Plastic water bottles have become incredibly commonplace in our daily lives due to their convenience when staying hydrated on the go. However, new research is finding concerning health impacts from regularly drinking from these plastic bottles that many folks may not know about. Studies show chemicals can leach from the bottles into water over time.
In this blog post, we will cover some of the most common health risks of plastic water bottles.
Also, read our blog post about Reasons to Filter Your Water
The Health Risks of Plastic Water Bottles on Human
Plastic water bottles may leach chemicals and release microplastics that can impact your health. Here are some of the most common health risks of plastic bottles including exposure to BPA and Phthalates, Chemical Leaching, and impacts on the endocrine system.
1. Chemical Leaching from Plastic Bottles
Plastic water bottles are made from polymers that can leach out certain chemicals like BPA and phthalates into the water over time.
BPA (bisphenol A) is used in hard plastics like polycarbonate, and phthalates are used to make plastics like PVC more flexible. Small amounts of BPA and phthalates may enter your body each time you drink from a plastic bottle. Some studies on animals have linked BPA and phthalates to hormone disruption, fertility issues, and health problems.
While we need more research on the effects on humans, it's best to limit your exposure by choosing alternatives to plastic, like glass or stainless steel water bottles, whenever possible. This reduces the risk of these potentially harmful chemicals seeping into your drinking water over time.
However, there is no doubt that chemical-leaching plastic bottles can ultimately result in accumulation in the body. This is because leached-out chemicals are often fat-soluble, meaning they can accumulate in your body over time instead of passing through quickly. With each plastic bottle you drink from, a small amount of chemicals is absorbed. These can slowly build up in your fatty tissues and major organs.
This is concerning since some of the chemicals have been linked to issues like cancer and hormone disruption.
2. Impacts on the Endocrine System
Our endocrine system is made up of glands like the thyroid and organs like the brain that produce hormones to regulate important bodily functions. Studies have shown that chemicals like BPA can disrupt the endocrine system by mimicking or interfering with our natural hormones. This can cause a variety of health issues.
For example, exposure to BPA has been linked to problems with male and female fertility as well as increased risks of diabetes and obesity. In children, early life exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may negatively impact brain development and puberty.
3. Exposure to Toxins
Drinking water from plastic bottles over time could expose you to dangerous toxins. Some plastics use chemicals like dioxins during manufacturing. Dioxins are toxic environmental pollutants that are also formed as a byproduct of some industrial processes.
They can accumulate in your body and cause issues like damage to the immune and reproductive systems. By switching to bottles made of glass or stainless steel, you can help limit your intake of these harmful toxins.
4. Environmental Concern
Plastic water bottles are also concerning for the environment. This is because the product of these bottles requires fossil fuels and energy. This will then contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and damage climate change.
Moreover, the bottles are usually transported to different parts of the entire world, which further increases the overall carbon footprint as well as environmental pollution.
And most importantly, plastic bottles are one of the major sources of plastic pollution. These often end up in landfills, oceans, and other natural environments. And do you know? plastic bottles can take up to a hundred years in order to efficiently decompose. This huge timelapse will definitely cause extreme damage to the environment.
So, these are some of the major health risks associated with the consumption of plastic water bottles. Now, the question that arises here is what are the best alternatives that you can consider going with? There is no need to look around as we have covered in the heading below.
Best Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles
1. Reusable water bottles:
Instead of plastic bottles, you can consider using reusable water bottles such as:
· Glass bottles - that are made from a highly durable non-leaching glass.
· Stainless steel bottles – these are also sturdy, long-lasting, and do not leach any chemicals.
· Aluminum water bottles – These bottles are light in weight and also completely free from toxic chemicals such as BPA.
You can make use of any of these types of reusable bottles based on your personal preferences and needs.
2. Start Using Filtered Water:
Filtered water is a special type of water that has been specially treated with the help of a water filtration system. The filtered water will be completely safe and free from any kind of hazardous impurities. There are numerous types of filtration systems available that you can consider using:
Some of the most widely used ones include:
· Reverse osmosis water filtration systems.
Each of these systems has its own advantages & disadvantages, that is why it is recommended to go with the one that matches your needs & preferences.
3. Reusable Pouches & Cartons:
Do you know? there are a number of companies available that offer reusable water pouches & cartons that are made from special sustainable materials such as cardboard or aluminum. These are also considered good alternatives disposal of water bottles.
4. Opt for Boxed or Canned Water:
This is yet another excellent alternative to plastic water bottles. Some brands offer fully packed and recyclable cardboxes and aluminum water cans that you can use. The water inside these cans is also specially treated, which means it is also free from any kind of contaminants and impurities.
Final Words:
Plastic pollution is not the only concern that is associated with the consumption of plastic water bottles. Instead, there are several serious health risks also linked with it. In this blog, we have explained some of the major risks in detail. Not just this, we also discussed some effective alternatives to bottled water.