Keep your family safe on vacation

Rumors that plastic water bottles might not be safe have been scaring me for years. But health officials kept saying not to worry. Could they have been wrong?

Refreshing Drink?In Canada, Walmart and the Forzani Group (who own huge numbers of sports stores) is recalling water bottles containing the nasty chemical, even though their government won't report on the issue until May. The US Government is already coming down hard on the plastic bottles.

The biggest concern hitting the news right now is about popular water bottles, like the Nalgene brand, that travelers love to tote. Wait until parents catch on though, BPA is also used to make plastic baby bottle and other food containers.

It's scary to think that our efforts to save money and save the environment could be making us so sick.

According to the New York Times, on Tuesday, the United States Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program released a draft report saying that they are concerned "about neural and behavioral changes in humans who consume B.P.A."

So how are you supposed to lug your water? Disposables are one option, but what a nightmare for the environment (and maybe no better for your health). Stainless steel bottles are sleek and cool. You can get cute painted on designs (check out Sigg bottles) or stay classic with a look that matches your kitchen and coffee mug.

Realistically, the choice could be out of your hands sooner than you think. If Canada makes a ruling this summer, other countries could follow suit quickly. But do you really want to wait?