You can see the pellets that Stanley refers to at the bottom of the drink container. A process called lead soldering seals the area where these layers meet at the bottom of the bottle. Technically, this container does contain lead, but it is surrounded by stainless steel, so avoid drinking it or letting it come in contact with your skin. However, if you drop your water bottle or sustain some kind of damage that causes this steel part to come loose, lead can be exposed to your skin.
Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no safe level of lead exposure. “Once lead enters the body, it is distributed to organs such as the brain, kidneys, liver, and bones.” High levels of lead exposure can be fatal. At low levels of exposure, which can occur in trace amounts, lead poisoning occurs. In adults, it can cause neurological damage, decreased kidney function, and fertility problems, and in children, it can cause developmental delays and seizures. The WHO states that children are “particularly susceptible to lead poisoning because they ingest four to five times more lead than adults.” ”
“The reality is that lead is so ubiquitous in the environment that daily exposure is low,” says Jane Houlihan, national director of science and health at Healthy Babies Bright Futures. “Exposure and risks from lead in food, water, house dust, and soil increase every day. This makes it increasingly important for companies to keep consumer products free of lead.Children They don't need another potential source of lead in their lives.”
What other brands do you use?
Lead soldering is low cost, easy to use, and commonly practiced by a variety of manufacturers. However, other methods are also available. Several of the reusable water bottle companies we contacted do not use lead in their manufacturing process. Here is the list:
- Owara (no leash)The company that makes our favorite FreeSip water bottles and Stanley Dumblers says it never uses lead in its manufacturing. “Manufacturing vacuum-sealed containers using lead-free solder is more costly and complex. However, we made a commitment with Owala from day one to use lead-free solder in our bottles,” said an Owala spokesperson. says the person.
- Hydro Flask (no leads since 2013), another internet-famous water bottle company, stopped using lead solder over a decade ago. “By mid-2013, the brand designed its own sealant, his TempShield, so Reed was removed from the manufacturing process for his Hydro Flask,” said a Hydro Flask spokesperson.
- Clean Canteen (no leash) We also don't use lead and instead use amorphous silica beads to create our vacuum insulated bottles. “The process using silica instead of lead is the same except higher heat is required to melt the silica,” says Rich Haver, the company's director of global operations. Some forms of silica can be dangerous if you inhale very fine particles, but sand is even finer than that because it is made from crystalline silica, which is amorphous. This does not apply to silica glass. “Silica in its amorphous form does not have the same respiratory health properties as crystalline silica,” says Marty Cohen, a professor at the University of Washington's School of Environmental, Occupational and Health Sciences.
- Sig (no lead) manufactures stainless steel bottles in Switzerland and has ensured that all vacuum-sealed products use lead-free solder.
- MiiR (using lead) It has been confirmed that lead is used in the manufacturing process of some products. According to the company's website, “This pellet contains lead to ensure manufacturing efficiency, waste reduction, and a perfect seal. For these reasons and with zero lead exposure, MiiR is using this process with confidence.”
- Life straw (contains lead) We make straws and filter bottles that remove bacteria, microplastics, and parasites from water. This is why we love the Go series of filter water bottles. That makes it the most surprising company to admit to using “lead soldering dots as part of the manufacturing encapsulation process.”
- Yeti (lead used) The popular outdoor gear manufacturer did not respond to multiple requests for comment, but the FAQ section of its website states that its Yeti Rambler drinkware uses sealing pellets from a lead soldering process. has been done.
- Other brands (unknown): The following companies did not respond to requests for comment. swell, hydro jugand greens steel.
Lead issues in manufacturing
Even if the cup or bottle is not damaged and is not exposed to lead, workers are still around the material in some way if it is used in the manufacturing process. EPTAC, the soldering training organization, says on its website that while the amount of lead in solder is unlikely to cause serious health problems, there is still a risk that workers will be exposed to lead while working.
“When lead is used in manufacturing, consumers of those products, especially those intended for food consumption such as drinkware, are at risk of being exposed to lead,” said a representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . “There are also potential occupational safety risks for workers, who without proper protection can put their families at risk from take-home lead exposure.”
If your Stanley bottle or cup is damaged, you can request a replacement under Stanley's lifetime warranty. We asked Stanley if customers could return undamaged cups or if the company planned to change its manufacturing process, only to be shown the same page of information regarding the use of lead. was.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. learn more.