Plastic leaching from automatic waterers?

[litheandgraphic]

Hey guys! So, as some people suggested, I just ordered a Petmate Replendish Waterer with a Microban, 1/2 gallon container. I mentioned this to my boyfriend, who mentioned he had concerns about “plastic leaching” or “leaching plastics”. According to some, Microban and other plastics can leach chemicals into water and food supplies over time, especially if they are left in heat. Now, I know that a lot of this information is often alarmist and overblown — I read an academic article recently that showed how although plastic leaching is a real thing, it is not as dangerous or occurs at as high levels as some people claim.

But I’m curious to know what you all think. Is Microban a safe material for rabbits? Knowing that there are many pet owners who have used these for years is evidence that it will be fine, but I thought I’d better ask anyway.

The tragedy is that if someone tells me this isn’t safe for the bunny, then I have to get rid of it as I can’t cancel the order and wouldn’t feel right giving it to another person with animals, so the whole thing will go basically to waste if someone can prove to me that this poses a legitimate threat.

Thanks as always. c:

[Deleted User]

Gosh! I totally get why your worried – imagine how I felt when this first came to light after bottle feeding my babies (human) 20++ years ago!
In the meantime I told my kids (as if they listen to me???) not to leave their bottled water in the car/sun to overheat (how it reacts), etc., and how only ‘some’ plastic products were ‘chemical free’. Then some companies did an advertising campaign noting their products were free of this – I can’t remember the code, but we were also told to look for a code plus the ‘BPA (?) free’ stamp. So I did a quick replace at the time for all my salad/microwave containers and feel confident we are all ok now. This took place years and years ago, so I’d like to think everything plastic follows these new safe guidelines?
But for the sake of ‘peace of mind’ – just ask the company to verify that your product is BPA free and safe. I personally haven’t heard of Microban, but maybe cause it’s a product available to you, and I’m in Australia and we have the ‘BPA free’ thing going on??? And I haven’t bought new plastic’s for ages – so maybe the Microban is a new thing and I just haven’t heard about it yet??? Good for you for caring! Cheers.

[JackRabbit]

I’m pretty sure the Petmate waterers are BPA free. All the Petmate ones in the stores here actually say so on the label. I’ve been considering ordering a gravity water bowl myself, just trying to figure out where it would best fit and if Moshi would find a way to turn it over and roll it around (he’s only 4 lbs but he can drag a litterbox around . . . with Marlee in it!).

[litheandgraphic]

This is a relief to hear, guys! Thanks for your input.

[corr_w]

Okay, so a chemistry professor did a lecture at my college where he said that the chemicals that leach from plastics (BPA) are only a concern when there is a fatty material in them, like milk. Apparently the chemicals will leach into the fats of milk, not into non-fatty liquids like water or beer. So I definitely wouldn’t use a baby bottle that wasn’t BPA free.

It was his area of research, but probably be cautious anyway.

[litheandgraphic]

Fascinating! Thanks so much corr_w! So far, Theodore loves the auto waterer.

[Flabebe]

Is it working for him? is he still throwing is toys in the water?? :p

[litheandgraphic]

Hahaha! So far, he’s really enjoying it. He was absolutely unfazed when I replaced his two ceramic dishes with his new auto waterer. He basically just went from drinking from one to drinking from the other immediately! XP I’m so lucky so have such an easy bun.

The only issue I’ve had so far was that SOMEHOW he managed to knock it over, and water got everywhere in the pen. I laid down some cardboard and a towel over the wet part until it dries. I stuck the waterer in a corner more so that he can’t really knock it over and so far he has not even tried to, so I think this will work just fine.

As for the toys, I have yet to see him put one in this! He seems to be more into arranging his toys in and around the wicker basket I gave him, which is cute and less messy.

[JackRabbit]

What size did you get — how much water does it hold? I want to get one but I don’t want my re-arranger bun to turn it over and try to roll it around! Figured I’d go bigger for the weight of the water.

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