Is It Safe To Drink Water From Plastic Bottles?

Today we will talk about  bottled water. As we get started, think about the answers to the following questions: Do you buy water in  plastic bottles ? Or do you buy recycled glass bottles?

When you buy bottled water, do you then look at the ingredients, the place of origin, whether it is mineral water or not? Do you ever wonder the effect  water in plastic bottles  can have on your health?

Today, we would like to invite you to learn more about this interesting topic with us.

Bottled water: What kind is the healthiest?

Today, it is common to find two types of bottled water in the supermarket:  water in plastic bottles and water in glass containers. The plastic bottles have always sparked a great deal of controversy.

They can have a very negative impact on the environment, and the bottled water industry is powerful – responsible for generating more  plastic waste, fires and even privatizing the rights to water. But the most important aspect of the debate is whether water bottled in plastic is healthy or not.

Now for the most relevant information on this topic.

1. Plastic bottles

Plastic bottles are made from a mixture called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). So what is it, exactly? It is a polymer, a chemical compound that, according to several studies, can contaminate the water. 

So it means that when you drink water contained in these types of plastic containers, it could be affected by this mixture. Let’s look at what kind of substances PET can transfer to the water you drink:

• Antimony. This is a crucial catalyst for PET. Is it harmful to your health? Of course it is. It can cause  cancer  as well as respiratory problems. However, health authorities set limits on how much can be contained in a plastic bottle, and this amount is very low. To our relief, the WHO ensures that these standards are strictly maintained so that they do not pose a health risk.

• Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. These compounds are what make bottled water sometimes have a “plastic” taste. Experts say that this only happens when the bottles have been exposed to sunlight, which causes the compounds to leach into water, so be especially careful with this. PET bottles in normal use do not have high levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

Let us summarize this section. Is PET bad for your health?  Well there is no direct risk associated with it. Health authorities take great care to ensure that the rules are met and in general the concentration of these harmful substances leaching into your bottled water is very low.

But you can make healthier choices  to avoid these risks. If you spend a moment thinking about the amount of bottled water consumed each year, it may scare you a little. It is a much better idea to consider healthier alternatives, which are also more environmentally friendly. 

Healthy alternatives to plastic bottled water

• Try water bottled in glass containers. Obviously, they cost more, but they are a healthy alternative that you should consider.
• Get a filtration system for your tap water. Tap water is a good option for most people, but sometimes it is not as good for you as other water sources, for example, if it contains higher levels of calcium or other elements that are not to your liking. But a small reverse osmosis filter will help remove these unhealthy or unwanted elements from your domestic water supply.
• Buy jugs of purified water. This is a simple alternative that is equivalent to having your own filtration system. In this case, the water company purifies water for you, removes unwanted odors, bad taste, and makes it a healthy choice for your daily consumption.

Things you should never do with plastic bottles

• Refill aging used water bottles : This is a major risk factor to avoid. Lots of people drink a plastic bottle and fill it from the tap. Now there is a warning that appears on the bottle label and that advises consumers to avoid the microbiological risks associated with this activity. When an plastic bottle is emptied, it can accumulate numerous fungi or bacteria. When you refill it and drink the water, you ingest these organisms and can even get sick. Also, do not forget that over time, these harmful elements associated with PET, as we described earlier, leach out of the plastic and into your water. So remember: when you finish a bottle of water, throw it right in the trash!

• Never expose plastic water bottles to sunlight : We have already mentioned this above. When the plastic is exposed to hot surfaces, sunlight or fire, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are formed, which are released. This not only gives the water a bad taste but can also cause problems like indigestion. Always store bottled water in a cool, shady place!