If you often carry disposable plastic water bottles on your runs or use them at the gym, you may be a bit fearful about reusing them because of Internet rumors reporting poisoning from repeated washing and rinsing. Another rumor that's been circulating suggests that freezing a water bottle (a little trick I always recommend to keep water cold during hot runs) may release dioxins (chemicals) from the plastic.

Is reusing or freezing plastic bottles hazardous to your health? Check out this informative video that separates truth from rumors. The bottom line: Freezing water bottles is perfectly safe. As for reusing them, it's bacteria, not chemicals, that can be harmful to your health, so make sure you're washing them thoroughly. (And, no, don't put them in the dishwasher.)

More:

• Running and Hydration
• Water Bottles and Hydration Packs
• Do Plastic Bottles Pose a Cancer Threat? (from Urban Legends Guide)
• Can Freezing Water Bottles Cause Cancer? (from Cancer Guide)

_{Photo by George Doyle}