene plastic sports bottles, claiming that the company knew that Bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic substance used in the manufacture of the product, posed health risks to consumers, but downplayed those risks.

BPA can leach into the liquids placed in the bottles, causing consumers to become ill. Studies have linked BPA to infertility, hormone disruptions, early puberty, and cancer.

The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, is the first class action suit against a manufacturer of a BPA-containing product.

recently announced a ban on all baby bottles containing BPA, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is phasing out BPA-containing products from stores in the next year.

Nalge Nunc International Corp., the manufacturer of Nalgene sports bottles, announced on Friday that it will phase out production of its polycarbonate containers that contain BPA over the next several months.

The suit was brought by Lani Felix-Lozano, who bought the company's reusable plastic beverage containers for herself and for her two daughters, now ages 11 and 13, and has been using them for several years.

The lawsuit does not list any physical conditions suffered by plaintiffs as a result of using the bottles. Felix-Lozano is seeking unspecified damages.