Dangers of Bottled Water

Many people buy bottled water, especially when the weather is heating up, it is important to have water. With reports that refilling/reusing the same bottle repeatedly, if not washed properly, can make you sick. Leading people to buy a new bottled water every time instead, thinking that they are doing something good for their bodies.

Researchers have now examined the plastic the holds the water, and the have found some chemicals 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. This can cause fatigue and even weight gain. Defeating the purpose of your workout/playing outside/ etc... heck it defeats the whole idea of drinking water to be healthy.

You can avoid a toxin overdose, a good place to start in by educate yourself on the plastic holding your water. You can find out what kind of plastic the bottle is by looking at the bottom of your bottle, there should be a resin code. This tells you what kind it is.

Here is a quick rundown on the most commonly used and safest kind of plastics.

PET (or PETE) 1: Polyethylene terephthalate, Is the kind of plastic that is most likely what your clear single-serve water bottle is made of. It has been deemed safe for one-time use, but refilling may increase risk of chemicals leaching out into the water. Not recommended for re-use/re-filling.

HDPE 2: High-density polyethylene, this plastic is commonly used for gallon jugs, and has not been linked to any leaching.

PP5: Polypropylene, is a plastic that is easily molded. Meaning it is made with fewer chemicals than other plastics, and has not been linked to leaching.

Plastics you should avoid:

#3 polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), it has endocrine disruptors and probable human carcinogens.

#6 polystyrene (PS) can leach styrene into food and water.

#7 polycarbonate, contains a bisphenol-A (a hormone disruptor). However, it is used in most baby bottles, five-gallon water jugs and reusable sports bottles.

Just like when you buy milk check the date on your water bottle if the plastic type is PET. According to research, the toxin levels in the water can climb up to 90 percent after only sitting for six months. The date on the bottle should be when the water was bottled.

A damaged bottled is more likely to leach because the weak spot is an easy way out, so avoid buying damaged plastic containers. Heat can speed up the breaking down process of the plastic, so avoid leaving your water bottle in the sun or hot car. If you do re-use a bottle, hand wash it. A high heat of a dishwasher can weaken the plastic as well.

The leaching of chemicals has not been linked to any major health problems, so there is no need to burn all the plastic bottles. Plastic is a good thing, we could not live without it. At least I don't think so.