The Dangers of Using Plastic Water Bottles More Than Once

 

Many people buy bottled water, especially when the weather is heating up because it is important to stay hydrated. There are many reports out now that refilling and reusing the same bottle repeatedly, if not washed properly, can make you sick leading people to buy a new bottled water every time instead of thinking that they are doing something good for their bodies.

Researchers have now examined the plastic that holds the water, and have found some chemicals in certain types of plastic contain, like phthalates and bisphenol A, may seep into the water. These toxins can disrupt the endocrine system, messing with your hormone balance.

Plastic bottles are manufactured with styrene, which is made from refined crude oil, and through a very toxic process forms the small, thin bottles which will slowly leach out proven neuro-toxins into your water. Independent tests have been made on water in plastic bottles and shows significant levels of these chemicals and phthalates, which are oestrogen like compounds that act in your body just like estrogen.

 Natural water sources where grey water is deposited consistently have fish with hormonal abnormalities due to phthalates from plastic and other sources being poured back into our streams and lakes. Bottles exposed to heat or sun, like those left in your car or out in flats on a loading dock, have much higher levels of these chemicals.

The larger, thicker plastic bottles, like those for water coolers are even worse. This type of plastic is proven to leach Bisphenol-A (BPA) into the water. The FDA maintains that low doses of this chemical is not toxic, but they base that off of two studies carried out by the industry that manufactures BPA! Conflict of interest anyone? Meanwhile, over 200 other independent studies have scientists very alarmed about the affects on our bodies.

At low doses, BPA interferes with natural estrogen getting into cells, and with increased exposure, can completely shut-off male reproductive systems. At high doses, it can shut down you body’s production of thyroid hormone.

According to Vom Saal, a scientist interviewed for the documentary film Tapped says that BPA is: “one of the most toxic chemicals known to man”. When we choose water stored in plastic bottles, we are in fact ingesting these chemicals into our bodies- BPA or bisphenol is an oestrogen mimicking chemical.

This brings about health disorders like learning and behavioural problems, altered immune system function, fertility problems,early onset of puberty in girls,  decreased sperm count, prostatic and breast cancers. And diabetes and obesity are other disorders.

Bottled drinking water is even more harmful when left strapped to your bike or car, or left exposed to hot sun. Ultra violet rays from the sun speeds up leaching of the plastic chemicals into the bottled water.

 Another toxin by the name dioxin is also released to the water when left in the sun. This dioxin accelerates breast cancer.

About 40 per cent of bottled water is tap water. This means you are not only exposed to  dangerous BPA from the bottle, you may also be exposed to a variety of water contaminants such as fluoride, chlorine, arsenic, aluminium, disinfection by-products and prescription drugs.

Environmental issue is another danger. As we struggle to minimize consumption of fossil fuels, bottled water increases this trend.  Since virgin petroleum is used to make these plastic bottles, the more bottles we use, the more of virgin petroleum is needed to crate fresh bottles. As a result, more fossil fuel is burned to fill bottles and distribute them.

A study reveals the following astounding facts- it requires high quantity litres of water to make empty bottles. Treating and filtering tap water for bottling paves way for even more waste. For every litre of water you see on the shelves, it takes two litres of water to make it. And only half of the bottles are ever recycled and they end up as waste, clogging the earth.

Bottled water companies also have HUGE marketing budgets to make sure we think we are drinking superior, natural mineral water. The problem is, most companies are just selling minimally filtered tap water. Now, there are brands that do bottle water at the source, providing in clean, spring water. But the percentage is so small. Plus, it turns out that any regulation that we might assume exists on bottled water standards—don’t really exist.

The majority of bottled water companies, like Coca Cola and Pepsi, sell bottled water that was bottled in that state. Therefore, there is zero regulation or inspection on the water quality.
So stop buying plastic bottled water and start carrying your own filtered water in a glass or stainless steel bottle. DRINK WISELY