The raging debate over the use of plastic for pet bowls and pet fountains has centered almost exclusively on the direct negative effects of plastic on the animals using those bowls, particularly pet fountains and in the pet fountain arena, particularly cat fountains.
It has long been known that plastic water bowls can give cats chin acne, which can manifest symptoms from blackheads to large draining pustules and a complete swelling of the lips, but whether it is the plastic itself or the fact that plastic acts like a magnet for bacteria which accumulate in the scratches that invariably occur in plastic is not clear. The conclusion of most vets is, “stay away from plastic water bowls”, and not only because of the possibility of chin acne.
According to Ecology Center, an online resource for ecology and community issues, an online resource center, the list of seriously negative effects from direct toxicity of plastic is enormous and extreme. Some of these are:
From polyvinylchloride (PVC); Cancer, birth defects, skin diseases, liver dysfunction
From DEHP, DINP and other plastic components; Endocrine dysfunction, asthma, developmental defects
From Polycarbonate with Bisphenol A #7; Cancer, immune impairment, diabetes
And the list goes on to specify over another half dozen components of plastics and their associated negative effects.
But all this is only one aspect of the dangers of plastic and the use of plastic articles. “One of the main problems with plastic”, Ecology Center tells us, “besides there being so much of it-is that it doesn’t biodegrade. No natural process can break it down.”
The negative results of this fact are immeasurable. Particularly affected are marine life (so much plastic ends up in the ocean), including albatross. “Two hundred thousand albatrosses die each year, many from being fed plastic by their parents who mistake it for food” says a Los Angeles Times article.
The negative effects of plastics begins with their production and the tons of pollutants that enter the atmosphere, and continues on, potentially, for thousands of years. Plastic is so resilient that even burying it deep within the earth doesn’t keep it from impacting the environment. Currently it accounts for approximately 10 percent of generated waste, most of which is landfilled. But placing plastics in a landfill may simply be storing a problem for the future, as plastic’s chemicals often sink into nearby land, contaminating groundwater.
In addition, production of plastics is a major user of fossil fuels. Eight percent of world oil production goes to manufacturing plastics.
Of course plastics have become a necessity and can be an excellent material for long lasting products but many plastic articles are meant for onetime or short time use and a great many articles which do not need to be made of plastic – other materials are available – and better in many ways, are proven harmful to pets and humans. Pet fountains are among these.
In some areas of consumption and for many products, we have no choice, but where we do, we should exercise our better judgment and avoid plastics which may harm us or our pets. Neal of Plastics Europe said consumers, not the industry, are responsible. “In my view the responsibility is fairly and squarely on the consumer,” he said.
In the realm of pet fountains, there are metal, glass and ceramic bowls and fountains and any of these is a far healthier choice over a plastic pet fountain. Not only will you and your pet be safe from the harmful effects of a plastic fountain, you will not be contributing to the pollution of the planet when the plastic fountain ceases to function and must be discarded.
Beche recommended materials for pet fountains by most vets is ceramics I list two sources for ceramic pet fountains, one from Candace McCollough Pottery and one from cat fountains on Etsy.
