Is It Healthy To Drink Water From Plastic Bottles?

Today we’re going to talk about water bottled in plastic bottles. So, think for a moment about the following questions:

Do you usually buy water in plastic bottles? Or, on the other hand, do you usually opt for glass bottles?

When buying bottled water, we always focus on its composition, on knowing its origin or even if it is weakly mineralized.

However, have you ever wondered what impact plastic can have on our health? Today we invite you to explore this interesting information with us.

Bottled water: which is the healthiest?

Nowadays we find bottled water in two ways in supermarkets: in glass bottles or in plastic bottles.

Plastic packaging has always sparked great controversy, as it has a very negative impact on the environment.

Such an impact is caused by very powerful industries, in charge of manufacturing the plastic, the label and even in charge of the privatization of water.

However, the most important aspect is to know if this type of water is healthy or not for our health. Now let’s look at the most relevant information on this subject.

1. Plastic bottles

First of all, plastic bottles are made from a compound called polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

But what is this exactly? It is a polymer, a chemical element that, according to several studies, can transmit certain elements to water.

Thus, we can say that water bottled in plastic can be altered due to this material. Pay attention to particles that can come off of PET bottles:

• Phthalates:  These elements are used to give flexibility to the plastic. They are only harmful to health if they reach our body in high amounts, as they can cause, for example, endocrine problems. Even so, we must know that these chemicals will always be present in all plastic bottles;
• Antimony:  is an essential catalyst for preparing PET. Does it harm our health? The answer is yes! It can cause cancer and respiratory problems. However, health authorities have established limits for migration from the bottle to the water, which are usually in very small amounts. For our peace of mind, WHO is also responsible for verifying that the standards are complied with;
• Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde:  These compounds make water have that classic “plastic taste”. Experts say that this only happens when we expose the bottles to the sun, at which time these compounds pass into the water. Thus, it is advisable to be especially careful. PET bottles, under normal conditions of use, do not have many concentrations of these two substances.

So, in conclusion…

Is the PET bottle dangerous for health?

No, there is no direct risk.

Health authorities ensure that the rules are followed and, in general, the concentrations of these harmful particles that pass from the plastic to the water are usually very low.

However, there are much healthier options that can avoid this risk.

If we stop to think about the amount of water we consume each year, which is bottled in plastic bottles, we might get a little scared. Therefore, it is better to look for more interesting and ecological options.

2. Healthier Options Than Plastic Bottled Water

• Bottled water in glass containers. Obviously it will be more expensive, however, it supposes a healthy alternative that should be considered;

• A filter for tap water. As we know, tap water is another interesting option, but sometimes it’s not very healthy as it contains too much calcium or other unhealthy elements. However, we can install a small reverse osmosis filter that will help us eliminate these unhealthy elements;
• Specific jars that purify water. A system very similar to faucet filters. They purify the water, eliminate the bad smell, the bad taste and, thus, release water suitable for daily consumption.

Things that should never be done with plastic bottles

Refill mineral water bottles

This is a very big risk that we must never take. There are many people who, when they finish drinking water from the plastic bottle, end up keeping the bottle to refill it with water again.

This warning already appears on the label of most bottles to avoid microbiological hazards.

This is because when a plastic bottle is empty, many fungi or bacteria can adhere to it. When we fill it with water again, these elements end up in our body and thus bring health problems.

In addition, we also cannot overlook the information that, over time, the harmful elements in PET, which we have already mentioned, detach from the plastic and reach the water more easily.

So, remember: when you’ve finished a bottle of water, throw it straight into the trash!

Never expose the bottle to the sun

We already talked about it in the previous point. When plastic comes into contact with something hot, such as the sun, fire or bright light, for example, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde come off, which makes the water taste bad and causes indigestion.

So always store your water in a cool, shady place!